Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Croatia PM Decries Facebook Arrests

Police detained man who set up anti-government group on networking site

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Dec 4, 2008 9:47 AM CST

(Newser) – Croatia’s prime minister wants an explanation for arrests of opposition activists who rallied anti-government sentiment on Facebook, the BBC reports, including a 60,000-strong group plotting protests for tomorrow. Police in the Balkan state, which is hoping for EU membership, detained another group’s founder for disturbing the peace by publicizing a protest and posting a montage of PM Ivo Sanader wearing Nazi symbols.

“No one should be detained or arrested in Croatia for expressing different views,” said Sanader, though one of the Facebook groups was called “I bet I can find 5,000 people who dislike Sanader.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Sanader defended the arrested activist, though he had created a group to rally people who don't like the prime minister. (AP Photo)

Sanader says freedom, not government or parties, is at issue here, as the EU carefully observes Croatia's handling of civil freedom. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

No one should be detained or arrested in Croatia for expressing different views.
- Prime Minister Ivo Sanader

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Occupy LA Cost City $2.35M

Protesters blame costs on excessive use of cops

(NEWSER) - Occupy LA protesters cost the city a cool $2.35 million—at least—largely in police overtime. The price tag doesn't include the costs of repairs to the lawn during the two-month encampment and the fountain outside City Hall. Time-and-a half overtime for the regular force and General Services cops who patrol parks cost the city a total of just over $1.5 million. As much as $1.7 million of the total costs will be added to the city's expected $72 million debt, reports the Los Angeles Times . The rest will be covered by standard operating costs. By comparison, the 2009 Michael Jackson single-day memorial service at the Staples Center cost the city $3.2 million. More»

Protesters Ousted From Zuccotti Park

70 arrested as protesters shout: 'No surrender!'

(NEWSER) - Occupy Wall Street protesters were cleared from Zuccotti Park by hundreds of cops in riot gear early this morning. "The police are forming a human shield, and are pushing everyone away," said a witness. Angry protesters shouted: "Our park! No retreat. No surrender!" reports the New York Daily News . At least 70 were arrested, including some who chained themselves together, as police ripped down tents and dismantled the encampment kitchen. Protesters were ordered out so the park could be cleaned, and were told they could return later, but without tents or tarps, as they will no longer be allowed to camp out. An NYPD rep said the park had been cleared by 4:30am, reports AP . In a statement today, Michael Bloomberg explained that the city made the move in the middle of the night "to reduce the risk of confrontation in the park, and to minimize disruption to the surrounding neighborhood." He noted that returning protesters "must follow all park rules." More»

Wall Street March Prompts Police Brawl

15 arrested in showdown

(NEWSER) - After the cleanup of Wall Street protesters' Zuccotti Park base was postponed , the occupiers were feeling inspired—so they poured onto Broadway for a new march. The result: 15 arrests, the New York Post reports. Police were waiting for protesters, who were blocking traffic; cops pursued and grappled with protesters, some of whom flipped a police bike, in what the Post calls a "melee." As police made arrests, the crowd chanted, "The whole world is watching!" More»

Judge: It's OK to Whine About Work on Facebook

NLRB orders nonprofit to reinstate five fired employees

(NEWSER) - A potentially big win for those who like to carp about their jobs on Facebook: The National Labor Relations Board has ordered a Buffalo nonprofit to reinstate five workers who got fired for doing just that, reports Inc . They get back pay to boot. One catch: If you do want to whine about work online, try to do so with fellow employees. That makes the speech protected under the NLRB Act, which gives employees the right to talk to each other about working conditions, notes the Techland blog at Time . More»

Wisconsin Cops Tackle Rep Heading Into Capitol

Does Wisconsin want its Democratic politicians inside, or not?

(NEWSER) - Vigilant Wisconsin cops jumped a man heading into Madison's protest-wracked capitol building Thursday night and wrestled him to the ground. The problem? He was a state legislator trying to get to work. In video of the takedown, officers try to block a WISN cameraman as Democratic state Rep. Nick Milroy yells furiously at cops as he squirms beneath police on the capitol steps. He had pushed through police to get to his office as cops inside were clearing the building of activists camped out to protest the governor's push to strip state workers of their union rights. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Croatia PM Decries Facebook Arrests