Bleiburg Field Official Letter of Request.

In a follow up to my most recent editorial regarding the potential flooding of Bleiburg (Polje) Field, and promise to follow this up with The Croatian Ambassador and Embassy officials in Australia, the following was issued today.

Additionally, I have reached out to a prominent Australian Croatian Diasporan Lawyer now residing in Croatia advising that pending the outcome of responses received, I will be gathering likeminded Croats in order to initiate arbitration as detailed in the letters text.

Below is an image of the actually letter and the transcript of the contents.

Za Domovinu Spremni / For Homeland Ready.

John

RE: Bleiburg (Polje) Field

Dear Honourable Ambassador,

I write to you with a heavy heart regarding a potential matter that has recently come to light regarding Bleiburg (Polje) Field and the alleged plans by the Austrian Government / Local Bleiburg Authorities of this region to conduct works which ultimately will render the immediate land inaccessible.

As a citizen of Croatia, and descendant of family members that where either casualties of the mass genocide instigated by Broz Tito’s Communist Partisans after the 12^th of May 1945, or survivors of the Krizni Put which is considered as having originated from this location, I feel that this is a matter that not only concerns Croatian citizens currently living within the Republic of Croatia, but inclusively those of us living in the International Croatian Diaspora.

I have it on good advice (If I may use the term for lack of a better one) That  the Austrian Government / Local Bleiburg Authorities intend to implement a solution to the “Croatian question” concerning Bleiburg and participation of Croatian subjects such as myself attending memorial services there by creating a man-made lake which will flood the field and render any pilgrimage to it untenable.

The information I have obtained and have subsequently made public across the International Croatian Diaspora suggests that these works are well past the planning stage and are currently in the first stages of implementation.

Reinforcing once again that I am a citizen of Croatia, and descendant of family members effected by the circumstances directly connected to or transpiring from events which originated at Bleiburg (Polje) Field, I find any possibility of this occurring or even being considered inconsumable and a direct violation of human rights as prescribed by the Council of Europe, of which both The Republic of Croatia and The Republic of Austria are signatories too.

Under ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) Convention Article’s 9 (Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion), 10 (Freedom of expression), and 11 (Freedom of assembly and association) a clear pathway exists to challenge any potential fulfilment of such plans as I described in my opening paragraphs.

Please keep in mind, that Bleiburg field represents casualties not only of surrendered Axis aligned Croatian Armed Forces Personnel, but a civilian representation that was verified by The British HQ 5^th Corps in communications on the 15^th of May 1945.

That communication was 3 days after the surrender of these troops to the British 8^th army, and 7 days after the surrender of the Axis. The 18 Croat divisions that had escorted the civilians to British lines, were reported in the official communication which substantiates those military personnel numbered 200,000 and the civilian population an additional 500,000.

Bleiburg field represents not only a place of surrender and betrayal of Prisoner of war rights as detailed in the “Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of war, Geneva, 27^th of July 1929”, which was relevant at the time in question, but more so the treatment of Croatian civilians which constituted the greater proportion of surrendered humans at Bleiberg on the 12^th of My 1945. It is for this reason that Bleiburg (Polje) Field constitutes a legitimate and bonified place of remembrance to the genocide of Croats for Croatian descendants.

Based on the above grievances, I wish to submit the following questions to the Ambassador for her most urgent consideration and reply.

1. Is the Croatian Government aware of Austrian Government / Local Bleiburg Authority plans underway to render no access to the Bleiburg Field of remembrance by means of a permanent man-made lake?

 

2. If not, I request that they verify in writing that they are, or are not aware, and in either instance either provide public comment regarding what is known or make further enquiry so as to confirm and provide further information via diplomatic dialogue.

 

3. That they advise the Australian (And International) Croatian Diaspora of any and all mechanisms available so as to lodge official complaint with a view to curtailing these works through Croatian and Austrian Diplomatic channels and or Judicial arbitration.

 

4. Should these plans / works be confirmed through the course of your subsequent inquiry, we pose the question, will the Croatian Government step forward and lead diplomatic efforts to address this matter or show cause and reason why they may refuse to?

I forward this request of my own undertaking, however wish to advise that it is representative of the greater Australian and International Croatian Diaspora and therefore should nevertheless be treated as an open letter of request.

With my sincerest thanks in anticipation of your timely response.

Davorin (John) Ovčarić