Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 16:10:21 +0200 From: ilga Subject: Attacks on Offices: Croatia, Argentina ILGA Press Release: 7 October 1996 ***Attacks on lesbian and gay offices in Croatia and Argentina*** In August, the office of INFO AIDS, an AIDS/HIV organization in Croatia, that also supports local lesbians and gay men, was attacked with stones by "friendly" neighbours. Windows, a computer screen, a printer, and furniture were destroyed. The following day, the flower garden in the backyard of the apartment building where the office is located was burned. The incident was reported to police but without result. The office is located in the apartment of Amir Hanusic, secretary of INFO AIDS ZAGREB, self-described as the only publicly out gay man in Croatia. In other news from the region, Hanusic worked in Bosnia during the summer where he observed that there are 3000 registered HIV+ people, and about 74% of them are gay men. There is no organized movement. Hanusic asks for financial support for his efforts to start a Bosnian movement. He can be contacted at: INFO AIDS ZAGREB, Nad Lipom 14, HR-41000 Zagreb, Croatia. Ph/Fx: +385-1-171-318 Thousands of miles away in Buenos Aires, the offices of SIGLA, the Society for the Integration of Gays and Lesbians in Argentina was attacked by vandals on August 18th. Three people broke into the building and defecated in the stairs and in SIGLA's entrance hall. They attempted to break down the doors but neighbours alerted the police. SIGLA members and supporters have been maintaining a watch over the office. The incident was reported to the police, but the investigation has not progressed. In other Argentinean news, ILGA congratulates Argentinean activists and other supporters who succeeded in pressuring the city of Buenos Aires to pass a clause that, in practise, repeals the infamous Police Edicts that were the police force's key weapon to arbitrarily detain young people, transvestites, gays, lesbians and prostitutes (among others) for years. 400 people are arrested every day in Buenos Aires without having committed any crime, simply because the police suspect they are "dangerous." The Edicts are most often used to harass transvestites and harassment was reported to have stepped up in the week before the Edicts were supposed to be repealed. The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), a federation of 300 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups and over 100 supportive individuals and groups from 80 countries, condemns the attacks on lesbian and gay offices. ILGA calls for local and national authorities to recognize the prevalence of attacks on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and organizations, and to work with local and national organizations to stop homophobic harassment and abuse. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association 81 Kolenmarkt, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Phone/Fax +32-2-502-2471, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org A federation of over 300 groups from 75 countries fighting for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We also have over 100 supportive associate and individual members. Will you join us? Contact us for more info!