The controversy around the Za Dom Spremni salute continues as HNS claims a Government who doesn’t implement the change is ”unacceptable”.
As Večernji List reported on the 26th of August, 2017, HNS has claimed that they have reached an agreement with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic regarding the rather sore subject of the HOS memorial at Jasenovac, the site of a former Second World War camp located in the municipality of Jasenovac in Sisak-Moslavina County.
The apparent agreement involves the removal of the sign which bears the controversial salute and HNS expects HDZ to adhere to the demand following HNS’s statement that it should be removed ”as soon as possible”.
“HNS has reached an agreement with the Prime Minister and we expect this agreement to be respected.”
According to a statement from HNS, the party believes that the pressing issue for Croatia today is the urgent implementation of quality education/curricular reforms and projects that ensure economic progress. HNS states that ”fascist” features or attributes are not needed in Croatia, nor do ”citizens deserve to be burdened with discussions on a subject that must have only one conclusion: removing the board in the shortest possible time.”
Despite debates surrounding the age of the salute, Za Dom Spremni (Ready For the Homeland/For Homeland Ready) was used during the time of Ante Pavelic’s reign in the Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945) and although it was used during by Croatian defence forces during the Homeland War during the 1990s, the salute has taken on a negative connotation for some, hence the controversy surrounding it from all sides of the political spectrum.
