Published: September 30, 2002
View the Original Newsletter: Iskra-113.pdf
About This Issue
Iskra No. 113 captures one of the most emotional and politically charged moments in modern Croatian history. In this issue, Valentina Krčmar confronts the international indictment of General Janko Bobetko — a man she calls “the living conscience of Croatia’s defense.”
Through her editorials, she channels the collective anger and disbelief of Croatians worldwide as the Hague Tribunal demands his extradition. Her writing is fiery, unapologetic, and deeply patriotic, drawing clear lines between justice, betrayal, and survival.
This issue stands as both a defense of the Homeland War and a cry for unity among Croatians who, she insists, must not let the world rewrite their truth.
Editorial: “The Weight of the Indictment”
Valentina opens with a heartfelt letter to readers, acknowledging the heavy days facing Croatia. She reminds them that, just as during the Homeland War, the nation once again stands surrounded — facing judgment not on the battlefield but in the courtroom.
She urges Croatians not to lose faith and to stand behind their leaders, especially Prime Minister Ivica Račan, who publicly vowed that the government would not surrender General Bobetko to The Hague.
“These are not just political days; these are moral ones. If they condemn our generals for defending their homes, then they condemn us all.”
Her words carry both sorrow and resolve — a reminder that truth must be defended with courage, not complacency.
Motrišta: “The Indictment of General Bobetko — and of Us All”
In her main essay, Valentina writes passionately about the Hague’s decision to indict the 83-year-old general. She frames it not as an attack on one man but as an attack on the entire nation.
She condemns President Stjepan Mesić’s public statement comparing Bobetko’s “command responsibility” to that of Slobodan Milošević, calling it a betrayal.
“When the President of the Republic equates our general with the butcher of the Balkans, he condemns every mother, every soldier, every grave that bore Croatia’s name.”
She sympathizes with Prime Minister Račan, caught between international pressure and his duty to protect the country’s honor. “He stands before an impossible choice,” she writes, “yet there can be no compromise — for surrendering Bobetko would mean surrendering Croatia’s soul.”
Valentina argues that if Croatia accepts the Hague’s framing of the Medak Pocket operation as a crime rather than a defensive action, it rewrites the Homeland War as an aggression instead of liberation.
Her conclusion is raw and unyielding:
“If they take Bobetko, let them take us all. Because the only crime we committed was surviving.”
National and Community News
-
Račan: Croatia Will Not Extradite General Bobetko — The Prime Minister announces that the government will resist the Hague’s order, describing the Medak Pocket as a constitutional, defensive operation. Croatia, he says, is ready to bear the political cost to defend its dignity.
-
Legal Precedent: Croatia files a formal legal challenge to the Tribunal’s request — a first in Hague Court history. The move signals Croatia’s intent to assert its sovereignty and demand recognition of its right to self-defense.
-
Letters to the Editor: Readers express outrage at the indictment and solidarity with Bobetko, emphasizing that “every accusation against him is an accusation against the people who defended their homes.”
Cultural Spotlight
While politics dominates the headlines, Iskra also celebrates resilience through art and culture.
-
The North American premiere of the opera “Nikola Šubić Zrinski” is announced in Mississauga. Valentina calls it “a triumph of national spirit,” and writer Biserka Milinković urges the community to attend, describing the production as “a bridge between Croatian courage and Canadian pride.”
-
Croatian associations across Ontario hold picnics and gatherings to raise funds for humanitarian causes and cultural preservation.
Health and Home
The familiar lifestyle section offers comfort and continuity amid political turmoil:
-
“Defeat Pain” explores new therapies for chronic pain, with practical advice from Dr. Mira Frngler on non-drug treatments like acupuncture and physiotherapy.
-
Kitchen Corner: Tips on preserving summer vegetables for winter — sterilizing jars, pickling green beans, and canning tomatoes — a symbol of diligence and resourcefulness in uncertain times.
For the Youngest Readers
Children’s poems by Luko Paljetak and Anto Gardaš bring lightness to the issue, celebrating autumn with verses about falling chestnuts and golden September days.
Sports & Pride
A touching article honors Dražen Petrović, newly inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. His mother, Biserka, accepted the award, and his brother Aleksandar delivered an emotional speech celebrating his legacy as one of Europe’s greatest players.
“He gave us pride in being Croatian long before we had a country to call our own.”
Closing Reflection
Valentina ends her editorial with a note of hope — that despite isolation, Croatia’s unity will endure.
“We have been left alone before, and we will be again. But as long as truth burns within us, no court can judge our right to exist.”
Her words close the issue with the same fire that defines her legacy — a voice that refuses to let Croatia’s story be rewritten.
