The Municipality of Cerna has abandoned the construction of a memorial for the four-member Olujić family, who were killed in that town during the Homeland War. This was reported by Večernji list (available here, archived here). The initial plan was for the Municipality of Cerna, at the initiative of the Association of Croatian Veterans from the Homeland War of the Municipality of Cerna and the Association of Underage Volunteers of the Homeland War, to place a memorial plaque in the park for the Olujić family, who were brutally murdered in Cerna on February 17, 1992. The family consisted of four members: Radomir (37), who was of Serbian nationality; Anica (36), a Croatian; and their two minor children, Milena and Marko. They were killed in their home in Cerna.

As the Mayor of the Municipality of Cerna, Josip Štorek, stated on his Facebook profile: „All the necessary approvals for the project have been obtained, including that of the Ministry of Croatian Veterans, which also expressed interest in co-financing the project. Additionally, a public forum was held where all residents had the opportunity to voice their opinions.”

The memorial plaque was supposed to be installed on February 17 this year, on the anniversary of the murder. However, as the date approached, some veterans and residents opposed it and began preparing protests. At a new session of the municipal council, the councilors voted against placing the memorial plaque.

After facing pressure and a new session of the municipal council, Mayor Štorek announced the suspension of the project. He did not respond to journalists’ calls but stated on his Facebook profile that the decision was made “to avoid further divisions and disagreements.”

According to Večernji list, Milenko Bilić, a member of the Association of Croatian Veterans from the Homeland War of the Municipality of Cerna, stated that the main reason for opposing the installation of the memorial plaque – primarily driven by one individual – was the fact that the victims were Serbs. He added that it was deemed not good for Cerna or Croatia and that Serbs would come to the memorial plaque to light candles.

We have fact-checked the details of this case, specifically the claim that the memorial plaque should not be installed because the victims were Serbs and that it would not be good for Cerna or Croatia.

The claim that placing a memorial plaque for the murdered residents of Cerna would be contrary to the interests of the Republic of Croatia is false for the following reasons:

• · The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia defines that everyone in the Republic of Croatia has rights and freedoms, regardless of their race, skin color, gender, language, religion, political or other beliefs, social origin, property, birth, education, social status, or other characteristics. All citizens are equal before the law. Furthermore, equality is promoted in the Constitution as one of the highest values of the constitutional order and as the starting point for interpreting the Constitution.
• · The claim that placing a memorial plaque for the murdered Serbian family would be contrary to the interests of the Municipality of Cerna simply because they were Serbs is contrary to the highest legal act of the Republic of Croatia and constitutes incitement to discrimination.
• · Furthermore, the Croatian Veterans’ Rights Act, in Article 6, stipulates that the Ministry, in order to overcome and mitigate the consequences of the Homeland War, implements co-financing projects for the construction, installation, or arrangement of memorials for victims of the Homeland War. It was this ministry that, during the public consultation process, gave its approval for the installation of the memorial plaque for the Olujić family and directed the initiators to apply for the ministry’s grant to secure the necessary funds.

There are no unknowns in the case of the murder of the Olujić family. On February 17, 1992, five members of an attached unit of the Croatian Army, unlawfully entered the family home and killed Radomir and Anica (the father and mother), as well as their underage children Milena and Marko. An investigation into the crime was launched in 2005, and the perpetrators were found at that time, with their sentences ranging from 7 to 20 years in prison in 2008.

Therefore, in the final court proceedings, it was established that these were innocent victims who were killed during the Homeland War, the motives for the murders were identified, and the perpetrators were found guilty of the criminal offense of war crimes against the civilian population (the verdict is available here).

From all of the above, it is clear that placing the memorial plaque for the Olujić family is fully in line with the interests of the Republic of Croatia and the values proclaimed in its constitution and laws. Opposition to the placement of the memorial plaque on the grounds that the victims were Serbs is contrary to the Constitution, the Croatian Veterans’ Rights Act, international law, and constitutes incitement to discrimination in accordance with the Anti-Discrimination Act.

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