Belgrade on the Edge of Chaos: Draža’s Monument Rejected, Mitićeva Rupa Becomes Dušan Jovanović Park!
Belgrade is once again at the center of a political drama, starring none other than the monument to Chetnik General Dragoljub Draža Mihailović and the renaming of Mitićeva Rupa into Dušan Jovanović Park. Yes, you read that right! While the authorities reject erecting a monument to Draža, they are simultaneously preparing to transform Mitićeva Rupa, a long-neglected site, into a park honoring Dušan Jovanović, a boy brutally murdered 28 years ago.
Draža’s Monument – NO in Belgrade!
The Belgrade Monument Commission rejected the proposal to erect a monument to Chetnik General Dragoljub Draža Mihailović in the capital. The proposal by Mayor Aleksandar Šapić did not receive support from the ruling majority, with SNS councilwoman and opera singer Nataša Knežević Tasić among the opponents. She made it clear that her stance on Draža has been known for a long time and voted against, commenting, “My grandmother used to say, the dead to the dead.”
Mitićeva Rupa Finally Gets a New Life
While Draža’s monument was rejected, good news arrived – Mitićeva Rupa will be renamed Dušan Jovanović Park. Dušan Jovanović was a 14-year-old Roma boy brutally killed by skinheads 28 years ago on a street in Belgrade. His sister, Duška Jovanović, prepared a speech for the Belgrade Assembly session where the renaming decision will be made. The initiative was supported by all 11 parties in the Assembly, and chief urbanist Marko Stojičić emphasized that legal and property issues have finally been resolved.
Brutality and Injustice
Dušan was killed solely because he was Roma. The attackers beat and kicked him, then struck him with a piece of a broken gutter. The killers were only three years older than him and were sentenced to ten years of juvenile detention in Valjevo. However, they were released in April 2019, fueling anger and a sense of injustice.
Political Games and Conflicts
The rejection of the initiative for Draža’s monument and simultaneous acceptance of Mitićeva Rupa’s renaming clearly show deep divisions in Belgrade politics. While some fight for monuments to controversial historical figures, others strive to honor victims of violence and intolerance. The question remains when SNS will move to replace Mayor Šapić, as tensions continue to rise.
What Does This Tell Us?
This saga is not just about monuments and parks. It is a mirror of a society struggling with its past, identity, and justice. Will we allow history to be written through monuments, or will we turn to remembering innocent victims? Belgrade stands at a crossroads, and the decisions made now will shape its future.
Conclusion
As Belgrade battles its demons, citizens watch political games unfold on their streets and parks. Draža’s monument was rejected, but Mitićeva Rupa finally becomes a park honoring Dušan Jovanović – a symbol of the fight against hatred and violence. Is this the start of a new era or just another political show? Time will tell.
And you? What monument would you raise in Belgrade? Or maybe a park? Drop a comment, let’s see who’s for Draža and who’s for Dušan! Or maybe you have your own idea? Don’t be shy, this is one heck of a political soap opera!
Slug: battle-over-draza-monument-and-miticeva-rupa-renaming-belgrade-political-games
