Dobroslav Paraga
Encyclopedia
Dobroslav Paraga is a Croatia
n right-wing politician.
from Yugoslavia and that led him to be persecuted by the Communist authorities. Paraga used that persecution as an argument against Yugoslavia and its low human rights standards. Because of that he became one of the best known dissidents.
When a multi-party system was established in Croatia, Paraga initially joined the Croatian Democratic Union
of Franjo Tuđman. However, involvement with the party clearly indicated that there was variation in sentiment among its members. Paraga had felt that his CDU did not appear to be the radical party which he had expected, and so the party split. Paraga, and a delegation of CDU dissidents, reformed the Croatian Party of Rights
(HSP).
While Tuđman saw the Croatian path of independence through negotiations with Slobodan Milošević
, Paraga formed the growing chorus of those who preferred direct and resolute military action against Krajina
Serbs and Yugoslav People's Army
. Because of that, his party formed its own militia, the Croatian Defence Forces . In an interview in 2000 Paraga stated about the aims of the party that they are “for a Croatia to the Drina, and for a Bosnia and Herzegovina
to the Adriatic”. Paraga explained that they think they would be much stronger as a union of two countries.
Paraga's growing popularity, together with his militia, began to look like a serious threat to the Croatian government. Reaction came in the form of arrests, indictments and all kinds of intimidation towards HSP and HOS members, even stretching to deaths of HSP members in mysterious circumstances. This campaign gradually subsided, with HOS units formally joining the Croatian Army and the escalation of war in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Paraga and the HSP had high hopes of becoming the major political factor before the 1992 presidential and parliamentary elections, but those hopes, despite of the HSP colourful rallies being well-attended, did not materialise. The HSP did enter the Croatian Parliament and Paraga came fourth among presidential candidates, but it was clear that the party was far from its target. Another blow came in the form of high treason charges against Paraga and his associate Anto Đapić, who were stripped of their parliamentary immunity.
Those charges were ultimately dropped, but the most serious blow for Paraga came when Đapić turned against him and took over the leadership of the HSP at the 1993 party convention in Kutina
. Paraga accused Đapić of being in cahoots with Tuđman and tried to retrieve party leadership in court.
, claiming to be the true descendent of the 19th century party in Austria-Hungary
.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n right-wing politician.
Background
In his early days Dobroslav Paraga used to advocate secession of CroatiaCroatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
from Yugoslavia and that led him to be persecuted by the Communist authorities. Paraga used that persecution as an argument against Yugoslavia and its low human rights standards. Because of that he became one of the best known dissidents.
When a multi-party system was established in Croatia, Paraga initially joined the Croatian Democratic Union
Croatian Democratic Union
The Croatian Democratic Union is the main center-right political party in Croatia. It is the biggest and strongest individual Croatian party since independence of Croatia. The Christian democratic HDZ governed Croatia from 1990 to 2000 and, in partial coalition, from 2003...
of Franjo Tuđman. However, involvement with the party clearly indicated that there was variation in sentiment among its members. Paraga had felt that his CDU did not appear to be the radical party which he had expected, and so the party split. Paraga, and a delegation of CDU dissidents, reformed the Croatian Party of Rights
Croatian Party of Rights
The Croatian Party of Rights is a right-wing political party in Croatia. The "right" in the party's name refer to the idea of Croatian national and ethnic rights that the party has vowed to protect since its founding in the 19th century...
(HSP).
While Tuđman saw the Croatian path of independence through negotiations with Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
, Paraga formed the growing chorus of those who preferred direct and resolute military action against Krajina
RSK
RSK may stand for:* Republic of Serbian Krajina* Robinson–Schensted–Knuth algorithm, between biwords and pairs of tableaux* Ribosomal s6 kinase, in molecular biology, a signal transducer* Sanyo Broadcasting, a Japanese radio and TV station...
Serbs and Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
. Because of that, his party formed its own militia, the Croatian Defence Forces . In an interview in 2000 Paraga stated about the aims of the party that they are “for a Croatia to the Drina, and for a Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
to the Adriatic”. Paraga explained that they think they would be much stronger as a union of two countries.
Paraga's growing popularity, together with his militia, began to look like a serious threat to the Croatian government. Reaction came in the form of arrests, indictments and all kinds of intimidation towards HSP and HOS members, even stretching to deaths of HSP members in mysterious circumstances. This campaign gradually subsided, with HOS units formally joining the Croatian Army and the escalation of war in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Paraga and the HSP had high hopes of becoming the major political factor before the 1992 presidential and parliamentary elections, but those hopes, despite of the HSP colourful rallies being well-attended, did not materialise. The HSP did enter the Croatian Parliament and Paraga came fourth among presidential candidates, but it was clear that the party was far from its target. Another blow came in the form of high treason charges against Paraga and his associate Anto Đapić, who were stripped of their parliamentary immunity.
Those charges were ultimately dropped, but the most serious blow for Paraga came when Đapić turned against him and took over the leadership of the HSP at the 1993 party convention in Kutina
Kutina
Kutina is a small city in central Croatia, the largest settlement in the hilly region of Moslavina, in the Sisak-Moslavina county. The town proper has a population of 14,814 , while the total municipality population is 22,815....
. Paraga accused Đapić of being in cahoots with Tuđman and tried to retrieve party leadership in court.
Modern activity
Following the failure of the effort and second split with fellow party members, Paraga founded a party called Croatian Party of Rights 1861Croatian Party of Rights 1861
Croatian Party of Rights 1861 is a right-wing political party in Croatia.It was founded in 1995 following the removal of Dobroslav Paraga from the leadership of Croatian Party of Rights and Paraga's unsuccessful attempts to revert this at courts...
, claiming to be the true descendent of the 19th century party in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
.