by Snjezana SETKA and Damir PETRANOVIC
"The issue of media freedom, the right to criticism and different opinion, as well as the right to present such opinion, is the key point for the survival of democracy and development of democratic processes in every society. The case of Slobodan Dalmacija and statements made by Bajrovic, Linic, Mesic, Racan, Antunovic and others are obvious examples of violation of established democratic norms and standards and total eradication of all principles advocated by them during the election campaign," Colonel Mirko Condic, the president of the Central Headquarters for the Protection of the Dignity of the Homeland War, said, welcoming the protesters on behalf of the Headquarters for the Protection of Free Journalism and the Defense of Slobodna Dlamacija, set up by the headquarters.
The case of Slobodna Dalmacija confirms the desire of the authorities to control the whole media space in Croatia because they are aware that those who control the media win elections and stay in power, Condic averred. He opposed the introduction of "Party-based neo-Communist censorship in Slobodna Dalmacija", characterizing the situation in which the so-called independent media in unison support the authorities, qualifying that as freedom, as tragicomic.
That harmony was only disturbed by Slobodna and that is why it was silenced by political methods, which is a direct attack on democracy and the right to different opinion, warned Condic, referring to that action of the authorities as "six-times-dumb", which is according to Condic the same as lack of freedom in 1971. He reminded the protesters about the events from Dracevac from the celebration of the birthday of "Spiders", wondering why Rados kept quiet while they were attacking Tudman and added: "instead of demonstrating that he is a great statesman, Mesic like a Gipsy insulted the suffering soldiers of the 4th Guard Brigade, calling us Gypsies and Chetniks, and the new Slobodna ignored that. To those who denounce us as fascists and extremists we say - we are not fascists, but in the defense of democracy, Croat freedom and unmasking of traitors, we are extremists! Everyone wanting prosperity and peace for the Croatian state should be such an 'extremist'," Condic said.
He wondered why the authorities are postponing the holding of a referendum, in whose support the Headquarters have collected 400,000 signatures. He told Racan and Mesic that in new Croatia there are no fascists and those others, there are no victors and losers, but there are only Croats who love their homeland, fight for her and respect the victims that fell for Croatia. Condic condemned the dismissal of management of Slobodna as terrorism of the government that is destroying a successful company, demanded the return of the dismissed management and the editors, warning that the suppression of the right to free speech is an attack on democracy and the stability of the Croat state.
Well-known German journalist Karl Gustav Strohm called on the protesters to send letters to UN secretary general Koffi Annan, American president George Bush, leading politicians in Europe, and even their own government and warn them that the journalists of Slobodna Dalmacija have lost the opportunity to freely express their opinion. Do not resign yourself to the new situation, Strohm said, write. He said that under Tudman he was a fully free journalist. He especially called on Drazen Budisa to take a stand in protection of the freedom of media, reminding that in 1971 he and his colleagues defended Budisa and other victims of Karadjordjevo.
On behalf of the Central Headquarters of Central Bosnia, Anto Jakic thanked Slobodna on support and for spreading the truth about the Croats in Bosnia-Hercegovina in a very emotional speech. Letters of support by journalist Ivica Marijacic and president of the society Viribus Unitis General Janko Bobetko were read.
A letter by dismissed editor-in-chief Jovic, sent from Munich, was read by columnist Josko Celan. Slobodna today experiences what Croat men and women experienced all over the world for years, defending their language, newspapers, the Church, Jovic wrote. He said that he sees the support of the protesters as support for the freedom of public speech and democracy. The leader of HONOS, Nenad Ivankovic, for more than a year a journalist without a job, asserted that Mesic is not the only murderer of Slobodna. He was assisted by Linic, Racan and all those who cannot allow even a minimum of freedom of speech. Whenever journalists are replaced by decrees, there is no democracy but only totalitarianism, fear and lack of tolerance. That is an attempt to create a media Goli Otok prison camp in Croatia, Ivankovic assessed, calling on the people who do not know for whom to vote in the elections to refrain from voting for those who destroyed Slobodna.
Welcomed by applause, the columnist of our newspaper Zoran Vukman advised the readers to address their letters to editor-in-chief to [Prime Minister] Racan, because he is the true editor-in-chief of Slobodna. Thanking for the support for the dismissed editors, Vukman criticized his colleagues for their silence about the occupation of Croats in Bosnia-Hercegovina, calling on the people to send Communist to history once and for all, in the forthcoming elections. Responding to the chants of the protesters, Luka Podrug also spoke, expressing support for Vukman. "If you do not send Communists to history, you should not have come here today. Not a single vote for the six-member gang of Croat traitors in power. Therefore, on May 20 say NO to the Communists, once and for all. Do not forget: the freedom of Slobodna Dalmacija is the freedom of Croatia!," Podrug said.
"Neither yes nor no. The biggest problem that you, journalists, have is that you see everything as black-and-white." Let us add that Skaric spent most of the time with Luka Podrug, and that he held "Ultimatum", the publication of the New Croat Right, in his hands.
Novi List and Jutarnji List estimated about 5,000 protesters, HINA and Radio Free Europe between 10 and 15 thousand, while HTV, Radio Dalmacija and Vecernji List saw 20,000 protesters.
The Vjesnik reporter, however, claimed that there were no less than 50,000 protesters, denouncing those who disagreed with her as - leftists.
The usual patriotic and nationalist songs were sung, and at one moment someone sang the [Ustashe] song "Jure and Boban" which prompted a few right arms to spring up in the air [in the Nazi salute]. Leaders of the party the New Croat Right Ana Lucic and Zarko Maric tried to use the occasion to make profit: they were selling copies of their publication "Ultimatum" for 15 kunas each.