Josip Stipić: In Memoriam Mili Nekiću!

Dragi prijatelji!

Dopustite mi da u moje osobno ime, te u ime nekadašnjih članova i simpatizera Hrvatske Republikanske Stranke, kojoj je pok. Mile Nekić pripadao, izrazim duboku sućut svima koji su ga poznavali i voljeli. 

Neka svima dragi Bog udijeli snagu i milost, a njemu vječni mir i pokoj. 

Smrću Mile Nekića, 10. prosinca 2022, izgubili smo hrvatskog borca i velikog domoljuba. Napustio nas je čovjek i nekadašnji politički emigrant, koji je više godina mirno živio u našoj emigrantskoj sredini i politički radio za oslobođenje i slobodu Hrvatske, od dolaska u Australiju 1969. do onog kobnog dana, 8. veljače 1979., kad je s petoricom drugih Hrvata, pod imenom “Hrvatska šestorka” bio uhapšen i na temelju lažnog svjedočenja jugoslavenskog doušnika Vice Virkeza (odnosno Srbina Vitomira Misimovića) i podmetnutog materijala australske policije, nepravedno osuđen na 15 godina zatvora. 

Kao što znate i ja sam tom prilikom bio optužen i uhapšen, ali sam srećom brzo pušten i oslobođen. Nakon toga, službeno sam postao član Hrvatske republikanske stranke. To mogu zahvaliti upravo pok. Mili, koji mi je poklonio knjigu prof. Ivana Oršanića “Oslobođenje i Sloboda”, kad smo se 1974. upoznali ovdje ispred crkve Svetog Antuna Padovanskog. Na tom mu daru vječna hvala!

Tko je bio Mile Nekić?

U mojim očima bio je hrvatski domoljub, republikanac i borac za neovisnu i slobodnu Hrvatsku! Nakon dolaska u Australiju 1969., čitajući hrvatski emigrantski tisak, Mile je brzo shvatio važnost političkog i revolucionarnog rada i došao do zaključka da je njegova dužnost u slobodnom svijetu raditi za Hrvatsku i hrvatski narod sve ono što nije mogao ni smio raditi u domovini. Znao je da politika ima svoje ciljeve i da se ti ciljevi mogu postići samo upornim radom i žrtvama unutar političke organizacije. Brzo se učlanio u Hrvatski Narodni Otpor (HNO), no, čitajući tisak Hrvatske republikanske stranke, kao što su časopis Republika Hrvatska, Hrvatska borba i Hrvatski put, 1973. godine, inspiriran mislima prof. Ivana Oršanića osnivača Hrvatske republikanske stranke, uključio se u Hrvatsko republikansko društvo Rakovica.   

Zaključio je da mu Hrvatska Republikanska Stranka (HRS) pruža najveću mogućnost da, zajedno s članovima Stranke i u suradnji s drugim državotvornim Hrvatima, pomogne hrvatskom narodu čim prije ostvariti državu Hrvatsku.  

U svom političkom radu isticao se upornošću i žrtvama i potvrdio da je pristaša starčevićanstva i vjerni tumač i širitelj političke doktrine profesora Ivana Oršanića. U političkom radu nije odobravao kršenje australskih zakona, niti je isticao nasilje. To se dobro može vidjeti iz sljedećeg primjera. U prosincu 1978. Hrvatsko republikansko društvo Rakovica u Sydneyu je objavilo letak pod naslovom “Pet godina rada u Rakovici”, koji su potpisali Ilija Kokotović i Mile Nekić. U tom letku između ostalog nalaze se ove riječi: “Nas iz Rakovice nitko ne može pokolebati u našem uvjerenju da se za Hrvatsku može revolucionarno djelovati i u Sydneyu, ne kršeći zakone zemlje, koja nas je velikodušno primila.” (Kazimir Katalinić: Od Poraza Do Pobjede; sv. III., str. 341.)

Na nogometnoj utakmici u Sydneyu 8. veljače 1976. između mostarskog Veleža i australske reprezentacije, on i Ilija Kokotović, uz urnebesni poklik hrvatske publike, Croatia, Croatia, utrčali su na igralište sa zapaljenom jugoslavenskom zastavom, kako bi australskim građanima i ostalom svijetu na legalan i miran način pokazali da su Hrvati za neovisnu, slobodnu i demokratsku državu Hrvatsku. Tim mirnim demonstrativnim prosvjedom zadali su težak udarac komunističkoj Jugoslaviji, ali, nažalost, njime su na sebe svratili i veliku pozornost australske policije. Bio je to vjerojatno početak zajedničke urote jugoslavenske i australske tajne policije protv njih.  

