CROATIA/FILE: Thousands commemorate the birthday of former Yugoslavian communist leader Tito

Record ID: 721692

  • Title: CROATIA/FILE: Thousands commemorate the birthday of former Yugoslavian communist leader Tito
  • Date: 26th May 2009
  • Summary: KUMROVEC, CROATIA (RECENT - MAY 23, 2009) (REUTERS) BUSES PARKED AT THE ENTRANCE TO KUMROVEC SIGN READING 'WELCOME TO KUMROVEC - TOURIST OFFICE' PEOPLE WALKING DOWN MAIN STREET IN KUMROVEC, PASSING STAND MAN CARRYING YUGOSLAVIAN FLAG WALKING THROUGH CROWD CROWD APPLAUDING, PEOPLE CARRYING YUGOSLAVIAN FLAGS AND PICTURES OF TITO (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) 21-YEAR OLD RASKA
  • Embargoed: 10th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2H6TONC7EMJTKYM62UJJ3BGKI
  • Story Text: Raska Topcagic never saw Yugoslavia 's communist leader Josip Broz Tito. She was born eight years after his death in 1980.
    Yet, she joined thousands of Croats, Bosnians and Slovenes who came to the quaint village of Kumrovec in north Croatia at the weekend, to mark the birthday of the man both revered as "the greatest son of Yugoslav people", and condemned as a war criminal and dictator by opponents.
    "My parents told me a lot about Tito. What kind of time it was. Usually people are nostalgic about those times. Capitalism has brought nothing good. This crisis and that kind of thing," said Topcagic, from the eastern Bosnian town of Tuzla, dressed in the traditional "pioneer" uniform of blue skirt, white shirt, red scarf and blue hat.
    "Croats should be proud that Tito was born here and not call him a war criminal," she said.
    Twenty-nine years after Tito's death, the debate about his role rages on as strong as ever in the Balkans.
    In Slovenia and Croatia, two westernmost ex-Yugoslav republics, several World War Two mass graves were excavated this year, containing the remains of hundreds of soldiers who were executed by Tito's communist army right after the war.
    Most of them were members of the Croat Ustasha troops who had collaborated with the Nazis.
    The discoveries prompted some right-wing parties and human rights groups in both countries to call for a revision of Tito's role, saying he must have known of the killings -- which had been taboo during 45 years of communism.
    A book entitled "Tito As He Really Was" was published in Croatia and Serbia this month. Its author, who spent years researching old archives, says Tito had ordered the executions.
    At the same time, Tito supporters in Serbia will on Monday (May 25) run the 'relay', a traditional race held all over Yugoslavia in Tito's times, in which a baton with birthday wishes for Tito was carried around the country and handed over to him on May 25.
    And the city council in Slovenia 's capital Ljubljana is due to vote later on Monday on a proposal to once again name a Ljubljana street after Tito. Surveys say the majority of Ljubljana residents are in favour.
    Tito, a half-Croat, half-Slovene, regularly tops the list of the most influential Croats. For many he remains the symbol of an era when education and health were free for all, unemployment was unheard of, and pensions and wages were paid on time.
    Although critics say he ruled with an iron fist, he is particularly praised for steering Yugoslavia away from rigid Stalinism and allowing people to travel to the West much more freely than from other communist countries.
    Unlike him, few communist-era leaders are still revered in other east European countries. The global crisis only boosted Tito's image of a great leader who looked after everyone.
    "I guarantee with my life that there wouldn't be such a crisis if Tito was alive. He was honest and did not steal, while those today have robbed us," said 76-year-old Veljko Jerebar, from the Adriatic town of Trogir.
    Sebastijan Horvat, a 37-year old Slovene from Kamnik, voiced a similar feeling, shared by many ex-Yugoslavs. "Those who oppose Tito should stop and think -- who enabled them to get good education and build houses?" he said.
    A lot of people coming to Kumrovec see this event as get together of those who think of Tito fondly, as a person who took care of them, gave them education, work, health care and social stability, something that nowadays many do not have.
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