ZAGREB, March 4, 2019 – Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) leader and member of parliament Milorad Pupovac said on Monday that he was offended by the burning of an effigy of him at a carnival in the southern coastal town of Kaštel Sućurac on Sunday, which he sees as incitement to violence in an atmosphere of hate that is tolerated by the state’s top authorities.
“This is a signal for those who represent the state and society and not for that mindless crowd. Instead of expanding the boundaries of its freedom Croatian society is choking with hate, as shown at this carnival,” Pupovac told Hina commenting on Sunday’s incident.
A parody of a recent attack on Serbian water polo players in Split was played out during the carnival as well.
Pupovac believes that the event was not about the popular carnival culture of mocking those in power but rather about a culture of deepening hate and prejudice and incitement to violence.
“That was not an amusing, inventive Dalmatian carnival that provokes the government. Unfortunately, it was a manifestation of nationalism and chauvinism,” said Pupovac whose effigy was burned for the second time in three years in Kaštel Sućurac.
He added that as a Dalmatian he was deeply offended by the fact that one of the richest segments of popular tradition had been reduced to spreading hate and inciting violence against those who were weaker and different.
“But that’s not their fault. That is the fault of those who have created that atmosphere, who aren’t doing anything to condemn or change that sort of atmosphere,” said Pupovac.
More news on the position of Serbs in Croatia can be found in the Politics section.