Nakon tog mirnog i uspješnog prosvjeda Kokotović i Nekić su u časopisu “Republika Hrvatska”, br 106., objavili tekst pod naslovom “Sa zapaljenom zastavom”, u kojem su, uz kratki osobni životopis, opisali svoj rad unutar HRS-a, te svrhu i cilj njihova prosvjeda.  

Na pitanje uredništva časopisa, da li pripadaju nekoj političkoj skupini, Mile Nekić je odgovorio: “Mi smo članovi Hrvatske Republikanske Stranke. Petar i ja smo članovi radnog odbora Hrvatskog Republikanskog Društva “Rakovica” u Sydneyu. (Ilija Kokotović poznat je u našem radu pod imenom Petar Uremović, pa ga zato nekada nazivam tim imenom).  Ja vršim dužnost predsjednika, a Petar (tj. Ilija) vodi tajničke poslove. Ali mi ne upotrebljavamo nikakve titule, nego smo samo članovi radnog odbora s određenom dužnošću.”  (RH, br. 106., str. 8.) 

O razlogu njihova prosvjeda, Nekić je rekao: “Smatrali smo potrebnim da upozorimo australsku javnost da u samoj Australji ima oko dvjesta tisuća Hrvata koje je Titova diktatura istjerala iz njihove rođene zemlje, jer im je uskratila slobodan i čovjeka dostojan život u domovini.”  (Isto, str. 8-9.) 

U istom tekstu Mile Nekić je opisao samog sebe ovim riječima. “Rođen sam 1947. godine u Tompojevcima, u Slavoniji, ili točnije u Panonskoj Hrvatskoj. U prošlom ratu, sticajem okolnosti moj je otac bio s druge strane barikada. Ali uskoro poslije svršetka rata svrstan je u “narodne neprijatelje”. Moji nisu bili Jugoslaveni, nego od starine Hrvati, tek su malo naginjali na lijevo, što se brzo pokazalo iluzornim. Bilo je čudnovato da sam kao partizanski sin bio neke vrsti ustaše još u našem selu, dok je nekoliko tzv. ustaške djece bilo među jugoslavenskim komunistima.”  (Isto, str. 10.)

Zaključna misao

Mile Nekić je vjerovao u pravdu i u ime pravde za Hrvatsku je radio sve što je mogao. Vjerovao je u pobjedu hrvatskog naroda. Iako je bio sličan svima nama, za njega se ipak može reći da je bio iznimna osoba i u mnogočemu različit od mnogih Hrvata. Nije dakle čudno da ljude poput Mile Nekića ponekad ni vlastita sredina ne shvaća ispravno, ali onaj tko ih jedamput ispravno doživi i shvati, taj im se vječno divi. 

Za pojedince kojima novac, društveni položaj i osobna slava postaju svrha života, Mile i njemu slični su utopisti, sanjari, naivci i gubitnici, a za neprijatelje i protivnike države Hrvatske teroristi.

Bio je uvijek svjestan da briga za narod nije pravo nego dužnost i da tu dužnost svatko od nas mora ispunjavati prema svojim ljujdskim sposobnostima i mogućnostima. 

U svojoj sredini usko je surađivao sa svima koji su radili za Hrvatsku i hrvatski narod.  Uvijek je javno isticao važnost države, ali je pri tome naglašavao da hrvatski narod ne želi državu zbog države, već da želi i hoće svoju državu zbog narodne i osobne slobode. 

Kao član Hrvatske republikanske stranke i širitelj Integralne slobode Ivana Oršanića, Mile je dobro shvaćao da se uspostavom države ostvaruje tek oslobođenje, ali ne i sloboda i da je oslobođenje samo prvi i veoma važni uvjet slobode. I zato u emigraciji nikad nije, ni javno ni privatno, isticao poznatu emigrantsku krilaticu iz sedamdesetih i osamdesetih godina, ”glavno je država, a nakon toga sve drugo će doći samo od sebe”. Bio je potpuno svjestan da je smislenost hrvatske države nasuprot Jugoslavije i komunističkog režima samo i jedino u ostvarenju istinske slobode. Znao je da bez hrvatske države Hrvati kao narod ne mogu opstati i da je država jedino mjesto koje im pruža mogućnost nacionalnog, političkog, kulturnog, vjerskog i ekonomskog razvitka, ali isto tako je znao, da država koja nije istinski slobodna i pravedna, država u kojoj se Hrvati, odnosno svi njezini stanovnici, ne bi osjećali slobodni ni sigurni, na dulji rok ne može opstati.

