By: S. K. (Nova24tv)
On the occasion of Statehood Day and Slovenian Police Day, Tomaž Čas, president of the Association of Police Veterans’ Societies Sever, emphasised the importance of these holidays and the key role of police war veterans in Slovenia’s independence in a public statement. In doing so, he equated the contributions of Maister and participants in the War for Independence with those of the so-called National Liberation Struggle (NOB), which was associated with revolutionary violence during World War II and postwar killings.
Even more – according to Čas’s interpretation, Slovenia’s independence has no value without the memory of the NOB. He wrote: “Every national celebration on Statehood Day, Independence and Unity Day, and Sovereignty Day, where speakers do not recall the historical arc from General Maister’s fighters, the TIGR members, the fighters of the National Liberation War, the war-disabled and civilian war invalids, to the war veterans, is a celebration without substantive value.”
Such comparisons between events during World War II and the War for Independence are made by many. A part of the National Liberation War, while being an honourable resistance against the occupier, was also an utterly dishonourable revolution that tore the Slovenian nation for several decades from the cultural-political space of Central Europe and Western civilisation, whereas the War for Independence achieved the opposite – it formally and legally liberated Slovenia from the communist yoke.
“I wish you a pleasant celebration of Statehood Day and Police Day, as we are proud of both and happy that we helped shape them,” Čas wrote, expressing gratitude to the veterans’ societies, their presidents, vice presidents, secretaries, board members, commissions, and flag bearers for their dedicated work in the past year and first half of this one.
Regarding current security challenges such as increased migration pressures, the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the rise of mass shootings in Europe, Čas sees a crucial role for police veterans.
“I see a great need and opportunity here – when we talk about the resilience of our society and responses to the above security threats – for police war veterans and veterans of the War for Slovenia to be included in these processes, discussions, and systems, because we have firsthand experience from preparing for and fighting in the War for Slovenia,” he wrote. He warned that merely increasing defence funding without involving actors responsible for internal security will not create a resilient national security system.
The transitional left cannot stand the truth
In his message, Čas also found room to criticise historian Dr Stane Granda, the Association for the Values of Slovenian Independence, and Lojze Peterle, who pointed out the true nature of Operation Sever, from which the police veterans’ association takes its name. He was particularly bothered by Peterle’s opinion that the credit for preventing the arrival of Milošević’s supporters (the so-called “truth rally”) belongs primarily to Slovenian train conductors led by Slavko Kmetič, who physically blocked their arrival in Ljubljana. Čas, of course, defended the legacy of Tomaž Ertl, and thus the regime in which Ertl was Minister of the Interior. Ertl never renounced his beliefs, and according to Mladina, even in independent Slovenia, he still kept a statue of Lenin on his bookshelf.
In closing, Čas once again expressed respect for all police war veterans: “Why did I open up to you like this, dear veterans – because I value you deeply, and I will always honour your contribution to the processes of Slovenia’s independence and your role in the War for Slovenia.” He wished them continued participation in veterans’ gatherings, commemorations, and other events, and a pleasant celebration of Statehood Day and Police Day.