Stipo Milnaris, MP (L), Karolina Vidovic Kristo, MP (C)
Zlatko Hasanbegovic, MP (R)
Freedom Festival Zagreb 5 September 2020
Banner: “Free Media is Our Media”
Photo: Screenshot
When there is utter censorship of professional and other opinion within the mainstream media, such as in Croatia, then the only way to nationally express a different opinion to the one imposed by the mainstream media is for people to take to the streets and city squares.
Saturday, 5th September 2020 on Ban Jelacic Square in Zagreb, Croatia, saw an event unfold – Freedom Festival. Several thousand people filled the capital city’s main square, several bus loads arriving from other cities such as Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Sibenik and Rijeka.
Organised by the “Rights and Freedom” initiative, the aim of the festival was to advocate for the preservation of the achievements of a democratic society in which decision-making based on panic and propaganda or rewriting instead of re-examination cannot be tolerated. The festival aimed at insistence on the preservation of human rights, freedoms, knowledge, solidarity and mutual respect. “We want to emphasise that our health is a phenomenon on the psychological, physical and mental, and not just on the coronary level,” said a statement on an invitation to the festival flyer.
Freedom Festival Zagreb Croatia
5th September 2020
Banner: “Common sense is our sense”
Photo: Screenshot
In addition to the tourist bus and music, those gathered carried banners with messages such as “Take off your mask, turn off the TV, live life to the fullest”, “Covid is a lie, we are not all covidiots”, “Parents and children are inseparable”, “Better grave than slave”. “Free life is our power,” “Normal and point,” “Resistance against the System”, “Free Media is Our Media” and “We believe in the power we have.” None of those gathered at the festival, which some call a protest, wore a mask.
Freedom Festival Zagreb Croatia
5 September 2020
Banner: “Resistance against the System”
Photo: Boris Kovacev/Cropix
Members of the Croatian Parliament from the Miroslav Skoro Homeland Movement (Domovinski pokret Miroslava Škore) supported the Freedom Festival, mingling with the crowds. They were Stipo Mlinaric and Karolina Vidovic Kristo and Zlatko Hasanbegovic (Block for Croatia)
“What is happening today is the culmination of the denial of human freedoms and rights through some of the measures imposed by the National Civil Protection Headquarters. Current data both in Croatia and in the world indicate that the mortality rate in previous years is comparable to the mortality rate in 2020, the year when the coronavirus appeared.
Yesterday, Dr. Srecko Sladoljev said that the virus is spreading through the population, but that no stronger symptoms develop, so I don’t know if we can talk about a disease caused by a coronavirus infection when the danger of corona fits the risk of colds or flu.
And if so, then we as a civilization are faced with the question of whether we will deny human rights, freedom of movement, expression, media freedom … because someone decided that the danger of coronavirus is terrible, and in fact mortality in the general population in 2020 is comparable to previous years. Many MPs from various clubs in Parliament demanded the removal of Krunoslav Capak and the abolition of the Headquarters.
I am looking for something concrete that can be done immediately, and that is to let experts of different views speak publicly and equally, for example, famous scientists like Srecko Sladoljev, Valerij Vrcek or Dr. Lidija Gajski get media space equal to that of the Headquarter’s Krunoslav Capak, Vili Beros and Alemka Markotic,” said Karolina Vidovic Kristo, MP.
Freedom Festival Zagreb Croatia
5 September 2020
dr Srecko Sladoljev speaks at the event
Photo: Screenshot
That which Karolina Vidovic Kristo, MP, said to journalists at the event was the real point of this Festival and not some Covid-19 denying hordes making noises as some mainstream media try to portray this event. Yes, Covid-19 pandemic was the topic but not to deny it. Rather, to allow differing professional opinions not reaching the people with view to promote informed choices and not be dictated to by a group of individuals who sit in the National Civil Protection Headquarters, sowing fear and paralysis daily.
