Torcida and veterans associations protest in Split

With heavy police security, but without incident, a protest by the Torcida fan group and the coordination of veterans' associations was held on Split's waterfront over the arrest of nine people who disrupted the Days of Serbian Culture in Split. Messages were sent from the podium to several thousand people gathered, demanding respect for the values of the Homeland War. After the rally, some of the protesters briefly gathered in front of the County Court, where they sang patriotic songs and demanded the release of the detainees. 

Organized and peaceful more than three thousand members of the Torcida fan group arrived at the waterfront at exactly 10:45 a.m., which was quickly filled with veterans and citizens joining them. Without incidents and with evidently well-organized security, messages were sent from the stage by a representative of the coordination of veterans' associations, Marko Rogić.

“We are asking for what is the basis of respecting the constitution, especially article 141 and the cancellation of the declaration on the Homeland War. If the communist system was rejected, why aren't its symbols also rejected?” asked Rogić.

We demand freedom for our people, because evidently certain others have freedom, such as Dejan Medaković, one of the architects of the SANU memorandum, whose exhibit is being organized in Zagreb. Nobody should receive money from the state budget without an explicit statement that they respect the declaration on the Homeland War,” he added.

Citizens supported these demands.

“We support the release of people who are not guilty of anything and that people be tried who came to Split with the intent to provoke. Like every year. This year they peppered it well and we gave it back to them,” said one citizen.

To the delight of those gathered, Torcida leader Stipe Lekić, shortly greeted all brotherly fan groups.

“We ask and demand that they release our brothers as soon as possible. Because today, this is only a portion of us that gathered, and there are enough of us. If necessary the entire country will come for our brothers,” said Lekić.

The police present did not have reason to act, and Zoran Buzdovačić the coordinator of Split veterans associations, satisfied and calmly commented the atmosphere after the gathering, providing his estimation of the number of people that gathered.

“When you look at the scope there were about five to seven thousand people. Let's not dwell on numbers; the waterfront can't take 150 thousand people. We are all aware that it has come to the thoughtless and hasty behavior of our colleagues and a portion of the youth. But nevertheless, you journalists and all others used excessive shelling. Once again we have called on all institutions to rationally sit down and assess the severity of the act,” said Buzdovačić.

The gathering in Split ended with the Čavoglave song and a portion appeared before the Split County Court singing patriotic songs and once again demanding the release of their members, then dispersing peacefully.

Source: HRT