Dugi niz godina, zajedno sa svojim prijateljima i suradnicima HRS-a, ustrajno i uporno, korak po korak, hodao je po tvrdom terenu hrvatske emigrantske politike, duboko uvjeren da je hrvatsko oslobođenje na pomolu i da će Hrvati ostvariti svoju državu. 

Početkom devedesetih godina velikosrpska agresija na mladu državu Hrvatsku i Bosnu i Hercegovinu, duboko ga je potresla, ali ga nije iznenadila. Čim je shvatio da novonastaloj hrvatskoj državi prijeti egzistencijalna opasnost, otišao je u domovinu i uključio se u obranu Hrvatske.   

Njegov odlazak s ovoga svijeta predstavlja velik gubitak za sve nas koji smo ga poznavali i voljeli.  Iako fizički nije više među nama, Mile će vječno ostati u našim mislima i srcima. Ljudi, koji su poput Mile živjeli i trpjeli za svoj narod, nikad ne umiru. Dragi naš prijatelju Mile, počivaj mirno i spokojno u tišini, pod hrvatskim nebom u dragoj Hrvatskoj koju si volio i za koju si živio. Hvala ti i vječna slava!

Josip Stipić

Prijevod teksta

Dear friends!

On my own behalf, and on behalf of the former members and sympathizers of the Croatian Republican Party, to which the late Mile Nekić belonged, allow me to express my deepest condolences to all of you who knew and loved him.

May the dear God grant strength and grace to all, and eternal peace and rest to him.

With the death of Mile Nekić, on December 10, 2022, we lost a Croatian fighter and great patriot.

We were suddenly left by a man and a former political emigrant, who for years lived peacefully among us and politically worked for the liberation and freedom of Croatia from his arrival in Australia in 1969. until the February 8, 1979, when he and five other Croats, “Hrvatska šestorka” were arrested and on the basis of the false testimony of the Yugoslav informant Vice Virkez (that is, the Serb Vitomir Misimović) and planted material of the Australian police, unjustly sentenced to 15 years in prison.

As you know, I was also accused and arrested on that occasion, but fortunately I was quickly released and acquitted. After that, I officially became a member of the Croatian Republican Party. I can thank the late Mile for that, who gave me the book of prof. Ivan Oršanić, “Liberation and Freedom”, when we met in 1974. here in the front of the church of St. Anthony of Padua. Eternal thanks to him for that gift! 

Who was Mile Nekić?

In my eyes, he was a Croatian patriot, a republican and a fighter for an independent and free Croatia! After arriving in Australia in 1969, reading the Croatian émigré press, Mile quickly understood the importance of political work and came to the conclusion that his duty in the free world was to do for Croatia and the Croatian people all that he could not and was not allowed to do in his homeland. He knew that politics has its goals and that these goals can only be achieved through persistent work and sacrifices within the political organization. He quickly joined the Croatian National Resistance, but, reading the press of the Croatian Republican Party, such as the magazine Republika Hrvatska, Hrvatska borba and Hrvatski put, and inspired by the thoughts of Prof. Ivan Oršanić, the founder of the Croatian Republican Party, in 1973. joined the Croatian Republican Society “Rakovica”.

He concluded that the Croatian Republican Party (HRS), in working with other Croats, offers him the best opportunity to help the Croatian people achieve a free and democratic state of Croatia.

In his political work, he stood out for his persistence and sacrifices and confirmed that he is a supporter of Dr. Ante Starčević and a faithful interpreter and spreader of the political doctrine of Ivan Oršanić. In his political work, he did not condone the violation of Australian laws, nor did he emphasize violence. This can be clearly seen from the following example. In December 1978, the Croatian Republican Society “Rakovica” in Sydney published a leaflet entitled “Five years of work in Rakovica,” signed by Ilija Kokotović and Mile Nekić. In that leaflet, among other things, there are these words: “No one can shake us members of Rakovica in our belief that revolutionary action can be taken for Croatia in Sydney, without violating the laws of the country, which generously welcomed us.” (Kazimir Katalinić: From Defeat to Victory; vol. III., p. 341.)

At a soccer match in Sydney on February 8, 1976, between Velež from Mostar and the Australian national team, he and Ilija Kokotović, with the hilarious shout of the Croatian audience, Croatia, Croatia, ran onto the field with a burning Yugoslav flag, in order to show Australian citizens and the rest of the world that Croats want to realize free and independent state of Croatia through peaceful and legal means.

