SNV: La vergonzosa presencia de un historiador en HRT, que ha dicho mentiras sobre la insurrección en Serbia

The Serbian National Council (SNV) has issued an open letter to the leadership of Croatian Radio Television (HRT), expressing concern over the appearance of historian Marija Jareb on a HRT program. The letter criticizes Jareb’s statements as false revisionist claims regarding the uprising in Serbia during World War II. According to the letter, which was signed by spokesperson Eugen Jakovčić, Jareb's remarks were allowed by editor Mislav Togonol, enabling her to broadcast misleading historical narratives through the public service broadcaster. In the letter, the SNV states that such actions undermine the credibility of the public service institution. It notes that Jareb claimed that Serbs were led by chetniks against the then ruling regime of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), asserting that communists were very few and collaborated with Italian occupying forces. The SNV argues that these claims contradict established historical records and fail to acknowledge the atrocities committed by Ustase forces prior to the uprising. The SNV further emphasizes that Croatia, according to its constitution, was founded in opposition to the NDH. It calls upon all citizens who value the principles of the Croatian Constitution to reject paying for such a degradation of the public service. The letter urges the public to attend a planned public discussion on the events related to the uprising in Serbia, scheduled for Monday at 7:15 PM. This discussion will feature historians Milan Radanović, Igor Mrkalj, and Ivo Goldstein. The SNV has requested that the editor Togonol and the public follow the live broadcast of this discussion on the council’s Facebook page. Additionally, the SNV has asked the head of HRT, Elijana Čandrlić, to halt further broadcasts of Jareb’s statement. The council asserts that the content represents a conversation not grounded in historical facts, distorts history with the aim of inciting hatred, and therefore does not belong in a public radio program. Jareb, in her statement to HRT, spoke about the occasion of the uprising, claiming that Serbs were raised by chetniks against the then ruling regime of the NDH. She stated that there were very few communists and that they collaborated with the Italian occupying authorities. While she accused the insurgents of committing ethnic cleansing against Croats and Muslims in the area, she did not mention the crimes committed by the Ustase before the uprising, according to the SNV. The SNV has called for greater awareness and accountability, emphasizing the importance of accurate historical representation. The council believes that the airing of such revisionist views undermines the integrity of the public service and risks fostering division among the population. The upcoming public discussion aims to provide a balanced perspective on the historical events in question, offering insights from respected historians who have studied the period extensively. As the situation unfolds, the SNV continues to monitor the response from both HRT and the broader public. The council remains committed to ensuring that historical discourse remains rooted in factual accuracy and contributes positively to national understanding. The outcome of the public discussion and the subsequent actions taken by HRT will likely shape the ongoing dialogue around historical narratives in Croatia.