"Ethnic Cleansing" of 400,000 Italians in Croatia
and Slovenia in '43-'54
Thanks to Dr. Manny Alfano, founder of IAOV The Austro-Hungarian Empire's 300 years of influence/occupation of Northern
Italy
Other territories on the East Coast of the Adriatic that had either substantial or predominate Italian populations, that were NOT relinquished, were called the "irredenta" territories, and were a very sore spot for the Italians, and included Trieste, the Istria Peninsula, Fiume (Rijeka), Dalmatia, etc With the loss of WWI, the Austro Hungarian Empire was broken up, and Italy was "returned" Trieste, Istria, Zara, Lagosta, but Fiume and Dalmatia were given to the newly created Yugoslavia. Italy later obtained a Protectorate over Albania. Even though Italy was an Enemy of the Allies only from June 10, 1940 to September 1943, and became a Co-Belligerent of the Allies from then, until the end of the War in Europe on May 7, 1945, the "irredenta" territories were given to Yugoslavia. So now there were numerous Italians in those "irredenta" territories, and a great number in Croatia and Slovenia, that were caught in the middle of the incendiary mix of Croatians, Serbians, Muslims, and their long simmering animosity, that fostered severe tribalism, and a Communist government, that fostered aggression against Italians. (BIAPAC) Bronx Italian-American Political Action Committee is addressing that matter, and appears to be doing it with an extremely effective Strategy. I commend them for standing up for their rights, and deserve our support,
I will be looking forward to being advised of the address of BIAPAC's
Web Site,
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New advocacy group tackles ethnic cleansing issue
At its first meeting, the Bronx Italian American Political Action Committee
Anthony Chiofalo, a Morris Park resident and the founder of BIAPAC,
said his
A major topic he believes deserves particular scrutiny is the ethnic cleansing of Italians in Croatia and Slovenia. In an open letter to the press, Chiofalo cited that 400,000 ethnic Italians were purged, through murder and/or exile from 1943 to 1954 in Yugoslavia. When Communism collapsed in that country in 1991, the country was divided into Croatia and Slovenia. At the time, many Italian-Americans living in the Bronx hoped this event would open the door to land reclamation that was once rightfully their own. "They deserved some recognition of what was taken from them," reported Chiofalo. But Croatia and Slovenia effectively enacted legislation prohibiting Italians from returning or claiming any rights of heredity or restitution. Simultaneously, however, Croatians and Slovenes were given the right
to claim
Further legislation prevented Italians and other non-citizens of the countries, from buying any real estate in the formerly Italian lands, which Chiofalo claims violates international laws and the free market principles Americans have embraced. For this reason alone, Chiofalo believes America should prevent these countries from entering into NATO until significant changes are made to their system of laws. "We want the human rights of Italian exiles recognized and respected,"
said
While ethnic cleansing was the main focus of BIAPAC’s initial meeting,
"As Italians, and Italian-Americans, are we truly treated with equality
by
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