European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes

The European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes - Nazism, Fascism and Communism - was marked by delegations from Parliament, the Government and the City of Split. Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković led the delegation that paid tribute to the victims on Goli Otok, where a brutal Yugoslav political prison was located, and Minister Damir Habijan led the Government delegation at the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb.

The victims were honored on Goli Otok, Sveti Grgur and the Memorial Cemetery in Kampor on the island of Rab. Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on that occasion that young people must know how evil Yugoslavia was.

“It is especially important, when we come to such places, to think about how some people today too easily speak about Yugoslavia trying to relativize the evil that took place during the time of that country. In a romanticized manner they try to portray Yugoslavia, however it was a dictatorship and a totalitarian regime,” said Jandroković. 

A Government delegation paid tribute to the victims at Mirogoj in Zagreb, laying flowers at the Wall of Pain, the Memorial to the Victims of Bleiberg and death marches, the Tomb of National Heroes and at the graves of Franjo Tuđman and Bruno Bušić. 

“I think this is important firstly to maintain the truth and dignity of all victims of totalitarian regimes - Nazi, Fascist, but also Communist crimes that in the 20th century took a huge number of lives. On this day, in this manner we want to honor them,” said Justice Minister Damir Habijan.

And in Split, flowers were laid at the entrance to the Gripe Fortress by Mayor Tomislav Šuta and representatives of Split-Dalmatia County. 

“For all people that were innocent victims, for all people that perhaps had a different opinion, but today we live in a free democratic country in which everyone has the right to their opinion, and a country in which we strive to live without divisions, so the past will never be repeated,” said Mayor Šuta.

“Unfortunately in our area there is almost no totalitarian regime that didn't step on these people with their boot. But thank God, 1990, and 1991 came around, and Croatian defenders, led by the first Croatian President, turned the page of totalitarian regimes, I hope forever,” said Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Blaženko Boban. 

Representatives of veterans' associations also attended the commemoration in Split.

Source: HRT