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Croatia, the War, and the Future
Ina Vukic - Croatia: people, politics, history, economy, transitioning from communism to democracy
Welcome to my blog. Here I will bring to you a variety of topics covering the documented truth about that terrible war that Croatia had to endure during the period between 1991 and 1995 and about Croatian political history that shaped a wonderful nation of people.
Croatian people wanted independence for centuries, just as they had it until the twelfth century but fate was not on their side – others wanted their beautiful land. In late 1980′s the will to break free from Yugoslavia which suffocated freedom and self determination through harsh communist party rule finally bore the desired fruit.
In June 1991 Croatia declared its independence; soon after the aggressive war against Croatia broke out. The struggle of the Croatian people for self-determination was a just one. But I fear genuine justice has not been served as there have been, and there still exist, international covert and overt moves to equate victims with aggressors continue in attempts to change history. Truth often becomes obscured and lost and that is why I have chosen to write this blog, to concentrate on actual events and issues about Croatia – wishing it a bright and freedom-loving future.
It certainly was not easy to come out of the war that was fought on two fronts:
1. On the military front the world’s public has seen the indiscriminate bombardment of Croatian cities, towns and villages from land, sea and air; the destruction of civilian targets including homes, schools, hospitals, churches, factories and cultural monuments; the blockading and destruction of roads, bridges and ports; the blockading of power, water, food and medical supplies. What hasn’t been shown on our television sets is the forced clearing and evacuation of towns and villages, followed by looting, torture, rape and murder carried out by the Serbian forces, who were initially backed by the federal Yugoslav army that was largely constituted by Serb nationals; the transportation of multiple hundreds of innocent Croatian civilians from Croatia into concentration camps Serbia (Begejci, Stajicevo, Sremska Mitrovica... from October 1991, and later (1992) transferred into Serb-held camps in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Omarska, Keratern, Manjaca, Trnopolje).
2. The second front was the war of political propaganda centred on: misinformation about the rights of minorities in Croatia; portrayal of the Croatian people as Ustasha or Fascists; the representation of the Croatian defence forces as illegal paramilitary units; the representation of the Croatian and Slovenian republics as unreasonable secessionists who are unwilling to negotiate; a regurgitation of distorted facts about World War II.
Indeed Croatia had an absolute right to defend itself and this is often forgotten if not often denied it.
Ina has been a tireless volunteer on humanitarian aid and fundraising for victims of war in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially war orphans. From1991 to beginning of 1994 she contributed in lobbying for international recognition of Croatian independence and Croatia’s rights in defending its territory and people from military aggression by Serbian forces. For this dedicated voluntary work Ina was awarded two Medals of Honour by the first president of the Republic of Croatia in 1995 (Commemorative Medal of the Homeland War and Order of the Croatian Trefoil).Ina has also written hundreds articles for newspapers in Australia and Croatia on the plight of Croatian people for freedom and self-determination, developing democracy in former communist countries. She holds two graduate and one post-graduate university degrees, specialising in behaviour, clinical and political psychology and management.
Blessed Alojzije (Aloysius) Stepinac Feast Day February 10
“When they take everything from you, you’ll be left with two hands; put them together in prayer and then you’ll be the strongest.” Blessed Aloysius Stepinac (1898 – 1960)
“They could not, nor will they ever be able to kill our passion and our need to live in human dignity, in peace with ourselves and with the free nations of Europe. We have carved out that right at our first democratic elections. For this right and for our sacred land we are even ready to die” – Dr Franjo Tudjman (1922-1999) ( Addressing the Croatian nation at the moment of the start of Serbian aggression against Croatia, 16 October 1991)
Today the world saw the Croatian unity,pride and patriotism!We stood as one no matter what!
Dear Ina,
Congratualtions to the Croatian People, to the generals Ante Gotovina and to Mladen Markac, and yes to you as well. You stood on the side of law, order and justice. I hope that this event will mark the beginning of the vindication not only of the generals but also of the Croatian people.
Esther Gitman
Thank you Esther. While it can be a difficult feat to defend the truth and real/objective justice it is especially gratifying to see them rise above all else.
Mishagora, we will never forget the truth and we will spread the truth now with greater conviction. yes the Judges did correct the wrongs done to the generals and yes they did have to wait 7 years to be set free but the fact remains now they are free and we all do have a lot more to do . There is a lot of truth that needs to be told and many classified documents need to be released so that we know who the traitors are in our country and those in Europe. Today God has answered one of my prayers to see the generals freed. Today I begin to search for the truth of who betrayed our country and its people so that they are exposed. Today I thank god for the truth being seen worldwide that all of the Croatia people are innocent. Today I wage my campaign for General Gotovina for president.Today I tell all of those in the world who blamed Croatia for its woes and turned their backs on us at times of needs to kiss my ass.
The embittering thing is, Michael, that those who from within Croatia wheeled and dealt in constructing charges and supposed evidence against the Generals are still circling the head of Croatian politics and power. These are the former and current communists and antifascists who will do anything to hide the terrible crimes of their predecessors.
(quote) Those who from within Croatia wheeled and dealt in constructing charges and supposed evidence against the Generals are still circling the head of Croatian politics and power.
They can not hide the truth even if they are circling around. They too will be exposed as soon as we draft Gotovina for President. We will know soon enough who betrayed us. The disporas need to form a political action committee to elect those to office who will seek the truth and make certain justice prevails.
I look forward to any and all comments the generals make and I hope that they start naming people in our country who they feel betrayed them even though we have a great deal of knowledge of who they are they can not be protected forever.
I strongly Urge our general to prepare to run for president and to prepare a new cabinet of ministers as quickly as possible to prepare to take over our country and put Croatia First.
Congratulations. I guess you were right to insist on the presumption of innocence.
I suppose it’s now the Serbs’ turn to complain about the lack of independence of the Tribunal.
Thank you martinned. The Serbs can complain as much as they like and say that there is lack of independence at Tribunal but the evidence itself never lacks independence. If Serbs choose to interpret evidence in order to show that which in reality is not that is entirely their personal matter and has nothing to do with justice per se.
All the Serbs have to do is look at the transcripts and recordings of their own leaders meetings during this time and they will realize that they themselves ordered an evacuation. There was no forceful deportation. But Serbs have never let anything like evidence or the truth stand in their way!
(quote) I suppose it’s now the Serbs’ turn to complain about the lack of independence of the Tribunal.
Who cares what the Serbs want to complain about. They are the guilty ones and the world is starting to find that out. I as a Croatian will continue to do all I can to make certain those Serbs that need to brought to justice are and to make certain i voice my opinion when I see a wrong.