Austrian media reported that two counter-protests had been announced to take place during this year's Bleiburg commemoration in May, in what is the first organised opposition to the controversial event in its decades-long history.
Although local authorities have not decided yet whether the protests would be allowed, Austrian police announced they would “massively increase their presence” at the event, scheduled to take place on May 12, adding they are considering asking Croatian police to come and assist in securing the event.
State broadcaster ORF reported on Wednesday that “for days, there has been calls against the gathering, which many view as a fascist rally,” and added that police is “standing ready.” According to local police sources cited by ORF, the event usually draws crowds of around 10,000, although in recent years the gathering has attracted above-average numbers of people, with 16,000 showing up in 2016, and 35,000 in 2015.
The recent criticism of the annual event, which commemorates civilians and soldiers loyal to the defeated Nazi-allied Independent State of Croatia (NDH) who were killed in the closing days of World War II, was spurred by a news conference held in Vienna by three Austrian MEPs on Monday, who called it a platform for right-wing extremists.
The event has long been controversial in Croatia, as displays of Croatian fascist Ustasha insignia and symbols were commonly displayed in the past at Bleiburg by right-wing and far-right groups. Since the 1990s, the event has gained support by mainstream politicians in Croatia, and is officially sponsored by the Croatian Parliament, which funds the event with 500,000 kuna (€67,500) per year.
Rainer Dionisio, the spokesman for the police in Carinthia – the southern Austrian province where the town of Bleiburg is located – refused to state the exact number of policemen assigned to guard the event for “tactical reasons,” but confirmed that police presence would be significantly increased compared to previous years.
In another first, agents of the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA) will also monitor the event. BFA agents are authorised to ban from Austria any foreign nationals found in violation of Austrian law.
In addition, the Croatian news website Index.hr reported on Thursday that Austrian police confirmed they would send a riot police unit and a helicopter to monitor the event, with members of the Austrian state prosecution also in attendance.
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