As Dalmatia continues to burn on August 25, 2017, so too does the hysteria that the fires are being deliberately started by Serbs. A look at some of the facts available.
Anyone who has visited this dry and brutally hot summer will have been exposed to the tragedy of the forest fires which have raged all summer, even coming to the very gates of Split. The abnormality of the number of the fires is reflected in the statistics. While forest fires are very common in Dalmatia especially in the hot summers, there have so far been 4,907 fires this year, compared to ‘just 1,905 in 2016.
It did not take long for the rumours to start on the Internet, that these fires were being started by the Serbs, a deliberate act of terrorism. And it certainly did look suspicious that at least some of these fires were started deliberately, a claim that was given some credence on June 20, when Gradac firefighters posted what they said was evidence of an arsonist at work. The Internet, that bastion of free speech and conspiracy theory, especially in this exceptionally beautiful but troubled part of the planet, was in little doubt who was behind this new form of terrorism. And then, on August 21, their claims were vindicated – Serbs!
Well kind of.
August 21 – 6 minors brought in for causing fire near Radučići (Krka National Park), 2 of them charged and sentenced to one month in prison (two are members of Serbian minority in Croatia, one was a cousin visiting from Serbia)
The arrests continued.
August 22 – a man (28, mentally ill) arrested in Knin for using a lighter to light a fire.
August 22 – a woman (75) was burning old clothes out in the open, causing a small fire near Biskupija.
August 23 – two women (21 and 24 or 25, different records on different portals) brought in for causing fire in Brgud, near Benkovac. Serbs were involved in this one too, in a way. One of the Croatian arsonists started the fires in a Serb-majority village out of vengeance.
August 23 – a man (22) caught while lighting a fire using his cigarette in Podumci (near Šibenik)
(An overview of the August 22 and 23 arrests here)
August 25 – a minor arrested for causing six fires (July 11 – August 23, January 9) in Žagrović, using a lighter and a magnifying glass, causing a new fire every time he saw the fire-fighters put out an old one.
We called the Sibenik police station today to learn more about the identity of the alleged arsonist arrested today, to be told that he was a national of the Republic of Croatia. They said that they never comment on ethnicity. Unofficial sources on further investigation indicate that he is a Croatian minor with a mental illness. That has not been confirmed, but let’s have a look at what has been confirmed above.
This is what I see as a foreigner.
Number of people charged – 12
Number of Serb nationals – 1 (3 including ethnic Serbs), all of whom are minors.
Number of non-Serb nationals – 11 (9 including ethnic Serbs)
Number of minors – 7
Number of non-minors – 5
Number of people arrested under 26 – 10
Number of people arrested over 26 – 2
Number of Serbs (including ethnic Serbs) who are not minors – 0
It seems to be that the biggest danger to Croatia with fires is this ethnic group called ‘minors’ and the other one called ‘under 26’, otherwise known as disaffected youth.
I have long ago learned that a foreigner has no right to an opinion in Croatia, but I leave you with a thought for the day, which is this:
If all the energy which perpetuates the hatreds of the past were channelled into something more positive and creative, perhaps the climate would be a bit more hopeful, and the disaffected a little less disenchanted. Which would enable Croatia’s firefighters to have the occasional day at the beach each summer, and for its gorgeous nature to continue to shine without the need for its pointless and wilful destruction.
