Anti-Cyrillic Graffiti ("Vukovar and not Вуковар [sic]!") depicting the U symbol of theUstashe
Theanti-Cyrillic protests in Croatia were a series of protests in late 2013 against the application of bilingualism inVukovar, wherebySerbian and theSerbian Cyrillic alphabet were assigned co-official status due to the local minority population. The implementation of this decision became mandatory after the2011 Croatian census, according to which Serbs in Vukovar comprised more than one-third (34.8%) of Vukovar's total population.[1][2] Signs in theSerbian Cyrillic alphabet had been put up as theConstitutional Act on the Rights of National Minorities mandates bilingual signs in any area where more than one-third of the population belongs to an ethnic minority.[1][3] This decision became subject of intense agitation by, among others, Croatian war veterans and many ordinary citizens who believe that due to events, particularly theBattle of Vukovar, the city should have been excluded from the application of the law on minority rights, although protests and vandalism have occurred in other towns and cities (i.e. Split, Dubrovnik, etc).[2] TheSerbs of Croatia are a minority group that have the narrowest usage of right to bilingualism among all national minorities in Croatia.[4]
A group calledHQs for defense of Croatian Vukovar initiated protest rallies on 2 September, as soon as the placement of the signs written in both the Latin and the Cyrillic scripts began in Vukovar.[5] With protests inVukovar, in April 2013 there were also organized protests inZagreb's main square with around 20,000 participants.[6] Parallel protests were held inTovarnik,[7]Bogdanovci,[8]Lovas,[8] andNuštar.[9] A number of signs in theSerbian Cyrillic alphabet were torn down, others were smashed with hammers, and protesters clashed with the police, leaving four police officers slightly injured.[10] Some of supporters not directly connected to the protesters organized actions of writingpro-fascistUstaše graffiti on the OrthodoxChurch of the Holy Annunciation inDubrovnik and inZadar.[11][12]
On 12 August 2014 theConstitutional Court of Croatia decided that referendum proposal on the restriction of the use of minority languages in such a way to increase the required proportion of total population to 50%, is unconstitutional.[13] The City Council of Vukovar was required to regulate the use of minority languages in its statute within a year after the court decision.[13] TheGovernment of Croatia was required to define the legal mechanisms for cases when the representative bodies of local self-government do not implement the obligations under the Law regarding minority languages.[13] National authorities competent for implementation of laws on minority languages were instructed not to implement the Law in the City of Vukovar by use of coercive measures until the government of Croatia fulfills its obligation.[13]
In April 2015 theUnited Nations Human Rights Committee urged Croatia to ensure the right of minorities to use their language and alphabet.[14] Committee report stated that particularly concerns the use of Serbian Cyrillic in the town of Vukovar and municipalities concerned.[14] Serbian Foreign MinisterIvica Dačić said that his country welcomes the UN Human Rights Committee's report.[15]
The local civic societyThe city, that's us too suggested that the dispute could be resolved by putting on the right side of the entrance to local government buildings a sign in Croatian Latin script, and on the left side a sign in the languages and scripts of ethnic minorities living in Vukovar.[19]
Croatian PresidentIvo Josipović joined in the condemnation of the events in Vukovar, saying that an added effort must be invested to prevent violence and tensions. "We have the law which goes toward full respect of the national minorities. All relevant political parties in Croatia took part in passing this law," Josipović said.[20]
Former Croatian PresidentStjepan Mesić claimed the protests in Zagreb were not ... a democratic expression of different opinions, but of intolerance... The appearance of people in military uniforms at such place ... clearly violate state law. If we consider publicly and unambiguously imposed threats that they will by using force prevent implementation of duties that every citizen and every institution is obligatory to do by Constitution, Sunday gathering at main square look like blow to the constitutional andlegal order of our country.[23]
Vukovar mayorŽeljko Sabo, a veteran of theYugoslav Wars, who had been imprisoned in Serbia, appealed for people to stay calm and "not let Vukovar becomeBeirut".[24]
Croatian foreign ministerVesna Pusić said that Croatians "must and can" obey Croatian laws and said that government must stand firm on the minorities legislation.[24]
Dragan Crnogorac, president ofJoint Council of Municipalities, expressed concern and regret over events in Vukovar and rest of Croatia. He said that these events create a negative atmosphere directed towards the Serbian community and the Cyrillic alphabet. In this way, they undermines everything that has been achieved in previous years in buildingtolerance andcohabitation among Serbs and Croats.[25]
Bojan Glavašević, son of Croatian reporterSiniša Glavašević, killed by Serb paramilitaries after theBattle of Vukovar, said that use of his father's voice at the protest in Zagreb was inappropriate and that the name of his father was being used for political marketing. He said everyone has a right to peaceful protest, but condemned hate speech on the protests.[26]
26 NGOs in Croatia sent a joint letter toPope Francis, voicing concern about the stance of Croatian CardinalJosip Bozanić and several bishops who publicly demonstrated their opposition to bilingualism in Vukovar. The NGOs highlighted that the bishops' statements do not contribute to peace and reconciliation, but rather lead to further deepening of conflicts.[27][28]
