Anti-Cyrillic protests in Croatia

Anti-Cyrillic protests in Croatia
Part of response to introduction of minority Serbian Cyrillic alphabet in co-official use in town of Vukovar
Location Vukovar
Zagreb
Tovarnik
Bogdanovci
Lovas
Nuštar
Goals opposition to usage of minority languages and seeking modification of Constitutional Law on National Minorities rights
Anti-Cyrillic Graffiti

Anti-Cyrillic protests in Croatia were a series of protests in late 2013 against the application of bilingualism in Vukovar, whereby Serbian and the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet were assigned co-official status due to the local minority population. The implementation of this decision became mandatory after the 2011 Croatian census, according to which Serbs in Vukovar comprise more than one-third (34.8%) of Vukovar's total population.[1][2] Signs in the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet had been put up as the Constitutional 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 the Battle 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] The Serbs of Croatia are a minority group that have the narrowest usage of right to bilingualism among all national minorities in Croatia.[4]

The Group called HQs 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 in Vukovar, in April 2013 there were also organized protests in Zagreb's main square with around 20,000 participants.[6] Parallel protests were held in Tovarnik,[7] Bogdanovci,[8] Lovas,[8] and Nuštar.[9] A number of signs in the Serbian 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 writing pro-fascist Ustaše graffiti on the Orthodox Church of the Holy Annunciation in Dubrovnik and in Zadar.[11][12]

On 12 of August 2014 Constitutional 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] City Council of Vukovar was required to regulates the use of minority language in its statute within a year after court decision.[13] Government of Croatia was required to define legal mechanism for cases when the representative bodies of local self-government does 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 Law in the City of Vukovar by use of coercive measures until Government of Croatia fulfill its obligation.[13]

In April 2015 United 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 Minister Ivica Dačić said that his country welcomes the UN Human Rights Committee's report.[15]

On 17 August 2015, under requirement of Constitutional Court of Croatia, the City Council of Vukovar decided 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. Council of Europe stated its regret about this decision.[16] Decision was taken by MP's from Croatian Democratic Union and Croatian Democratic Alliance of Slavonia and Baranja while MP's FROM Social Democratic Party of Croatia, Independent Democratic Serb Party and Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats left session at which the decision was taken.[17] Ministry of Public Administration (Croatia) announced that it would overturn the decision if it is established to be contrary to the constitution.[18]

The local civic society The 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]

Reactions

CroatiaCroatia

Opposition

Support

International

SerbiaSerbia

European Union European Union

Council of Europe Council of Europe

Slovenia Slovenia

Chronology

2015

2014

2013

Historical bans on usage of Cyrillic in Vukovar

In 1861 General Assembly of Syrmia County unanimously adopted decision on introduction of the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet as official alphabet on the territory of county.[48] This decision was reversed eight years later in 1869 when the Parliament of Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia adopted decision on exclusive usage of Gaj's Latin alphabet and repealed the county decision on usage of Cyrillic.[48] This caused dissatisfaction among the Serbs of Vukovar who sent a letter of protest to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria since the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia was part of Austro-Hungarian Empire. Citizens of Vukovar asked the emperor to protect his subjects from the parliament's decision, pointing out that the decision was unreasonable, especially since even the Diet of Hungary of the Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen accepted their letters in Cyrillic.[48]

During World War II, the Serbian Cyrillic alphabet was banned throughout the Independent State of Croatia.[49]

