Things are hotting up in Croatia as the designated EU accession referendum date (22 January) draws closer.

The “official” campaigns have started early this week.

Both the current and the previous government representatives are calling upon the citizens to turn up and vote “Yes” for EU membership.

Both governments had not in past years encouraged public dialogue on EU accession (the ex HDZ government was incumbent and today’s government’s foreign minister Vesna Pusic / member of governing Kukuriku alliance, was head of the National committee on EU negotiations), but rather communicated EU accession in a very top-down, state-centred manner, where they processed information and briefed the public in small meals of their successes.

Although the government has published a ridiculous and scanty publication “Myths and legends about the EU”, where some questions on national identity and sovereignty are answered with cartoons and few sentences barely fit for a grade 3 student at a Primary school, negative sentiments and possible negative consequences for Croatia as EU member were left to some media outlets, minor political parties and individual citizens. Their voices though were not as strong and their supporting funds relatively poor.

I find it repulsive that the foreign minister Vesna Pusic is using cold-cash as a carrot to secure the “Yes” vote. The way things are at dire disarray, EU is no longer the place where things run smoothly or where milk and honey run freely. It is absolutely irresponsible to bring money into the debate, leaving an impression that if citizens vote “Yes” to EU they may do it for the money, branding themselves as dependants, which they are not! Croatia is a nation of hard working people in essence – one only needs to look at the great successes multitudes of Croatians who fled Communism have made of their hard working life in the West since late 1940’s (and before).

It is widely accepted and known that many Croatian’s still suffer from “the-Government-will-get-the-money-I-need-to-live” aberrant mood, instilled during the Communist Yugoslavia reign (1945 – 1991). Instead of educating the people into self-reliance and the need for all individuals to contribute to the country’s wellbeing, the mainstream political forces seem bent on retaining the retardant remnants of that past.

It was a false economy used to brainwash the people to think how Communism was a great thing and it is a false economy now to tell the people that reforms and strengthening of the economy will only be successful if they join the EU!

The foreign minister Vesna Pusic said on January 2: “Should the citizens decide against EU, we remain where we are – without money”. She further explained that in case of “No” vote the government would continue with reforms but with much less money. That the referendum would need to be repeated in say 6-12 months or that EU could take the view for Croatia to be placed in the EU accession package with the rest of the countries from the region.

The Croatian government is thus killing Croatia’s hard-earned sovereignty pride for the Euro before it gives its people a proper chance to think about what joining the EU may mean to the hard earned sovereignty and self determination.

One would expect the former and current government representatives would at least mention Croatia’s War of Independence (1991-1995) in their leading campaign phrases or catchwords.

After all, thousands of Croatians were killed in battles, hundreds of thousands displaced refugees, many thousands still regarded as missing…

The question of sovereignty and self-determination had haunted Croatians for a thousand years! Independence was achieved with almost unfathomable costs to the human being and yet the government brushes this aside as it raises its EU campaign platform on “Yes” and money!

But there is hope for the ordinary citizen yet – the referendum may be postponed?

On January 3 the non-parliamentary political parties, civil society organisations and prominent individuals in Croatia that make up “The Council for Croatia – no to EU” movement have asked Croatian institutions to annul the decision on holding the referendum on January 22 and to organise a public discussion in which both the EU proponents and opponents would be given equal opportunities to express their position.

The movement is currently joined by 12 political parties, 11 organisations and several prominent individuals (including Prof.dr.sc. Davor Pavuna, Academic Prof. dr. Josip Pecaric, Dr, sc. Slaven Letica, Prof. dr. sc. Velimir Srica, dr.sc.Srecko Sladoljev, mr. Karino Hromin Sturm, dr.med. Aleksandar Soltysik, Vladimir Biondic…) who say that they’ve joined authentic forces with the goal of defending Croatia’s sovereignty.

Vera Tomasic, President of Croatian Party of Rights Dr Ante Starcevic, told the Croatian Times that “Croatia and its people are not ready to vote so soon. There should be a detailed and transparent analysis about the benefits and harm to Croatia by joining the EU”.

Referendums are a form of direct democracy. They decide on issues of national importance. The government would have the duty of putting before the people both the “Case For” and the “Case Against” and let the people decide. This has not happened in Croatia (yet). Perhaps the people of Croatia should truly exercise their direct democratic power and give a slamming vote of no confidence to the government forthwith! Ina Vukic, Prof.(Zgb), B.A., M.A.Ps.(Syd)

Related Posts: http://inavukic.com/2011/12/28/zoran-milanovic-not-flash-gordon-or-zorro-but-speedy-gonzales-perhaps/

Referendum campaigns Links:

No to EU/ or 22 January referendum campaigners include:

http://europskaunija.yolasite.com/

http://www.jedinohrvatska.hr/

http://www.volim-hrvatsku.hr/naslovnica

http://neeu.org/

http://www.hrvatskiplamen.hr/

http://www.protiv-eu.org/

http://dsz.webstilus.net/pocetna.html

http://www.jedinohrvatska.hr/

http://novahrvatska.hr/

http://www.dragovoljac.com/

http://www.nacionalni-demokrati.hr/izbori/vijesti-2/

http://www.abh.com.hr/

http://www.hrvatskipravasi.hr/

http://www.hsp.hr/

http://www.hsp1861.hr/3index.htm

http://hcsp.hr/

http://www.hsp-ante-starcevic.hr/#

Yes to EU campaigns include:

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs – publications on EU:

http://www.mvep.hr/ei/default.asp?ru=178&sid=&akcija=&jezik=1

and political parties:

http://www.kukuriku.org/plan21/clanstvo-u-europskoj-uniji-i-vanjska-politika/

http://www.hdz.hr/novosti/nacionalne/i-predsjednica-hdz-a-jadranka-kosor-pozvala-na-referendum-o-eu/