By: Dr Metod Berlec
The past week was marked by the remembrance of the victims of communist violence. On the eve of the former day of remembrance for the victims of communist violence, historian Dr Mitja Ferenc stated at a commemorative ceremony in Republic Square in Ljubljana that the (Golob) government, by abolishing the day last year, symbolically denied the existence of these victims. According to him, this reflects a lack of respect for basic civilisational norms and continues the ideological division between ours and those who do not even deserve to be remembered.
“I had hoped that the government, which abolished the national day of remembrance, would soon rectify its mistake upon recognizing it. For wise men have known that a person who makes a mistake and does not correct it commits an even worse mistake. This applies to the authorities as well. But I did not live to see a change in this decision.” He pointed out that all victims of the three totalitarian regimes should be treated equally. The attitude towards the victims of the communist system in Slovenia is different from that towards the victims of Nazism and Fascism, as they do not even have the right to a grave. At the same time, under the leadership of the Commission of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for addressing concealed graves, the sixth report entitled “3450 Murdered – Fratricide in the Cave under Macesnova gorica” was published. “From now on, no one can pretend to be ignorant of the existence of these victims and their personal stories,” said the commission’s president, Dr Jože Dežman, during the presentation of the report. Prior to this, with the help of MEP Romana Tomc, the European public also became aware of the victims of communist violence through an exhibition in the European Parliament and previously through the consideration of a petition on preserving the memory of the victims of communist violence in the Republic of Slovenia, which called on the Slovenian government to reinstate the abolished day dedicated to these victims.
In this issue of Demokracija magazine, we publish an exclusive interview with SDS President Janez Janša, who states that the main success of this government is the fact “that for such a long time, as much as two years, it has managed to deceive so many people”. “It takes a certain kind of talent, however twisted, for someone to promise things day after day that then do not come to fruition.” He warned that we are faced with the murder of truth, “with this absolute distortion of reality having permeated Slovenian society”. “Both Slovenian and European or Western civilisation. The distortion has reached a level that surpasses Orwell and his Animal Farm, as we could see at the recent Eurovision.” /…/ “In Slovenia, the current government appointed a visitor of Fotopub, where even worse perversities occurred than at Eurovision, as the Minister of Culture. Over a decade ago, Zoran Janković ran under the slogan ‘Honesty’. Recently, it was he who announced the end of capitalism at Rožnik. Golob’s party is called ‘Freedom’, but it is conducting a purge of political opponents. Slovenian judges speak about the rule of law but participate in SD events wearing red shirts. Their female colleagues appear in pioneer scarves and caps. Tanja Fajon is outraged about unburied victims in Gaza, yet at home, together with Janković, she opposes the burial of murdered war prisoners and Roma from Iška in a Ljubljana cemetery.” /…/ “Indeed, the environment is distorted, which allows Golob to promise something every day with little reaction, only to not fulfil it.” The ruling party, due to the distorted media landscape, can afford to completely ignore striking doctors, administrative workers, and other similar issues. “If something similar were happening during our mandate,” SDS President warns, “the cameras of POP TV, RTVS, and numerous other media would be camped daily outside the offices of ministers and the Prime Minister, and journalists would be asking about measures and solutions. Rightfully so. Everyone would be working 24 hours a day to find solutions. However, during the left-wing governments, there is no such coverage or pressure. Therefore, the members of ‘Freedom’ can afford this inaction”.
Janša also responded to media reports and speculation regarding Anže Logar, who has recently been appearing publicly primarily as the leading face of the Cooperation Platform. “When it became clear that this platform included only two members of the SDS parliamentary group and no one else, it became evident that this would not be something new or significant but just a Virant 2.0 project. When Jernej Pikalo, the second person in the platform, also voiced an exclusionary stance towards the SDS, even the more naïve could no longer doubt.” Janša: “They are not interested in the European elections. The goal is the same as in 2011 with Virant. To weaken the SDS in the upcoming parliamentary elections and prevent it from being the relative winner. Since there is little chance, they can achieve this with just a new face, they need an attack from behind.” In short, in this interview, the SDS President responded clearly, openly, and substantively, as only he can.