LEST WE FORGET: 33 Years Since the Horrific Crime Against Serbs in Podrinje! (VIDEO)

In Bratunac, 33 years are being marked since the crime committed by Muslim forces against Serbs in Central Podrinje and Birac. From 1992 to 1995, 3,267 Serbs were brutally killed, including 43 children, and 5,400 households were completely extinguished. The commemorative gathering is being held with the highest state honors and representatives of Republika Srpska and Serbia.

The program marking the 33rd anniversary of the suffering of Serbs in Central Podrinje and Birac began with a liturgy at the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in Bratunac, led by Serbian Patriarch Mr. Porfirije.

Afterwards, a procession will move from the Church to the Bratunac cemetery where wreaths and flowers will be laid. A program will then be held with speeches from victims’ families and representatives of the Governments of Republika Srpska and Serbia.

Lazar Prodanović, Mayor of Bratunac Municipality, emphasizes that it is extremely important to maintain the culture of remembrance for the victims, primarily for the identity of the Serbian people in these areas, for the future of Republika Srpska, and for a sense of duty towards those who gave their lives for Republika Srpska.

“From the area of Central Podrinje and Birac alone, 3,267 individuals lost their lives from 1992 to 1995. By paying military tribute, we foster a culture of remembrance for what they did for us, for the creation of Republika Srpska, and at the same time, we teach younger generations that this must never happen to anyone again,” Prodanović emphasized.

He stated that intensive work is being done on the construction of a Memorial Center in cooperation with the Governments of Republika Srpska and Serbia.

Obeležavanje 33 godine od zločina nad 3.267 Srba iz srednjeg Podrinja i Birča #Bratunac pic.twitter.com/a55AXOw9PD
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“As for the local self-government, we have almost completed 4.4 hectares of land planned for this purpose from Bratunac towards Srebrenica, and payment has been made for 3.6 hectares. We will also finish the remaining two plots. The Government yesterday issued an international public call for the development of the conceptual design and the complete project for the central memorial. Along with the church, amphitheater, and multimedia content, where young people will be able to come and pay their respects,” Prodanović stated.

Since yesterday, photographs of victims from Central Podrinje and Birac have been placed along the main road from Bratunac to Srebrenica, stretching for three kilometers.

Families say that in this way they are trying to maintain the culture of remembrance and to remind that no one has been held accountable for the crimes in that region before the court in BiH, nor in The Hague.

In this region, 5,400 households were extinguished from 1992 to 1995.

Source: RTS, Photo: predsjednikrs.rs / Borislav Zdrinja