
Happy Easter from our EU Parliament Democratic Centre Candidates List – Joint Movement of Good!
Croatia, the War, and the Future
Ina Vukic - Croatia: people, politics, history, economy, transitioning from communism to democracy
The time, of which Croatia led by Dr. Franjo Tudjman in 1990 actively dreamed about at the 30th May inauguration of the Croatian Parliament, has finally arrived!
Citizens of Croatia who are registered on the Electoral Roll (Popis birača) will have an historic opportunity to choose 12 candidates as representatives of the Republic of Croatia in the EU Parliament. Regardless of the varying opinions amongst Croats as to whether entering into EU membership is a good or a bad direction for Croatia, the reality is that Croatia will be a member state of the EU as of 1st July 2013. Hence, this is the time to accept this reality and act positively toward it by becoming active either through candidacy or through registering on the Electoral Roll and voting.
While the EU Parliament elections are to be held in Croatia on Sunday 14th April, they will be held on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th April in the diaspora; in the Croatian diplomatic-consular missions and outlets across the globe. And while it will undoubtedly be difficult for many prospective voters to travel to the polling booths, which can be quite a distance away from where an individual lives, it is hoped that many will make the effort, turn-up and vote.
So, what does one need to do to register for voting at these elections?
• If you are a citizen of the Republic of Croatia living abroad and you have a registered address of domicile (prebivalište) in Croatia you must fill in and send THIS FORM to your nearest Croatian Embassy or Consulate by email, fax or post BY 3rd of April 2013;
• If you are a citizen of the Republic of Croatia living abroad and you do NOT have a registered address of domicile (prebivalište) in Croatia you must fill in and send THIS FORM to your nearest Croatian Embassy or Consulate by email, fax or post BY 3rd of April 2013.
Similar Forms are valid for voters living in Croatia and the “nadležno tijelo” (authorized or competent body) which needs to be filled in on the Form of the request for enrollment in the Electoral Roll is your nearest Croatian Embassy or Consulate if you live abroad. If you live in Croatia and you do not know where to take/send your enrollment (it’s usually the local Council) a good place to ask is the Ministry of Administration or search its website.
The Republic of Croatia European Parliamentary Elections Act – General and Basic Provisions
“Article 8.
Elections shall be conducted at polling stations in the Republic of Croatia and in the seats of diplomatic missions and consulates of the Republic of Croatia.
Article 9.
Voters with registered domicile in the Republic of Croatia shall vote at polling stations in the territory of the Republic of Croatia determined according to their registered domicile.
Voters of other European Union member states shall vote at polling stations in the territory of the Republic of Croatia determined according to the location of their registered domicile or temporary residence.
Voters who have registered domicile in the Republic of Croatia but who are in service in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia on the election date, voters who are serving in peace missions of the United Nations on the election date, voters who, as crew members on maritime and riverine vessels sailing under the Croatian flag outside of its borders and incarcerated voters shall vote at special polling stations designated in compliance with the provisions of this Act.
Voters who have registered domicile in the Republic of Croatia and who are outside of the borders of the Republic of Croatia shall vote in the seats of diplomatic missions and consulates of the Republic of Croatia with prior registration or confirmation for the purpose of voting outside of their place of domicile.
Voters who do not have registered domicile in the Republic of Croatia shall vote in the seats of diplomatic missions and consulates of the Republic of Croatia”.
The fact that there does not seem to be an option for “Postal votes” when it comes to these Croatian elections is most disappointing for those living abroad and at great distances from the diplomatic or consular missions. It almost seems a mockery of democracy when the relevant legislation about voting gives everyone the right to vote and yet does seemingly absolutely nothing in ensuring access to voting is made relatively easy for those who, without postal voting, actually cannot vote due to distance from polling booths or physical disability… Yes, it seems there is a great amount of work still outstanding in actually living the full democracy in and for Croatia.
Good luck and make your mark! Ina Vukic, Prof. (Zgb); B.A., M.A.Ps. (Syd)
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)