“The time we live in is the most difficult in the history of mankind,” said Suzana Pesa Vuckovic, adding that the media is an extended arm of politics. “We want media that do not censor.” “We will open all the windows they have closed, all the hearts that have fallen asleep.”
Roberto Mates, a father who camped in front of Pakrac Hospital, said that from Monday, parents will be able to be with their children at Pakrac Hospital 24 hours a day. “Don’t touch our children,” he said.
“I am glad to see a lot of different people, we are all here with one goal, to keep Croatia free. The job of the government is to protect our rights, not to spread fear and panic “, concludes Ivan Pokupec.
The elderly and infirm have been held captive for months, he points out. “Many people died because they did not have adequate medical care, not from the crown.”
“We are the employer, and this is a warning before they are fired.” “Today we are fighting for life and freedom,” he said.
Freedom Festival Zagreb Croatia
5 September 2020
dr Srecko Sladoljev
Photo: Screenshot
The arrival of the ambulance is a demonstration of power, said immunologist Srecko Sladoljev for the ambulance that came to the square at one point.
“This day is bigger than when the presidential elections took place. I always tell the truth and that’s why I’m censored. A few moments ago something happened. An ambulance came, I’ll tell you something about it.
This ambulance, which was parked right there with its sirens and trumpets turned on, is a demonstration of force and those who do not want our freedom.
When Mother Teresa was asked why she did not come to protest against the war, she said that she would have come had a festival of peace been organised. That is why this is a festival, not a protest because on the other side the energies are completely different,” said Sladoljev.
Certainly, the Ambulance vehicle could have passed through the peace-loving and well-behaved crowds silently, but it chose to turn its blasting noise up to the loudest! Indeed, a demonstration of power that also signals a threat.
Freedom Festival Zagreb Croatia
5 September 2020
Banner portraying main personalities
from National Civil Protection Headquarters:
We will vaccinate you all,
for your good and our benefit”
Photo: Screenshot
“We are all first and foremost human beings, and the life of a human being consists of emotions, contacts, family and everything that is human. It is important to stop for a while and feel how the space of humanity around us has narrowed and how the hoop is tightening on all levels “, said Velimir Ponos, a columnist for the Logično portal.
He added that a padlock has been placed on all levels of our being and it is a real lockdown.
“Another illusion is that there is an epidemic in Croatia. The decision on the epidemic was not published in the Official Gazette, if there is no such decision on the Official Gazette, then there is no epidemic ”.
There is no validity of evidence on the effectiveness of masks, he states. “We are treated like guinea pigs; an experiment is performed on us. We are nobody’s toys, we are nobody’s experiments. A dictatorship is being implemented. He can’t mask my face without my approval. That’s what the constitution says, that’s what the law says. The mask on my face can’t be forced.”
It is not acceptable to make measures and decisions, as he emphasises, on the basis of panic and propaganda. “One-sided and without re-examination.”
“As of Monday, our children are threatened by an unhealthy and unnatural environment in schools. There they will be exposed to dramatic experiences. You are depriving children of the basic social contact of closeness, ” he said.
Freedom Festival Zagreb Croatia
5 September 2020
Banner: “For Freedom of Childhood”
Photo: Screenshot
Anita Supe pointed out that everyone gathered here today with the same goal to say: “Enough is enough!”. “We have been feeling the pressure you have been feeling for months, we have heard that you have had enough because we have had enough. We have heard the world and Europe, we have seen Berlin, London, Dublin.”
She added that the measures have no health or human basis. “We have been denied the right to work, companies have been closed and thousands have lost their jobs. Parents are forbidden to stay with their children in hospitals for more than 15 minutes, the elderly are locked up like in a cage in homes … That is why we invite you to forget what separates us rather to remember what unites us. The right to freedom of choice and the right to freedom of opinion and speech. To the true information we have been denied. We will not give up our fundamental rights.”
Ina Vukic
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