The case of whistleblower Jasmine Jovev and trade unionist Ivica Babić
Following the events that followed Jasmine Jovev's appearance on the show Nedjeljom u 2 in which she spoke about the work of the prefect of the Sisak-Moslavina County, Marina Lovrić Merzel, but also the arrest of trade union leader Ivica Babić, we must, for the umpteenth time, conclude that state institutions and the people elected to represent our interests are actually working mainly against citizens and in the name of personal and party interests.
Although Jasmina Jovev reported suspicions of irregularities in the county prefect's work a year ago, there has been no reaction from the responsible institutions even after her public statement, but the Croatian Health Insurance Fund immediately expressed doubts about the justification of her sick leave and forced the woman, together with her minor child, to come and prove whether she is deceiving the caring state or not. The Croatian Health Insurance Fund has already proven itself on several occasions as the main guardian of the state's interests, immediately calling out and checking on everyone who is on sick leave and raising their voice against some injustice or irregularity. It is as if all sick people are necessarily already in a death throes and are not allowed to move or vote. Waiting in hospitals, in front of counters for various certifications are always allowed, but any public appearance is not.
The arrest of Ivica Babić represents a precedent that an orderly democratic state should never allow itself. The theatrical act of arrest in front of the cameras of some media and handcuffing, the use of which, according to established European standards, is permissible only in exceptional situations and when there is reasonable suspicion that the arrested person poses a danger to himself and others or clearly resists arrest, absolutely cannot be justified by anything. It is certain that the procedure is completely disproportionate to the nature of the possible criminal offense committed. The moment chosen for the arrest and detention encourages justified suspicion of the state's intention to show its muscles and power and silence the general dissatisfaction of the citizens by intimidating other union leaders.
Basically, even after the European Commission, in its first report on corruption in the European Union, asked Croatia to introduce prevention measures and establish better protection for "whistleblowers", we see how institutions immediately "attack" them and check them, instead of those responsible urgently taking measures to verify the information that has been made public and incriminating persons in positions of power (such as County Prefect Marina Lovrić Merzel).
Both acts send a clear message - do not raise your voice against those in power because we will always find something where you have violated the laws and regulations.
Big Brother is there to watch and control you, not you him.
