Organization of fighters of the National Liberation War 1941-1945. (OBNOR) Zeta will celebrate the biggest holiday of the former SFRY - Republic Day, November 29, but without its favorite member, the recently deceased hero from Ljubina's grave. Zarija Vukašinović.
President of OBNOR Zeta Slobodan Vukotić he speaks wistfully about the Republic Day, which was celebrated for two days, in memory of November 29, 1943, when in Jajce, at the Second Session of the Anti-Fascist Council of the People's Liberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ), the foundations of the state, which disintegrated in blood half a century later, were struck ...
"The man felt happy and satisfied. And how could it not, when we were celebrating the country of satisfied people. Back then, there was a lot of work and it was worth the work. I'm from Zeta, so even though I worked at the aluminum plant, we used to sell fruit and vegetables in Mostar, Trebinje, Split... We didn't have to store it, no one would touch it except maybe one of the naughty kids who eat watermelon. We could sleep in the park, without anyone touching us", says Vukotić for "Vijesti".
Life in the former Yugoslavia, he points out, cannot be compared to today's life.
"Apart from events in the family, I am very rarely happy about anything these days. We used to have something to celebrate. He is a celebrated man and citizen of the then SFRY. People looked forward to every meeting. Today, everyone avoids seeing everyone, for various reasons. That time was a time of harmony and contentment, workers were protected, unions were strong. The only divisions were humans and non-humans".
Vukotić announced a series of activities during the celebration of Republic Day:
"The delegation will visit the Monument to the Partisan Fighter in Gorica, and the non-governmental organization 'Gospojine' will organize a demonstration on anti-fascism in the KIC "Zeta".
Republic Day was celebrated on the day of the Second Session of AVNOJ in Jajce. In the Bosnian town, it was decided that AVNOJ would be constituted as the legislative and executive representative body of Yugoslavia, as the supreme representative of the people, and the National Committee for the Liberation of Yugoslavia was established, with all the characteristics of a people's government. The Yugoslav refugee government and the king were forbidden to return to the country Peter II Karađorđević until the end of the war, "when the people will decide whether they want a republic or a monarchy". It was decided that Yugoslavia "will be built on a democratic principle as a state community of equal peoples". As a special decision, to the leader of the Yugoslav partisans and the post-war president for life Josip Broz Tito was awarded the title of Marshal of Yugoslavia.
The second session of AVNOJ was chaired by dr Ivan the Fisherman, and according to historical sources, 142 delegates from all parts of Yugoslavia participated in the work. It is recorded that some of the councilors of AVNOJ, such as from Montenegro, had to walk 300 kilometers across enemy territory to Jajce...
After the bloody disintegration of the SFRY in the nineties of the last century, November 29 was celebrated in the FR Yugoslavia, which consisted of Serbia and Montenegro. Since 1997, November 29 has been celebrated in the FRY as the day when in 1945 Yugoslavia formally ceased to be a monarchy and became a republic.
The date was last inactive in 2001, and the next one was abolished by the decision of the Federal Assembly...
People from all the countries created after the dissolution of the SFRY gather every November 29 in Jajce.
Kum Zarija - a human boulder
Speaking about Zaria Vukašinović, Vukotić says that he was not just one of the last living fighters - an anti-fascist, but a great man and friend.
"Truly, he was a human lump. And I'm not saying this as the president of OBNOR Zeta, but as his godfather", he pointed out for "Vijesti".
He emphasizes that Vukašinović is one of those "who left his house on July 13, 1941 with a rifle in his hand and did not return until the country was liberated."
Through four years of war, he emphasizes, Zarija went through many golgothas, and he also survived the battle on Sutjeska and the bloody battle at Ljubina's grave, where the Montenegrin proletarians showed incredible courage.
"He is one of the 13 heroes who survived Ljuba's grave".
Zaria was, he says, both a great man and a great hero.
"He also had that accident and that he was in prison for two or three years. And there he showed his dignity and honor. It was on Goli Otok that my uncle and he settled down. Everything I say about him, I say from my heart, not what I read somewhere".
"Vijesti" has repeatedly written about the recently deceased Vukašinović, the last time in June of this year, when the 79th anniversary of the famous battle on Sutjeska was marked, during which more than 7.000 partisans died, including 2.000 Montenegrins.
The last hero from Ljuba's grave lived to be a hundred years old, although almost eight decades ago he could have easily lost his head on the mountain pass on Zelengora, where fifty of his comrades - fighters of the Fourth Montenegrin Strike Brigade - remained forever.
"It was difficult, but we survived," Vukašinović told "Vijesta" in June and added that today it is much worse - "let him understand what he wants".
Even at the age of 100, the old man clearly remembered the details of the famous battle that generations of schoolchildren in the former Yugoslavia learned about, because Ljuba's grave - was not allowed to fall...
Polls
Kosta Stijepović:
Republic Day, November 29, was a holiday and I still see it that way today. That day remained beautiful in my memory and now I see it that way.
I don't know about the others.
Andrija Puletic:
I know that November 29 was Republic Day, but I haven't heard anything more about that holiday.
I mostly heard about Yugoslavia from the stories of my parents.
Radomir Perišić:
I remember Yugoslavia with nostalgia. It was a beautiful country where people enjoyed freedom. There were not many parties and parties, that was a disadvantage. I think that there is now a hyperproduction of parties, and that there is much more talk than action.
I will remain an admirer of Montenegro and an admirer of Yugoslavia for the rest of my life. They are breaking up Yugoslavia and I am very sorry for that.
Bonus video:
