Draxblog III

Some Cairo Scenes in Zagreb Today

Bloodbath in Lybia and Christchurch earthquake might not be the best of news for world economy, but they appear to be godsend for Croatian prime minister Jadranka Kosor. World media is quite unlikely to pay any meaningful attention to what appears to be the first genuine attempt to bring down Croatian government through Cairo-style street protest.

The organiser, 26-year old Internet activist Ivan Pernar - descendant of Croatian pre-WW2 politicaina and Radić assassination survivor Ivan Pernar - managed to get only 100 people in front of Croatian cabinet headquarters. That was, however, enough for Karamarko's police to erect barricades. Croatian media reported first arrests of few brave souls who jumped over barricades.

UPDATE: T-Portal reports that Pernar got arrested, and that later things got "interesting" with some of crowd people taking leadership on their own initiative.

UPDATE: Live cam by Dnevnik.hr available here.

http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/foto-prosvjednike-na-markovu-trgu-cekaju-barikade-i-marice.htmlhe

Thoughts on Hajduk Anniversary

HNK Hajduk, Split's major soccer club and one of the most recognisable symbols of the city is just celebrating its 100th anniversary. The city is full of fans which have celebrated their club's birthdays with one of the most spectacular fireworks in Split's history.

The celebrations also include friendly game between HNK Hajduk and Czech club Slavia Prague. HNK Hajduk is at this time (16:42) losing with 0-1.

The weather is not very friendly towards the revellers. The sky is cloudy and air happens to be damp. So, just like the result, celebrations are going to be tempered with rather prosaic reality.

In many ways, this is what I have expected. Anniversaries are occasions better suited for reflections than for celebrations. Passage of time serves best by putting things in perspective. And this perspective isn't particularly kind towards Split soccer club, faced with results far from its historical glory.

Hajduk fans can comfort themselves that they aren't the only people whose anniversaries, especially those related to big round numbers, coincided with bad situations and situations soon to become even worse. 150th anniversary of French Revolution occured shortly before one of France's worst historic humiliations; USA celebrated its 200th anniversary faced with traumas of Vietnam, Watergate and Carterian malaise. Croatia's eastern neighbour celebrated its 200th anniversary of "statehood" at the eve of another historic humiliations - departure of Montenegro and Kosovo.

Compared with such catastrophes and calamities, present situation in HNK Hajduk and Split doesn't look so bad.