[REVISION HISTORY]

Controversy and vandalism over Pag island memorial

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2026-10-29 20:35 UTC → 2026-10-30 09:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Volunteers from Belgrade and Banja Luka recently restored a wooden Orthodox cross on Pag island near Metajna. The cross serves as a memorial to Serbian victims of Ustaše crimes during World War II at the Slana and Metajna death camps. The restoration work was documented by the association ‘Jadovno 1941.’, which is soliciting donations to maintain existing memorials and install new ones. Following the release of footage showing the renovation, authorities in Novalja contacted the State Attorney’s Office to investigate the circumstances of the placement and repair. Local officials noted that the area is a protected cultural heritage site requiring specific permits. Additionally, Croatian MP Predrag Mišić has called for police intervention and sanctions, raising concerns regarding the intentions of the association involved. Tensions escalated when the religious memorial at the former Slana camp site was vandalized. A group of youths from Metajna reportedly painted the Orthodox cross in the colors of the Croatian flag, specifically using a white first field associated with the symbols of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). Perpetrators also used spray paint to draw part of the Croatian coat of arms on nearby rocks and wrote the abbreviation ‘BDM’, referring to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This follows previous vandalism at the site, including the destruction of a memorial plaque dedicated to the camp victims earlier this year. Miodrag Linta, President of the Alliance of Serbs in the region, condemned the act as an ‘anti-civilizational insult to the victims of genocide and their descendants.’ He has called on the European Union to urge Croatian authorities to conduct an effective investigation and ensure the protection of memorial sites at the former camp locations.

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