Evictions

On Wednesday, June 13, three families were moved out of their homes in Zagreb - the most interesting being the first one that day - Stipe Mesic: ex-Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, the first Croatian mandatary, the last President of the ex-Yugoslavia Presidency, renegade of the Croatian Democratic Community and founder and Chairman of the Croatian Independent Democrats (HND). Although the public has been of the opinion that it was high time that a politician undergoes an eviction like the ones carried out throughout Croatia for the past two years - without the possibility of opposing them, preventing them and stopping them, the throwing out of Stipe Mesic from the apartment he was granted by the Republic of Croatia shocked the whole public.

Mesic was not successful even when he adduced to his MP immunity which should protect him from such situatrions. "I was granted this apartment by the Government for official use, I did not request residential rights nor do I believe it is necessary for someone to be granted the residential rights while he is in office. When he leaves the office, he should return the apartment. Thiefs, of course, have so far gotten residential rights and bought the apartments they were officially granted for use. I did not do that. From the Government, I got a furnished, nationalized apartment from which the city authorities are moving me out. They came last night and I adduced to my MP immunity. The policemen told me they had orders from the top to move me out even by force. I heard that Minister Jarnjak did not take part in this and that I was moved out personally by President Tudjman. He is telling us that we should all get rid of our illusions about whom Croatia belongs to and whom it protects. The only thing left for him to do after this is to kill me!", Mesic told the Herald Novi List.

He then moved his belongings to his neighbor and friend Izet Hajdarhodzic and found tenmporary lodgings in the apartment of his daughter, who lives in downtown Zagreb, not far from the apartment he was moved out of. The eviction was attended by Zvonimir Separovic, who said: "See what's happening today to a parliamentarian and you'll see what we would face with the Croatian Democratic Union in power tomorrow."

STRIPES

There is a rule that farmers go for "extra-curriculum activities" only on religious holidays - when they are not working. Abiding by that rule, the villagers of Mijaci blocked on September 11 (the day when St. John was beheaded) the regional road Valjevo-Bajina Basta, in the very center of their local community. The reason? Bad roads, water, electricity, telephone problems and they want their hunters' club independent. Although the regonal authorities did not even take a second look at the tractor blockade - which rendered impossible the traffic all day - everything was under control because several police patrols followed the situation. The blockade was somewhat disrupted by a driver of a white Mercedes Benz with Belgrade license plates- a man with a black bandana with white polka dots identified as rock star Oliver Mandic, who stepped out of his car with a "Kalashnikov" and began talking "Serbian" with the farmers. The present police intervened when they noticed what was happening, but when Mandic identified himself as one of Arkan's "tigers", it turned out that Mr. Raznatovic's "stripes" not only legalized Kalashnikovs, but secured passage for the Mercedes and its owner.

PRIZE

There are no deviations when celebrations are in question. The Valjevo city authorities decided to appropriately mark its Liberation Day - September 15. The work on the pipeline will begin, the water plant will be tested, wreaths lain on the monument, recruits seen off to the army, pure-bred horses and jockeys parade will be exhibited, and UN has already been sent an ultimatum to stop bombing the Serbs in Bosnia. The celebration of the anniversary has improved, because it officially includes the TV promotion of Tesnjar Eves. The local authorities' concern for the media is evident not only in this TV show, which was paid a lot, but also by awarding the local herald Napred with the City Plaque. The explanation of why Napred got the award said that this herald was 50 years old, had 24 pages, its own circulation and a style reflecting objectivity, promptness and professionalism. This truth is proven by the fact that Napred is one of the rare local heralds still existing as a socially-owned firm - it has been so progressive and celebratedly objective that the authorities have no need to nationalize it, but rather award it for such a high level of professionalism.

HOLY RIGHT HAND

Democratic Party leader, Dr. Zoran Djindjic, displayed his religion and devotion to peace in an unprecedented birthday greeting to Patriarch Pavle (Even Vuk Draskovic can envy him on the archaicism of his language and the effective inversion at the end): "We wish you a happy birthday - hoping that Your Holy Right Hand will guide for a long time, with God's help, to peace and a brighter future - our Holy Orthodox Church and our people" (!).

PLAGUE

The ratio between birth rate and death rate in Belgrade has fallen from 0.68 percent (1991) to 0.04 percent in 1993. The situation is critical in the municipalities of Vracar, Stari Grad and Savski Venac (in which, needless to say, the opposition triumphed).