Serbian Activist: SPENS was used as a transit place for captured Croats
A Serbian activist has claimed that the SPENS sports and business center in Novi Sad was used as a transit location for captured Croats during the war, rather than a standard concentration camp.
The article discusses the assertion made by Serbian activist Nataša Kandić regarding the SPENS sports center, which gained notoriety when Croatian singer Tony Cetinski canceled a concert there following appeals from members of the Croatian Association of Detainees in Serbian Concentration Camps. They cited allegations that captured Croats were transported to SPENS after the fall of Vukovar and subjected to torture. Kandić argues that while SPENS was not a traditional concentration camp, it served as a transit center where Croatian prisoners were moved to other camps in Serbia. This distinction is critical as it frames the narrative surrounding the treatment of prisoners during the conflict.
Witness testimonies reveal a grim reality for many Croatian prisoners who found themselves at SPENS, where they reportedly faced brutal treatment during interrogations, and there are claims of sexual violence against women. Kandić's comments come at a time of heightened sensitivity regarding the historical narratives of the Yugoslav Wars, and her position puts her at odds with some Serbian nationalist factions. Nevertheless, she aligns herself with the extreme left group Documenta, which aims to document the past atrocities of the wars in the former Yugoslavia.
The implications of Kandić's statements are significant as they challenge both the public perception and the historical record of the Yugoslav Wars. As a well-known figure who is not favored within certain Serbian political circles, her advocacy could contribute to ongoing discussions about war crimes and accountability in the region. The response to her claims will likely influence relations between Serbia and Croatia, particularly in terms of acknowledging past wrongdoings and fostering dialogue about reconciliation between the two nations.