"Official Croatian data speak of 136.000 returnees, including those from Eastern Slavonia," Milorad Pupovac, a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb and a parliamentary representative, told Vreme. However, he adds that it was never a realistic figure. "At best, up to 80 refugees returned." Today, due to the high mortality rate and the return to Serbia, that number is even lower, around 000," says Pupovac.
What problems do Serb returnees face?? We know there are still many problems, from the reconstruction of destroyed houses, pension for the war period, and even lack of electricity in some villages...
The reconstruction of the destroyed houses has not yet been completed, and the housing of the former tenants has also not been completed. Trials for war crimes are still a problem, especially the non-sanctioning of crimes committed against Serbs. The question of unpaid pensions is acknowledged, but no answer is found. The biggest problem is sustainability, development, employment. People returned to devastated, devastated and neglected areas.
Do you see that some of the problems of the returnees have been completely resolved??
If there were no remaining cases, the return of property would be completely resolved, and there would be no danger that the state would start rewriting their land. Political representation is solidly resolved. The same could be said about the restoration of inter-ethnic trust if a campaign against the Cyrillic alphabet, anti-fascism and Serbs had not started. If the Government had been committed to solving the remaining issues, they could have been solved in the past three years.
What circumstances do returnees to cities face?, and with which those who return to rural areas? We see that Lika and Bania and Kordun are still almost empty, at least when we talk about the indigenous population.
In cities, the main problem is assimilation caused by fear of identity, and in rural areas, development and the possibility of economic survival. As far as apartments are concerned, it is particularly difficult to buy them, partly because of the high price, partly because of administrative obstruction.
Despite the laws, the Serbian national minority is today even less represented in the state administration than two years ago three years. How much, at all, the returnee has chances for employment in Croatia, despite the very high unemployment rate in the total population?
In state bodies and public institutions and companies, only as much as is ensured by political action, and that is too little, in private companies the situation is more favorable and it is easier to get a job there.
Even today, we witness relatively frequent arrests of Serbs, citizens of Croatia, accused of alleged war crimes. A few years ago, the Croatian authorities submitted lists of the accused to the authorities in Serbia, but it seems that there are still some secret indictments or investigations even against people who have been coming to Croatia for years without any problems. Do you see politics in that?, are those who say that this is also one of the ways to dissuade the fleeing Serbs from the idea of โโreturning, right??
Unfortunately, that was also a means of obstructing the return. In earlier years it was also a means of persecution. Despite some progress, the spirit of this type of judicial use is still active today.
A new wave of nationalist tensions is at work in Croatia, reinforced "with the question of the Cyrillic alphabet". Almost every day you are targeted by right-wing media and politicians, ali it should be noted it has been going on for almost three decades, so at least you can say: you are used to it. No, Serb refugees from Croatia also know something about this. From his position, what would you say to a young i, let's say, educated person who would like to return to Croatia, what to expect: perspective, or discrimination?
I can only say that we are fighting and will fight against discrimination and that we are creating prospects for education, and hopefully soon for employment. Sometimes we spend more energy in the fight against discrimination, and sometimes in creating perspectives. After all, these are two sides of our ducat.
