Borovo: 34th anniversary of murder of Croatian police officers marked

With the laying of wreaths at the Memorial and a commemorative program in Borovo near Vukovar, the 34th anniversary of the murder of 12 Croatian police officers, one of the most tragic events of the Homeland War and a symbol of the cruelty of the Greater Serbian aggressors, was marked on Friday.

The program began at 9 a.m. at the "12 cypresses" at the entrance to Borovo.

At 9:20, those gathered started a procession towards the Memorial in the center of the town. At 10:05, wreaths were laid and candles were lit, and at 10:35, the solemn commemoration began.

A memorial mass for all fallen Croatian defenders and civilian victims was served in the Church of St. Eusebius and Polion in Vinkovci, followed by a reception for participants in the 12-kilometer race for 12 police officers.

The commemoration was attended and honored by numerous delegations, including the Croatian Government led by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Davor Božinović.

“The 34th anniversary of the first conflict in Eastern Slavonia was solemnly and dignifiedly marked, which indicated to residents that a sad, ugly and bloody fight for a free and independent Republic of Croatia awaited them,” said HRT journalist Vanessa Kupina, reporting from Borovo.

It all started, she pointed out, "on the night of May 1 to 2, 1991, when two Croatian police officers were captured in Borovo".

“After painful and lengthy negotiations that did not end well, the Croatian police officers set out to free their colleagues. They hoped for a peaceful resolution of the situation, but that did not happen. Fire was opened on them from family houses, roofs, basements, and even from an ambulance. In the conflict that lasted two and a half hours, 12 police officers were killed and 20 were wounded,” she said.

“A solemn commemoration was held in their honor today,” she added.

Božinović: The names of the police officers are a reminder of the price that Croatia paid

Interior Minister Davor Božinović also participated in the commemoration of the 34th anniversary of the deaths of the twelve Croatian police officers.

“The names of the 12 police officers who died in Borovo are a reminder of the price that Croatia paid for its freedom,” he said.

“So, the first deaths in the Homeland War were police and the first actions of opposition to the enemy were organized by the police,” said Minister Božinović recalling the events from the beginning of the Greater Serbian aggression against the Republic of Croatia.

On the X platform, he wrote, among other things: "Today we pay tribute to true heroes."

Defenders: These guys loved Croatia, it is important to preserve the memory

Franjo Lovaković, a wounded defender from Borovo, emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of the fallen police officers.

“These were very good guys, very good friends. They loved their homeland. Remembering them awakens a sense of pride in them,” he said.

Zlatan Bašić, a defender and envoy of the Minister and State Secretary in the Ministry of Croatian Defenders agreed with Lovaković.

“The feeling is that we should be here as we were in 1991. We should always remember these brave guys as long as we are alive,” he said.

Plenković: Croatia will never forget their sacrifice

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković paid tribute to all Croatian veterans and police officers, especially on the occasion of yesterday's 30th anniversary of Operation Flash in Okučani and today's commemoration for the twelve police officers who died in Borovo.

“It was one of the most tragic events at the beginning of the Homeland War when 12 Croatian police officers were brutally murdered in Borovo. Croatia will never forget their sacrifice,” said the Prime Minister.

Anušić: The crime has shrouded us in black, but it has also further strengthened the unity of the Croatian people

A message on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the murder of Croatian police officers in Borovo was also sent by Defense Minister Ivan Anušić.

“34 years have passed since the horrific crime in Borovo Selo, when Serbian rebels ambushed, killed and massacred 12 Croatian police officers. That crime in 1991 shrouded us in black, but also further strengthened the unity of the Croatian people in the fight for freedom and independence. Today, we pay tribute to these young men and thank them for their sacrifice in the defense of the Homeland. May the Croatian land rest easy for them,” he wrote on the X platform.

Josip Vincetić: We were greeted by ominous silence and a village full of anger

Josip Vincetić, one of the surviving Croatian police officers, recalled in an interview for HRT the events of May 2, 1991, when he and his comrades entered Borovo Selo to rescue their captured colleagues and fell into a deadly ambush.

“We came here, and we were greeted by ominous silence, empty streets, a village full of anger, armed to the teeth. Fire rained down on us from all sides – from windows, from hiding places. We entered something that we did not expect, to say the least,” Vincetić said.

During the attack, he was wounded and captured. He recalled the moment when his colleague Luka Crnković died next to him.

“He died side by side with me. In addition to him, five other colleagues from my dormitory lost their lives here – Janko Čović, Željko Hrala... It's difficult, emotional. Pain, sadness,” he said.

However, he also emphasized the sense of pride that the twelve police officer victims are still being honored:

“Today we are here, on Croatian land. Their sacrifice was not in vain. May the Croatian land lay easy on them,” he said.

Source: HRT