On 5 November 2013, the Croatian Democratic Union and Croatian Party of Rights dr. Ante Starčević adopted amendments to the city's statutes, declaring Vukovar to be a "place of special reverence" of the Serbian destruction of the town during the Battle of Vukovar and prohibited usage of Serbian Cyrillic alphabet.[50] Milorad Pupovac, president of Serb National Council, said he expects that the Croatian government or Constitutional Court of Croatia would annul this decision.[51]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Croatians tear down Serbian signs". BBC News. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Croatia plans Cyrillic signs for Serbs in Vukovar". BBC News. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Al Jazeera English (7 April 2013). "Croatians protest against Cyrillic signs". Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  4. ↑ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (23 March 2013). "Pravo na dvojezičnost: Od primjene do negiranja". Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  5. ↑ T-portal (14 September 2013). "Over 1,000 rally in Vukovar against Cyrillic signs". Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "Croats tear down signs put up for Serb minority". Reuters. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  7. ↑ T-portal (10 September 2013). "Anti-Cyrillic protests enter 9th day". Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Potpora i iz Lovasa". Vinkovačka televizija. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Potpora iz Nuštra". Vinkovačka televizija. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Anti-Serbian language protests highlight Croatia tensions". GlobalPost. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  11. ↑ "Ustaška obilježja osvanula na pravoslavnoj crkvi u Dubrovniku". Večernji list. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  12. ↑ "FOTO: POD OKRILJEM NOĆI ISPISALI SRAMOTNE GRAFITE U DUBROVNIKU 'Srbe na vrbe!' i 'Stop ćirilici u Vukovaru!'". Jutarnji list. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Odluka Ustavnog suda o referendumskom pitanju". Constitutional Court of Croatia. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  14. 1 2 "UN calls on Croatia to ensure use of Serbian Cyrillic". B92.net. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Serbia welcomes UN stance on use of Cyrillic in Croatia". Tanjug. 3 April 2015. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 "Council of Europe supports use of minority languages in public signs". Council of Europe. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "Vijeće na burnoj sjednici izmijenilo statut, ukinulo ćirilicu u Vukovaru". Tanjug. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Ministarstvo uprave ukinut će odluku ako je izbacivanje ćirilice iz Vukovara protivno Ustavu". Index.hr. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  19. ↑ Recommended solution to dispute, dalje.com; accessed 2 June 2015.
  20. ↑ Tanjug (3 September 2013). "Protests against Cyrillic in Vukovar, graffiti in Dubrovnik". Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  21. ↑ "Anti-Serbian language protests highlight Croatia tensions". The Sun (Malaysia). 6 September 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  22. ↑ "Croatia veterans tear down Serbian signs". New Europe (newspaper). 2 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  23. ↑ "Mesić: Poruke sa skupa protiv ćirilice udar su na ustavni poredak". Novi List (in Croatian). 8 April 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "Serbia Condemns Anti-Cyrillic Protests in Croatia". Balkan Insight. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  25. ↑ Ћирилица није ратни демон него средство комуникације. Joint Council of Municipalities (in Serbian). 9 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  26. ↑ "Bojan Glavašević: Korištenje snimaka mog oca na prosvjedu nije bilo primjereno". SEEbiz/Media Servis (in Croatian). 7 April 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  27. ↑ "Letter sent to pope over anti-Cyrillic sentiment in Croatia". B92.net. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  28. ↑ "Građanske inicijative i organizacije poslale pismo papi Franji". Križ života (in Croatian). 15 November 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  29. ↑ "Županijska skupština protiv dvojezičnosti". Vinkovačka televizija. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  30. ↑ "Potpora Stožeru". Vinkovačka televizija. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  31. ↑ "EU se neće mešati u spor oko ćirilice". Radio Television of Serbia. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  32. ↑ "Kacin očekuje pravu i jasnu reakciju Zagreba". Blic. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  33. ↑ [inserbia.info/today/2014/09/croatia-all-bilingual-signs-removed-and-smashed-in-vukovar/ InSerbia News]; accessed 27 May 2015.
  34. 1 2 3 Табле разбија ко стигне. Izvor, magazine of Joint Council of Municipalities (in Serbian). Vukovar (89). March 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  35. ↑ "'Srpska manjina je s jugovojskom sravnila Vukovar sa zemljom'". T-portal. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  36. ↑ "Išarali ćirilični natpis u Puli". T-portal. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  37. ↑ "Policija traga za razbijačima ćiriličnih ploča". T-portal. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  38. ↑ "PATRIJARH IRINEJ: 'Progon ćirilice je paravan za novi progon Srba u Hrvatskoj'". Jutarnji list. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Joint Council of Municipalities (December 2013). Олуја која не престаје (2) (PDF). Izvor Magazine (in Serbian). Vukovar (83). Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  40. ↑ "Ministarstvo uprave: Vukovar neće biti izuzet od uvođenja dvojezičnosti; HDZ čeka Ustavni sud". Slobodna Dalmacija. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  41. ↑ "Delegat Fife naredio skidanje transparenta 'Zapamtite Vukovar'". Večernji list. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  42. ↑ T-portal (18 November 2013). "Svjetski mediji o diverziji u Vukovaru". Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  43. ↑ "'Na veliku vukovarsku nesreću, ovo je još jedna nesreća'". T-portal. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  44. ↑ "Tomislav Josić trijumfira zbog blokade državnog vrha". T-portal. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  45. ↑ "U Slunju osnovan još jedan Stožer za obranu hrvatskog Vukovara". T-portal. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  46. ↑ "Leko: Događaji u Vukovaru malo podsjećaju na Splitsku rivu". Dnevnik Nove TV. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  47. ↑ "HDSSB traži izvanrednu saborsku sjednicu". Dnevnik Nove TV. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  48. 1 2 3 "Царе Фрањо помози!" (PDF). Joint Council of Municipalities. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  49. ↑ B92. "Ante Pavelić prvi zabranio ćirilicu". Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  50. ↑ "Zabranjena ćirilica u Vukovaru". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  51. ↑ "Ćirilica pred Ustavnim sudom". Glas Srpske. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
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