The Coalition of Serbian Refugees from Croatia, which represents many Serbs who fled Croatia at the end of the war in 1995, said the protests were another example of violations of minority rights in Croatia.[24]
European Commission spokespersonDennis Abbott said that European Union has no intention of interfering in the dispute over Cyrillic signs in Vukovar. He reminded the belligerents that respect for cultural diversity and minority rights is enshrined in fundamental documents of EU, but that jurisdiction in these matters are under every member state.[33]
On 21 August 2015,Council of Europe, prompted by Vukovar City Council decision to amend the city statute in such a way as not to provide bilingual signs in Latin and Cyrillic scripts at official town buildings, institutions, squares and streets, stated that this institutionstrongly regrets the removal of signs in minority languages through vandalism or pursuant to formal decisions aiming at limiting the presence of minority languages in the public and urges all relevant public authorities in all States Parties to fully implement the provisions of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.[16]
18 October Incident occurred at the city council of Vukovar when SDSS representative Srđan Kolar handed to Ivan Penava, mayor of Vukovar, city statute written in Serbian Cyrillic.[34][35] Vukovar city council concluded: "We reached a level of understanding, solidarity and tolerance among members of the Croatian people and members of the Serb national minority at a level that facilitates co-operation and coexistence, but the conditions for extending the scope of secured individual rights have not been met".[36] Only sign in Cyrillic left is on the entrance of Vukovar harbor.[37]
20 November Two days after the memorial of thefall of Vukovar,Crvena Zvezda fans displayed the banner: "18.11.1991. Until the new liberation - Glory to all victims for Serbian Vukovar".[39]
23 September: Members of the Headquarters for Defense of Croat Vukovar removed all bilingual signs in the city; 5 of them were later placed under arrest.[40]
12 August:Constitutional Court of Croatia decision on non-constitutionality ofHQs for defense of Croatian Vukovar referendum proposal
21 November: Ministry of Public Administration suspended provisions of town statutes that limits usage of minority language.[47]
19 November:neo-Nazi salute ("Za dom") at the Croatia-Iceland football game.[46]
19 November:FIFA delegate requested removal of bannerZapamtite Vukovar (English: Remember Vukovar) fromStadion Maksimir before the Croatia-Iceland football match.[48]
19 November: Bilingual sign removed from theTrpinja municipality building; flag of Serbs of Croatia stolen.[46]
18 November: State delegation led by Prime MinisterZoran Milanović and PresidentIvo Josipović blocked from participating in fall of Vukovar "memory walk" byHQs for defense of Croatian Vukovar.[clarification needed][49]
17 November: Bilingual signage stolen in Osijek for the third time.[46]
17 November:HQs for defense of Croatian Vukovar began collecting signatures for referendum for limitation of rights on usage of minority languages.[46]
11 October: Three bilingual signs destroyed at theUdbina municipality building.[46]
8 October: An unknown offender removed bilingual sign fromProsvjeta building in Zagreb.[46] Five policemen were suspended for not intervened and one got fired for breaking the sign in Vukovar.[52][53]
7 October: A group of Croatian war veterans removed bilingual signs from three buildings in Vukovar.[46]
23 September: The president of the Coordination of Associations of Croat Returnees sprayed Cyrillic inscription on Pension insurance building in Vukovar.[46]
12 September: Members of the HQs for Defense of Croatian Vukovar broke a bilingual sign at Vukovar's police station and clashed with the police. Darko Pajtić was fatally wounded by the policeman Saša Sabadoš, who was later convicted of his death.[54][55][46]
13 September: Monument for Serb victims from war destroyed inGolubić.[46]
6 September: During the football match between Serbia and Croatia Serbian fans displayed banner with "Vukovar" written in Cyrillic, burned the Croatian flag and shouted "Kill Ustashe", "Vukovar is ours" and "Serbia - Chetniks". They also chanted "Oy Ustashe deep river awaits you, slaughter the men, rape the women".[56]
5 September: LocalHQs for defense of Croatian Vukovar established inSlunj; around 100 protesters gathered in support of the removal of bilingual plaques in Vukovar. The mayor of Slunj distanced himself from them as unnecessary and serving the political ends of the organizer(s).[57]
2 September: Bilingual signs broken in Vukovar. Several police officers were injured.[46]
20 August: During the FIBA European Championship for Juniors game in Borovo naselje Serbian fans shouted "This is Serbia"and "Vukovar is the heart of Serbia" and displayedSerbian flag with "Vukovar" written in Cyrillic. Incidents continued after the game.[60]
24 May In an interview, President of Serbia,Tomislav Nikolić, was quoted byFrankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung to have said that ″Vukovar was a Serb city and Croats have nothing to go back to there″.[61] Croatian PresidentIvo Josipović criticized Nikolić for this statement and conditioned future cooperation on Nikolić's withdrawal of the statement.[62]
^Jakšić, Božidar (8 October 2013)."Knjigocid u Hrvatskoj: Hronika sramnog vremena".Radio Slobodna Evropa. Radio Free Europe. Retrieved9 May 2018.Dragoceno je svjedočanstvo, koje navodi autor, izjava ministra finansija Republike Hrvatske Borislava Škegra iz 1997. godine da će se sredstvima državnog proračuna finansirati biblioteke da iz knjižnih fondova izbace knjige na srpskom i sličnim jezicima", objašnjava Jakšić.
