Croatian Homeland War Veterans

May 9, 2006

Dear Croatian Homeland War Veterans,  
 
Recent events concerning the physical, psychological and emotional state of many Croatian Homeland Veterans is disturbing and troublesome.  Recent events report veterans without proper and adequate retirement incomes, lack of viable job opportunities and some veterans have even resorted to suicide as a last resort. Since the end of the Homeland War, reports indicate over 1,600 veterans have committed suicude.
 
This must stop.
 
The Croatian Worldwide Association defends our veterans just as they bravely and courageously defended Croatia and the Croatian people.  We are fully aware the current Croatian government needs to be accountable and is directly responsible for what is happening to our veterans. The government is full of selfish and corrupt opportunists who only see themselves, their egos and what they can gain personally out of their "elected" positions.  These individuals are cowards who have no idea what it means to fight and defend your country; yet, they hold positions of power and abuse their status to become richer and richer while tearing the country to shreds and driving Croatia's economy further into a black hole.

For centuries, Croatians dreamed of a free and independent Croatia.  When we sought secession, we did it peacefully and showed the world, "we are against Yugoslav Communism and Yugoslav Communist rule."  Then, we were brutally invaded and attacked. It was you, the veterans, who stood up, put on a Croatian uniform, went out into the battlefields and faced years of danger throughout Croatia and Bosna-Hercegovina.

The homeland war was a unwanted war imposed on our people by a barbaric colonist intent on destroying anything and everything Croatian. The defence of our culture, our language, our nation was and is a unalienable right that belongs to all human beings. How can we stand by while those that bled our soil with their blood be systematically be criminalized by the government they once stood to defend. The current government honors our war veterans with police beatings and brutality and who are unable to defend themselves because of limbs lost in defense of our homeland.  The government systematically pardons war criminals for the most bestial crimes against humanity committed against those very same people. We must stand-up against this tyranny, honor our war dead and those by the grace of God lucky enough to return to theeir homes and families.  
 
It is you the veterans, who showed your true hearts and love for the homeland.  It is you, the veterans, who defended this beautiful country and these beautiful people. It was you, the veterans, who died, who are now invalids, who bleed, who witnessed first-hand fellow soldiers die on the battleground, who sacrificed your own lives, so all Croatians can live to see a free and democratic Croatia. For all of this, the Croatian people thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We will never forget what you did.
 
The time has now come that all walks of life in Croatia who oppose this blatant example of geo-political barter speak out, be that via peaceful demonstrations or running for political office.  Croatians must come together and let the world know our proper past, present, and future history.  Unfortunately, the current portrayal of General Gotovina, the Homeland Veterans, and of the Croatian people, on the whole, has been grossly distorted. We must work together to correct these false portrayals.
 
The truth of the matter is, Croatia may be attacked again. If this does happen, will you fight for us again? What do we tell our future generations of young Croatians today? Do not defend your homeland, because if you do, you are going to be sent to The Hague by your own government?  
 
Dear veterans,
 
We honor and respect each and every one of you brave soldiers.  We all know if it was not for your bravery during Croatia's darkest and saddest hours, we would have not had a free Croatia. While the aggressors were murdering and torturing our people, bombing and shelling our beautiful towns and cities, you stood up and defended us and our homeland. 
 
We will continue to fight to defend your freedom, just how you fought and defended all of us.  Please be assured, the fight is not over. Please have faith in the Croatian people that we will come out strong and defeat all those who are against us. This energy, passion and dedication runs through the deepest veins of our blood. Yes, we have been betrayed, but now is the time to stand up and take control, organize and move forward. The Croatian spirit cannot and will not broken.
 
We are not giving up. We must not give up. We will not give up. We, the Croatian people, stand behind our Homeland Veterans.