On this day, the first victim of the Homeland War fell: Chetniks on Plitvice killed Josip Jovic

A commemorative program and promotion of seven new members of the Lučko Police Anti -Terrorist Unit on Monday marked the 34th anniversary of the bloody Easter and the death of the first killed Croatian police officer in the Homeland War of Josip Jovic.

In addition to the family members and representatives of the associations, the wreaths were laid by the advisor to the President of the Republic for the Veterans of the Homeland War Marijan Mareković as his envoy and the Vice -Presidents of the Government and the Ministers of the Interior and Croatian Veterans Davor Božinović and Tomo Medved.

The prayer was led by the military bishop Monsignor Jure Bogdan.

Bozinovic said that Jovic was a symbol of courage and love for the homeland and the struggle for freedom, adding that such anniversaries were important for memory, gratitude and identity. « We are not only talking about these values, but we also act. Since 2017, we have invested 83 million euros in the Special Police, » Bozinovic said.

He added that the average of the age of ATJ Lučko « when they took responsibility » was 46 years, and that now 33. « That speaks of the interest of young people and we hold what standard we hold on, » Bozinovic said.

With the envoy of the President of the Republic when laying the wreath, the war commander of ATJ Lučko Slavko Butorac and the commander of the Commander-in-Chief Center of the Armed Forces Brigadier General Željko Ljubas.

In front of the Monument of the First Victim of the Homeland War, the wreaths were laid and candles were lit by the Josip Jovic family, participants of the Plitvice Action and members of the Homeland War Associations: ATJ Lučko ’90 War members, Tigar 90/91 Rakitje Association, PJP Kumrovec 90, Special Police Association of the Croatian National Association SJP Grom Karlovac; Representatives of the Croatian Parliament, the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the County.

That Easter morning 1991 members of the paramilitary formations of the so -called SAO Krajina started firing on Croatian police officers and specials. Croatian police officer, 22-year-old Josip Jovic, laid down his life that day as the first Croatian defender died in the Homeland War, and with him nine more police officers and specials were wounded.