The pulse of history never dies. This one is a beauty
Croatia, the War, and the Future
Ina Vukic - Croatia: people, politics, history, economy, transitioning from communism to democracy
The place where you can get your: Colour Me Croatian
https://colourmecroatian.com
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)
Wow.. I’m totally ignorant… Who were the the people of this area…?
Ancient people, Juan, who settled in those parts…
..the Dalmatian Coast was settled (or inhabited) by an ancient people called “ILLYRIANS” and some are descended from the old Roman colonists, slavic and latin (Italian) people! For you see, if that cursed, satanic King Tomislav and the equally satanic (and some historians say that this JESUS CHRIST was a fictitious character who NEVER existed) Catholic church did not allow the Vlasi (so -called Serbians) into Croatian lands, we would NOT have the trouble in Croatia (or former Jugoslavia) as we do today! There would have been NO Balkan Wars, no assassination of Arch Duke Ferdinand by serbian terrorists, and no BLEIBURG in WW2 and no Homeland War if these “serbians” were NOT allowed into Croatia or Bosnia! It’s too bad that Bulgarian King Simeon did NOT kill all these serbians on the Drina River! Now they are killing the Croats and other peoples of the area!
Oh, Tempus Fugit, take a load off – the world cannot say “what if a thousand years ago”. And by the way historians are only mortals who often write what they call history but in fact they have written fiction. Jesus Christ is no fiction – he exists and existed
Yeah, because surely some other group of people wouldn’t have found an excuse to attack Croatia in order to take its resources…because only Serbs are evil, the rest of the world is just peachy and would never start territorial wars with a beautiful, resource rich, strategically positioned nation like Croatia or Bosnia.
What fun to find old ruins. They cause such strong bonds to those who walked before us. Hugs, Barbara
Yes, they do, Barbara – hugs back!
There is so much history to our country and so many undiscovered places to see that I am constantly amazed by the many findings and beauty. Thanks for sharing such a treasure.
Thank you, Michael – it’s such a pleasure 🙂
I love looking at ancient ruins.
Me too, Kev 😀
I love these ruins and I love Solin. To be very honest, I like that the place is not as tourist-heavy as Split. It’s just nice to see more of the locals in their day to day lives and it’s a very peaceful little place.
This is very beautiful, Ina!
Thank you, K’lee
So beautiful. Thank you for following my blog, i appreciate that very much and i’m more than happy to follow yours.
My best to you
john
Thank you, John – it’s a great thing to belong 🙂