storm - Hrvatski memorijalno-dokumentacijski centar Domovinskog ...

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“ETHNIC CLEANSING” OR SELF-WILLED DEPARTURE
The most intriguing part of Operation Storm and one that still causes most
controversies is the following question: did the rebel Serbs abandon the occupied
area of the Republic of Croatia (UNPA Sectors North and South) of their own
free will or were they expelled, i.e., did Croatia carry out ethnic cleansing of the rebel
Serbs with its Operation Storm? Some people blame Croatia on the basis of the “Brijuni
transcript”, which is interpreted in diff erent ways. Some interpretations are so radical that
they actually demonstrate total ignorance of the issue; thus, some individuals lay stress
on the “conspiracy theory” and experience war as a deal between Croatia’s and Serbia’s
leaders. 528 Actually, the issue cannot be reduced to the year 1995, but regarded instead
in the context of the historical process since the start of the Serbian rebellion in Croatia
up to the end of the war. Th e very fi rst statements of the rebel Serbs’ representatives
clearly expressed their position and refusal to recognize the lawfully elected Croatian
authorities, which soon spilled over into the position that coexistence with the Croats
would be impossible. Th e claim that life with the Croats was impossible dominated,
fi ve years aft er the breakout of the rebellion, in the RSK and in the public appearances
of its inhabitants, known and unknown alike. 529 Considering their mass turnout at the
plebiscite on the “autonomy of the Krajina” and their mass participation in the armed
rebellion, the massive departure of ethnic Serbs from Croatia was logical.
Th e departure of the Serbs from Croatia in large numbers was announced in the early
and in the fi nal phase of the war. Th us, in late September 1991 the JNA 169 th Motorized
Brigade from Loznica was transferred to Kordun within the scope of the off ensive of the
main body of the SFRY armed forces against Croatia. Th e brigade soon fell apart, and
it was decided to pull it back to Serbia. Th e decision provoked the response of the local
rebel Serb leadership: Th e news that you are withdrawing the 169 th Motorized Brigade
from the Karlovac position has spread across Kordun like wildfi re. People have started to
evacuate spontaneously, and there was anxiety, confusion and desertion among the troops.
If you let the 169 th mtbr leave its position before being replaced by another JNA unit, you
will be responsible for the disastrous consequences. Because of this, before you pull back the
528 Th us, the ease with which journalist A. Dragojević identifi es the Brijuni meeting with the Nazi plan for the
extermination of Jews in the Second World War demonstrates her total ignorance of the issue and concepts
at stake. Andrea Dragojević, “Brijunski protokol” (Th e Brijuni Protocol), Zarez, Zagreb 21, Oct. 204, 9.
529 For more see Nikica Barić, “Je li 1995. godine Hrvatska počinila ‘etničko čišćenje’ Srba?” (Did Croatia
Carry out ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ of the Serbs in 1995?), Časopis za suvremenu povijest, 36/2, 2004, 441-446.