Puniša Račić

Puniša Račić (Serbian Cyrillic: Пуниша Рачић) was a Montenegrin Serb politician, a member of the Yugoslav Parliament from the People's Radical Party, who assassinated Pavle Radić and Đuro Basariček, Croatian Peasant Party representatives, mortally wounded Stjepan Radić, leader of Croatian Peasant Party at the time and wounded Ivan Pernar and Ivan Granđa.

Račić hailed from Berane, Montenegro. After the First World War he was involved in the pacification of Macedonia which had become part of Serbia at the time. Allegations that he had acquired property there in dubious circumstances began to circulate from that time.

In September 1927 he was elected to Parliament on the Radical list.

On June 19, 1928, the Croatian member of parliament Stjepan Radić had attacked the government supporters for the way they absented themselves during debate only turning up to vote, calling them "cattle". Račić and fellow radical Toma Popović reacted angrily, charging at Radić and while being held back cried out that "here will fall a dead head!" Račić reacted similarly crying out that "Radić has to get a beating."

During the parliament session, the next day June 20, Lubomir Maštović made a speech protesting how Toma Popović and Račić had made death threats against Radić and they had not even received a warning from the president of the Assembly, Ninko Perić. Toma Popović spoke next and far from retracting his words of the previous day added, "if your leader, if Stjepan Radić, who shames the Croatian people, further continues to with insulting, I guarantee that his head will fall here." When Toma Popović finished his speech amitst uproar from the opposition, Ninko Perić called a 5 minute recess and left the hall into the Ministers room followed by Račić.

When Ninko Perić again opened the session he called on Račić to speak. Račić made a speech that produced a stormy reaction from the opposition Peasant-Democrat Coalition but Radić stayed completely silent as he had done the whole session. Finally, Račić said "I spilled my blood for this country, too!". When he got back to his bench, Ivan Pernar replied loudly "Tell us how much you spilled, we'll pay you in gold!". At this point, Račić moved out from the benches and onto the main speaker platform at the front of the assembly and pulled out a revolver. "Whoever tries to place themselves between me and Pernar will die," he shouted. Ninko Perić then declared the session closed and left quickly. Račić then shot down Ivan Pernar who fell with a bullet lodged next to his heart. He then fired at Stjepan Radić. The first bullet hit Granđa, who was trying to protect Radić, in the arm but the second hit Radić in the stomach. Both fell to the floor. Račić then aimed at Svetozar Pribičević but he ducked and instead Račić hit Đuro Basariček who had run forward. Pavle Radić also ran forward shouting "What are you doing if God knows!" As Pavle turned to Stjepan Radić, Račić, saying "You're just who I'm looking for", shot Pavle Radić in the side. Račić fired two more shots into the benches where Radić had fallen and then left unhindered assuming wrongly that Pernar and Radić were both dead.

Račić gave himself up a little later and was arrested. His court hearing was repeatedly delayed and opened after King Alexander had suspended the parliament and proclaimed a dictatorship. By that time, the opposition deputies, including the two who survived being shot by Račić, had decided to boycott the trial because they suspected a cover-up. Račić was convicted of the crime, but was sentenced to house arrest in Požarevac. He was allowed to have visits from his cousin Nikola Bošković several times a week, and was later released. Toma Popović and another deputy accused of being accomplices were fully acquitted.

Račić led a quiet life during most of World War II. He was captured by the Partisans in October 1944, tried by a military court of Partisan 21st Serbian division, and executed. His case is notable due to the fact that he was punished twice for the same crimes.

References

* Zvonimir Kulundžić: "Atentat na Stjepana Radića" (The Assassination of Stjepan Radić)

External links

* [http://www.srpsko-nasledje.co.yu/sr-l/1998/08/article-05.html Account of the assassination at Srpsko Nasleđe (in Serbian)]