The majority of deputies in the Croatian Parliament supported in the debate the removal of tombstones erected after May 30, 1990, which, according to the Government as the proposer, “glorify Serbian aggression against Croatia,” and during the debate, deputies of the Independent Democratic Serbian Party (SDSS) left the session.
Representatives of the Serbian minority in the Croatian Parliament, led by Milorad Pupovac, left last night’s session after a debate with deputies of the Homeland Movement. Pupovac previously said that the impression is being created that “Chetnik cemeteries” are “scattered” throughout Croatia, which, he says, is not true, RTRS reports.
He also said that there are people who are bothered by symbols associated with Ustasha ideology and the idea, which can also be found in some cemeteries, as well as on monuments outside them, which also offend someone’s religious and national feelings.
“Be careful not to go too far with commissions, with counties, and with the cleaning of cemeteries. Whether it’s about taxes or symbols,” said Pupovac.
Predrag Mišić, a Serb from Vukovar from the Homeland Movement, reacted to this with a message for him to go to the memorial cemetery where Croatian defenders are buried and find a single inscription that says anything offensive.
“On every monument to a Chetnik, it says that he died defending Serbian land in Croatia. You understand that very well, you just don’t want to understand,” said Mišić.
Pupovac replied that the SDSS advocated not deepening conflicts and removing what is bothersome.
“What will bother all of you, we are not afraid of. I know you are bothered by us here, but we are not afraid,” said Pupovac, after which he and the SDSS deputies left the session.
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Although there were some earlier attempts and threats to remove monuments to Serbs, Stipo Mlinarić (DP) denied that they would remove Cyrillic plaques if they only contained the name and surname of the deceased and the date of birth and death.
But, he said, they will remove the tomb and mausoleum of Vukašin Šoškočanin in Borovo Selo and other, as he stated, Chetnik monuments in Banija and other areas of Croatia.
“Mr. Pupovac, we will remove such things. There are hundreds of them,” said Mlinarić, showing several photographs of monuments already marked for demolition.
The removal of monuments from cemeteries in Croatia, which in any way offend the feelings of Croats, was supported by deputies of the opposition Bridge party, independent deputy Josip Jurčević, as well as deputies of the most influential opposition SDP.
SDP deputy Jasenka Auguštan-Pentek said in last night’s debate that she believes the way the proposed law is implemented could open up serious political and legal problems.
“There is a real danger that the removal of monuments will turn into a selective political reckoning instead of a harmonized and legally grounded spatial arrangement,” she said, Hina reported.
She also referred to the warnings of religious communities, especially Bosniak and Jewish, which pointed out that their religious rules do not allow the relocation of remains, except in exceptional situations.
Miro Bulj (Bridge) also warned that certain things should be agreed with religious communities regarding the management of cemeteries, pointing out that a large number of cemeteries are not owned by local self-government.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Branko Bačić said that the law on cemeteries envisages the removal of monuments erected after May 30, 1990, which, as he stated, glorify Serbian aggression against Croatia, so as not to open the way for broader historical revisionism and further divisions in society.
He stated that one of the most important things regulated by the proposed law is the removal of burial sites and memorials contrary to the basic provisions and the highest values prescribed by the Constitution and other positive regulations.
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Source: Danas; Foto: Wikimedia Creative Commons