Srebrenica: 30 Years
Huzeir Kurpejovic
Srebrenica. A quiet town located in the Podrinje region of Eastern Bosnia that was once known for its spa industry and spring water sources. Today, Srebrenica exists as a grave reminder of the Bosnian War.
On July 9th of 1995, Serbian forces led a week-long massacre in Srebrenica, killing over 8,000 Bosnian men and boys. Despite being deemed a safe zone by the United Nations, Srebrenica became a site of violence.
The number of Bosnians killed in this act of genocide currently sits at 8,372 confirmed casualties. However, this number increases every year as more bodies are found in mass graves. The Srebrenica massacre happened 30 years ago, and the wounds it caused are still being felt today by survivors and their families.
To remember the victims of this tragedy, I volunteered at the Srebrenica genocide memorial in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. There were over 400 attendees, including those from the US. Prominent figures like Zlatko Lagumdžija and Jakob Finci presented during the gathering. Attending this event showed me how the victims of the Srebrenica massacre had hopes and dreams that have become our hopes and dreams. Their pain and loss have become our shared pain and loss.
Today is a heavy day for everyone in the Bosnian community, and those of us at BAPA want to honour all of the victims and survivors of the Bosnian War. BAPA wants to acknowledge the importance of uplifting our scattered yet tight-knit diaspora community, no matter where they are in the world. Today, let’s remember what happened in Srebrenica just a few decades ago, when those in a small town needed the world’s help the most. May the victims of the Srebrenica massacre never be forgotten. May their memory serve as our collective passion to help one another as we go forward in our missions, goals, and aspirations.
Never forget Srebrenica.
