Croatia: Police Breaks Up Peaceful Protest in Zagreb

Croatian police earlier today broke up a peaceful protest against usurpation of public space in the center of Zagreb and arrested at least 11 civic activists. The Twitter feed with the street name #Varsavska is the main source of immediate info and photos.

Civic associations Right to the City and Green Action have been blocking the Varšavska [= Warsaw] street for months in order to prevent the demolition of this public space — a pedestrian zone — in order to build a ramp for the underground garage of a private ‘lifestyle centre’ [CRO] at the very center of Zagreb. Their work has been supported by thousands of citizens who would show up at numerous protests, and cultural events organized in the reclaimed public space.

This morning the Police arrested the core group of protesters to make way for construction crews to cut down the “undesirable” trees in this pedestrian zone. Protest participant tmedak tweeted [CRO]:

News from the police van: 11 persons arrested for passive resistance #Varsavska

He also posted a photo of the police moments before they started the “enforcement.” Other participants and witnesses used phone calls, Twitter, Twitpic and yFrog to share immediate info and photos from the event.

Croatian police deals with the protesters. Photo by Mario Mikic.

Twitter user topssy documented the event through photos:

Infopunkt published a video clip from the scene on YouTube

Twitter user krunovidic addressed [CRO] the selective use of force in this case:

I expect the police to do the same to the peasants when they block the roads next time, and use the same methods as with the crew of #Varsavska

Macedonian blogger Andrej also spread the news [MKD] and a link to a live video feed [CRO] using them as an example of how citizens should fight for their rights.

1 comment

  • icetea

    croatia has gained its idependance and freedom in 1995. elected officials promissed to enforce democracy, 15 years later, the same party commited more than a milion of criminal acts, which resulted in failure of croatian economy, millions left with out a way to make ends meet. the same party then stole tax money and sold croatian property and government facilities to foreign entities who have no interest in croatian future other than destroying the most beautiful nature of croatia and build factories (croatians are not for sale, neither is their land), world wildlife has arleady stoped this from happening once, now 85% of croatian people are trying to stop it, by peacefully protesting on the street. but did you hear their cry for help? if you didnt its because croatian media is not covering it the way it really is – they keep manupilating with the number of protestors, they say its only few thousand of them when in fact it is 85% of the nation!! so shouldnt the criminals be in jail regardless of the false media coverage? please help croatia to free it self of corruption!

    croatians do not want to sell their land to EU because croatians are highly educated, and why should they be slaves in their own land to foreign bosses? young, healthy, hard-working and educated people should have an option to decide the paths of their own future, not being manipulated by some criminal organization who was elected on lies! they promised democracy but delivered dictatorship!

    Croatia is not for sale, and croatian people are not bred to be slaves on Earth! Help Crotians free them selves of corruption! thank you!

Join the conversation

Authors, please log in »

Guidelines

  • All comments are reviewed by a moderator. Do not submit your comment more than once or it may be identified as spam.
  • Please treat others with respect. Comments containing hate speech, obscenity, and personal attacks will not be approved.