“I survived a genocide,” said Munira Subašić, whose youngest son – his favorite – and 21 other family members were murdered during the Srebrenica massacre in July 1995.
“And the world and Europe looked at just in silence. »»
Now president of the mothers of Srebrenica and žepa, Ms. Subašić took the floor during a special commemoration, urging world leaders not to forget the past and to do justice to the victims and the survivors.
“” When you kill a mother’s child, you have killed part of her“Said Ms. Subašic.
The worst atrocity of Europe since the Second World War
The 1995 genocide, perpetrated by the Bosnian Serbian army, led to the murder of at least 8,372 men and boys, the displacement of thousands and the destruction of whole communities in Srebrenica – which had been designed “safe zone“By the UN Security advice.
A small unit slightly armed with Dutch peacekeeping soldier under the United Nations flag could not resist the great Bosnian Serbian force, which passed the city of Srebrenica.
The massacre was officially recognized as genocide by both International Court of Justice (Icj) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (Icty).
Last year, the General Assembly appointed on July 11 as the International Day for Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica.
An exhibition marking the 30th anniversary of the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica takes place at the UN headquarters in New York.
Remember and honor the victims
Speaking in the name of the UN Secretary General António GuterresThe chief of staff Courtenay Cetrayed paid tribute to those who lost their lives and the courage of their families.
“” Today, we remember and honor the victims. We pay tribute to the strength, dignity and resilience of survivors“He said.
Mr. Guterres, in his message, said that the international community should continue to stand against hatred, division and denial.
“” It is only by recognizing the suffering of all the victims that we can build a mutual understanding, a confidence and a lasting peace,“He said. We must make sure that the voices of Srebrenica survivors continue to be heard – counter denial, distortion and revisionism. »»
The dangers of forgetting
UN officials expressed themselves by continuous efforts to deny the genocide and glorify recognized people guilty of war crimes. They have warned that such stories can feed the division and hinder reconciliation.
“” Education remains our strongest defense against the erosion of memorySaid philled Yang, President of the General Assembly. “We must not only remember the story, but to learn so that tragedies like Srebrenica are never repeated. »»
Learning from the past is particularly important today – the secretary general noted that the same “dangerous currents” which led to genocide in Srebrenica are again present in the world today.
“” After Srebrenica, the world said – again – “never again”. However, the speech of hatred is again increasing, fueling discrimination, extremism and violence,“Said Mr. Guterres.
A dispersed family
Mirela Osmanović, a young professional of the Srebrenica Memorial Center, was born after the genocide but lives with its impact. Two of his brothers were killed. Some of their remains have been found, but parts of their body are always missing. Their absence, she said, weighs on her family daily.
“” My parents prohibited themselves from joy while their sons, my brothers, lying somewhere in the soil, incomplete, dispersed through mass pits – as if each smile was betrayal, as if happiness could mean forgetting. “”
The pain of this loss is still with his family even if the world has promised that Srebrenica would never happen again.
“We have been given words, resolutions, declarations, solemn promises of” never again, “she said. “And yet, 30 years later, we always ask what” never means “? »»
A new generation, always asking questions
Ms. Osmanović frequently speaks with young people around the world who ask for what is happening at the end of violence.
“What happens when the big titles are sounded, when the tombs are found and the facts are clear?” Does justice follow? ”
His answer is that justice does not follow often enough.
“” Justice if it comes too late or only on paper cannot restore confidence. And peace without dignity is not peace at all. “”
Years of commemoration
In 2015, UN News spoke to Adama Dieng, the special advisor of the secretary general on the prevention of the genocide, who stressed the importance of remembering the genocide of Srebrenica.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
