The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister Tomo Medved, said on Saturday at the commemoration of the burial of 814 Croatian victims exhumed from the mass grave in the Jazovka pit, that it was also a call for uncompromising condemnation of the terrible crimes of the communist regime, as indicated by the declaration of the Parliament and the resolution of the European Parliament.
He emphasized that we need to uncover the truth about the crimes of totalitarianism and condemn the perpetrators.
"As a country, we condemn and commemorate all innocent victims of totalitarianism, because every innocent victim deserves memory and respect. It is our permanent duty and obligation to reveal the truth about crimes, to condemn the perpetrators and to pay tribute to all the victims, so that it is not forgotten and never happens again,'' said Minister Medved in his address at the commemorative program of the burial of the remains of the 814 victims exhumed from the Jazovka pit.
The commemoration was held on the European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes - Nazism, Fascism and Communism.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Croatian Veterans in Sošice organized the final farewell and burial of 814 victims from the mass grave in Jazovka.
These are victims of World War II and the post-war period, killed by members of Partisan units after the Battle of Krašić in 1943 and after the end of World War II in 1945, mainly wounded people from Zagreb hospitals, medical staff, civilians and nuns who were taken away by members of the Yugoslav army. Among them were three nursing nuns at the Vrapče Psychiatric Hospital, who were thrown into the pit.
"The commemoration is a call for uncompromising condemnation of the terrible crimes of the communist regime, as indicated by the declaration of the Croatian Parliament and the resolution of the European Parliament. Equally, we are aware that other crimes committed during World War II by the Nazi and fascist regimes left deep wounds in the Croatian people and throughout Europe," the minister emphasized.
Next to the grave where the coffins of 814 victims are buried, the Ministry erected a memorial, the work of academician Kuzma Kovačić, with the inscription "In memory of the 814 victims killed by the Partisans, the Yugoslav Army and the communist regime during and after World War II."
After years of searching, the Jazovka Cave was discovered in January 1989 by Karlovac speleologist Mladen Kuka.
"When you see an endless pile of bones in front of you, it's one thing that makes you numb. I prayed the Lord's Prayer and said that these people don't deserve this kind of end, no matter what they did," speleologist Kuka said at the commemoration.
Archbishop Kutleša: A terrible defeat of all humanity occurred here
Before the burial, a Holy Mass was held, led by Zagreb Archbishop Dražen Kutleša.
No sacrifice is in vain and no sacrifice should be forgotten, and as time passes, the agony and fear of those with 'bloody hands' increases, added Monsignor Kutleša.
"As well as the agony and fear of those who try to protect them, they sink deeper and deeper into the abyss of their own lies. This is precisely what hinders the true progress of society and the homeland in many ways. That is why hope rises from the Jazovka pit that the perpetrators of crimes and their protectors will repent, their conversion, and thus the healing of our society," emphasized the Zagreb archbishop.
Photo: HINA/Admir Buljubašić
