Recognition for Slovenia, Croatia

I would like to congratulate Elizabeth Shogren on her Sept. 4 article, “Minority Russians Fearful About Future in the Baltics.” She touched upon the genuine fears and concerns of a rather large Russian minority that resides in a breakaway Soviet republic. The conclusion one can draw is that there are real dangers when a provincial government sponsors nationalism and chauvinism and how that can encourage the majority to trample on the rights of the minority.

In Yugoslavia, that is basically why the Serbs in Croatia revolted when Croatia declared independence last June. When Croatian nationalists came to power in May, 1990, the transformation began. Serbs were coerced into signing an allegiance to the Croatian state. The ones that did not sign lost their jobs. Open antagonism, threats and ridicule became more common.

People that basically lived peacefully together for years became enemies. The government-sponsored antagonism reminded many Serbs of the early campaigns conducted by the Croatian Ustasha before the real atrocities began against the Serbian minority during World War II.

The Croatian government labels the Serbs as terrorists and communists. The truth is that these people are the victims fighting for their freedom and existence. They are battling a provincial government that has been denying them their civil rights, freedom and culture. Croatian policy towards the Serbian minority there is simply this: Assimilate or leave.

DIMITRIJE LJOTIC

Irvine