With that peaceful demonstrative protest, they dealt a heavy blow to Communist Yugoslavia, but, unfortunately they also attracted a lot of attention from the Australian police. It was probably the beginning of a joint conspiracy by the Yugoslav and Australian secret police against them.

After that peaceful and successful protest, Kokotović and Nekić published an article in the magazine “Republika Hrvatska”, under the title “With a burning flag”, in which, along with a short personal biography, they described their work within the HRS and their purpose and the goal of their protest.

When asked by the editors of the magazine, whether they belong to a political group, Mile Nekić answered: “We are members of the Croatian Republican Party. Petar and I are members of the working committee of the Croatian Republican Society “Rakovica” in Sydney. (Ilija Kokotović is known in our work under the name Petar Uremović, so I sometimes call him by that name). I act as president, and Petar (i.e. Ilija) manages secretarial affairs. But we don’t use any titles, we are just members of the working committee with a certain duty.” (RH, no. 106, p. 8)

Regarding the reason for their protest, Nekić said: “We considered it necessary to show the Australian public that in Australia itself there are about two hundred thousand Croats who were driven out of their native land by Tito’s dictatorship, because it denied them a free and decent life in their homeland.” (Ibid., p. 8-9.)

In the same text, Mile Nekic described himself with these words. “I was born in 1947 in Tompojevci, in Slavonia, or more precisely in Pannonian Croatia. In the last World War II, due to circumstances, my father was on the other side of the barricades. But soon after the end of the war, he was classified by Yougoslavs as an “enemy of the people”. My family members were never Yugoslavs. They were always Croats, but they leaned a little to the left, which quickly turned out to be illusory. It was strange that as the son of a partisan, I was a kind of Ustasha back in our village, while several so-called Ustasha children were among the Yugoslav communists.” (Ibid., p. 10.)

A final thought

Mile Nekić believed in justice and in the name of justice he did everything he could legally for Croatia. He believed in the victory of the Croatian people. Although he was similar to all of us, it can still be said that he was an exceptional person and in someway different from many Croats. It is therefore not surprising that people like Mila Nekić are sometimes not understood correctly even by their own environment, but whoever experiences and understands them correctly for once, admires them forever.

For individuals whom money, social position and personal glory become the purpose of life, Mile and people like him are utopians, dreamers, naives and losers, and for enemies and opponents of the state of Croatia, terrorists.

He was always aware that caring for the people is not a right but a duty and that each of us must fulfill this duty according to our human abilities and capabilities.

He worked closely with everyone who worked for Croatia and the Croatian people. He always emphasized the importance of a free and independent state, but at the same time he knew that the Croatian people did not want a state for the sake of the state, but that they wanted their own state so that they could have national and personal freedom in it.

As a member of the Croatian Republican Party and the spreader of Ivan Oršanić’s Integral Freedom, Mile knew very well that the establishment of a state by the Croatian people would only achieve liberation, but not freedom, and that liberation is only the first and very important condition of freedom. And that’s why he never emphasized, neither publicly nor privately, the well-known emigrant catchphrase from the seventies and eighties, “the main thing is the state, and after that everything else will come by itself”. He was fully aware that the meaningfulness of the Croatian state in contrast to Yugoslavia and the Communist regime was only in the realization of true freedom. He knew that without a Croatian state, Croats as a nation cannot survive and that the state is the only place that offers them the possibility of national, political, cultural, religious and economic development, but he also knew that a state that is not truly free and just, a state in which the Croats, and other citizens, would not feel free or safe, cannot survive in the long term.

For many years, together with his friends and associates of HRS, he persistently, step by step, walked on the hard terrain of Croatian emigrant politics, deeply convinced that Croatian liberation is on the horizon and that Croats will achieve their free state.

At the beginning of the nineties, the Serbian aggression against the young state of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina deeply shook him, but did not surprise him. As soon as he realized that the new Croatian state was threatened with existential danger, he went to his homeland and joined the defense of Croatia.

His departure from this world is a great loss for all of us who knew and loved him. Although he is no longer with us physically, Mile will forever remain in our thoughts and hearts. People who, like Mile, lived and suffered for their people, never die. 

Our dear friend Mile, rest peacefully in silence, under the Croatian sky in our dear Croatia, which you loved so much and for which you lived. Thank you and eternal glory!

Joseph Stipich, Hrvatsko nebo