Croatia's verdict

"The Croatian war was a war for liberty! And not criminal act!"

I'm standing in the main square in Zagreb and staring at the sign in front of me. The sign is attached to a military tent, where Croatian war veterans have gathered to oppose the conviction of Generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markač. It's not so crowded today, but when the verdict was announced in the Hague two weeks ago, the main square was full of booing and hissing Croats. 

In Croatia these two Generals are viewed as war heroes and feelings about the trial are strong. International Criminal Court convicted Gotovina and Markač of "persecution, deportation, plunder, wanton destruction, two counts of murder, inhumane acts and cruel treatment", which took place during the Operation Storm between July and September 1995.

Croatia's prime minister Jadranka Kosor has stated the operation was legitimate, aiming at liberating Croatian territory from occupation. Many Croats feel the verdict is a judgement for the whole country and questions the legitimacy of their war of independence.

It makes me wonder. How true is the saying "someone's terrorist is someone else's freedom fighter"?


Trialing the Generals has been major issue concerning EU membership talks with Croatia. EU already postponed them once, claiming that Croatia hadn't done enough to bring war criminals to justice. War criminals, who in fact for Croatia, are war heroes. So how badly does Croatia want to join European Union? Badly enough, since the Generals eventually were caught and trialed.

Croatia is now likely to become a member of EU next year. But at what cost? Not all Croats embrace this. They claim that Croatia has been ruled by other countries long enough.

Economically Croatia is surprisingly strong, growing country. Even though the unemployment rate is high and the deficit growing, the inflation is low and the currency, Kuna, remains stable. As a member of European Union Croatia would benefit financially, since it would receive various fundings especially for maintaing the magnificent nature and forests.

Being a member of European Union, however, is far more than money. And somehow I get the feeling many Croats don't really care about the money. They care about their own nation. They want to feel the real independence and embrace their national identity.

But what do I know? I'm just another European. So with the words of the famous Croatian writer Miroslav Krleža, I'll finish for now:


"Europe never knew more about the stars, about illnesses, about the agonies and mysteries of life than it knows today; and while today it knows more than ever before, and questions everything it knows, Europe doesn’t know what it knows and has no idea whatsoever about what it wants."

 

Egypt in my heart

When I watched the sunset and the stars spread across the sky in Sahara almost two years ago, I knew Egypt would hold a special place in my heart for years to come.

I spent two awesome summers in Aleksandria, studying Arabic and making many wonderful friends. And it was these friends, intelligent and passionate young Egyptians, who made me convinced that Egypt could have a brilliant future. 

When the revolution began in Egypt I really wanted to be there. Unfortunately it was not possible for me. I was excited for my friends, yet worried at the same time. 

I don't think the world will ever be the same again after this huge wave of revolutions sweeping across the Arabic world. And I don't just mean the changes that may or may not occur in those countries: I mean the West will never be the same again. 

In the article “The disappearance of the nightmare Arab” (published in Huffington Post 9th of March) a writer and a columnist James Carroll writes:

“After two months of world-historic protest and rebellion in streets and squares across the Arab world, we are finally waking up to another reality: that this was our bad dream, significantly a creation of our own fevered imaginations.”

Carroll is referring to the image that most Westerns have of Arabs: angry Muslims who seek to destroy all non-believers. But now it’s really a time to wake up and see the reality. Carroll calls the revolution in Arabic world “the revolution of hope”. He says that now, at the very least, we in the West must reckon with this overturning of the premises of our prejudice.

While in many countries the situation remains unstable and even severly dangerous, like in Libya, in Egypt the changes have begun. There are many obstacles still on the way and it’s not going to be painless. But the people of Egypt have shown such strength and courage that I have no doubt that they will never give up. And this revolution will be theirs, and theirs only, no one can take it from them.

With the words of Sami Yusuf I wish all the best for Egypt:
 

"Don't give up nor despair
There's nothing you can't repair

You can change this world to a better world"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-carroll/the-disappearance-of-the-_b_833654.html

Goodbye Finland

It's about three months now since I left my home country. You might wonder if I miss Finland - I don't. I love my life, every bittersweet piece of it. I enjoyed my time with my friends and family in Finland, but it wasn't for me. I am meant to travel with the wind, not knowing about tomorrow.

So I left. I gave away pretty much everything I owned (which really wasn't much..), packed my one suitcase and hit the road. I based myself more or less in the Netherlands; more or less because half the time I'm all over Europe. But international journalism studies keep me somewhat tied to the Netherlands until June. 

And that is one huge reason for my leaving as well: journalism. I have a hunger for knowledge, understanding and truth. I enjoy writing and photographing. I want to tell stories, but not just any stories, stories that are true: stories that are interesting, touching, sad, happy, funny, important - or just annoying.

I consider myself merely a student of life. A student, who might be able to pass on information and encourage wider aspects of thinking. Not that my thinking is so wide, no. I need some encouragement as well. 

An experienced journalist, whom I hugely respect, once told me that journalism is about searching the truth and uncovering injustice. It sounds very sophisticated, very idealistic. But then again, journalism is an idealogy.
Idealogy that says everyone has the right to know what is going on in the world or in their country.

Same journalist also told me that journalism is never about the journalist but always about the topic itself. I agree with that. So I will try to make my blog more about different topics and less about me. If I sometimes concentrate too much on myself, apologies for that in advance, please remind me of the values of journalism.

I sincerely hope you will accompany me to my travels and adventures all over the world - and enjoy it too. If you have criticism for me, I welcome that as well. My only goal is to make you think - about what? Doesn't matter. Something you haven't thought of before. But just think (outside the box).

To end my first blog text I will use a writer much greater than myself: C.H. Lawrence:


"I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself.
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
without ever having felt sorry for itself."