EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00864A001200020089-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 9, 2006
• Sequence Number: 89
• Publication Date: August 7, 1972
• Content Type: STUDY

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#148 EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER OCI #0947/72
7 August 1972
Croatian Nationalism Flares
Ten persons were arrested last Thursday for Croatian
nationalist demonstrations at the funeral of former republic
party secretary Piro Pirker. He was one of the three top
Croatian party officials forced to resign last December
when Tito cracked down on that republic's nationalist ex-
cesses
The following day, nationalist tempers again flared
when, following a month's recess, the trial of four prominent
student leaders resumed One 25X1
of the defendants, Drazen u isa, did not help his case
when, in an emotional outburst to the court, he labeled
political developments in Croatia over the last six months
as "neostalinist for one thing, and terrorist, for another."
Budisa's outburst and his refusal to answer any questions
led to a bitter fight among the defense attorneys over how
to present their case.
Meanwhile, the trial of Ivan Cicak, the former student
prorector of Zagreb University, added to the pandemonium.
Cicak withdrew from one of his defense attorneys the right
to speak for him. The incident stemmed from a suggestion
by the prosecution that all the defendants are unbalanced;
the defense responded with a flat "no," adding that "only
Cicak had sought psychiatric help before entering politics."
Friday's proceedings adjourned to await the appearance
at today's session of qualified psychiatrists and psycholo-
Church Activity Criticized
The state is not winning the struggle with religion
for the hearts and minds of all young Yugoslavs. Both
Roman Catholic and Serbian Orthodox church activities are
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under fire as being "undesirable and harmful" by officials
in the province of Vojvodian. Particularly offensive to
local authorities is the success clergymen; are having in
encourging families to send their children to religious
schools and activities. Actually, this is not a new pheno-
menon. Last year's resurgence of Croatian nationalism was
heavily infused with expressions of support for Roman Catho-
licism. As a result, government and party officials have
been trying to counter the appeal of church-related activi=.
ties.
According to the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug, youth
participation in church sponsored activity ranges from 20
to 80 percent in Croatia. Furthermore, Tanjug depicts the
Catholic church as the main culprit, organizing "discussions,
antisocialist lectures, teaparties (sic), sports competitions,
(as well as) free tourist excursions to places of historical
interest."
Tanjug chastizes secular school officials for not taking
an interest in similar outside activity. The curriculum
itself is also criticized because "not enough is taught
about the phenomenon of religion on a scientific basis."
Criticism of the church does not appear to indicate a new
wave of repression against organized religion in Yugoslavia,
but local officials may feel the need to criticize religious
activity in order to assure Belgrade they are on their toes.
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