Sadness, pain and silence marked the send-off of the saddest convoy with the remains of ten victims of genocide, which left Visoko for the Potočari Memorial Center this morning. Family members said goodbye to their loved ones, while many citizens and officials paid tribute to the murdered.
Pain that doesn’t go away
Silence and tears in Visoko. The last send-off of the remains of ten genocide victims on their way to eternal peace. For the families, it is as difficult as when they parted in July 1995.
The last meeting is also remembered by the family of Senad Jusić, the youngest victim who will be buried this year. He was only 20 years old.
“He is my husband’s brother. My son and I came to see him off. It’s like it was yesterday. I can still remember the last moments when we moved and parted. Believe me, nothing since then is more difficult than today,” said Zirafeta Jusić, a member of the family of the murdered Senad Jusić.
More than three decades after the committed genocide, calm will find brother next to brother, father next to son, cousin next to cousin. The oldest victim is Ramo Dautović. He was killed at the age of 56.
All victims were found in secondary and tertiary graves. Incomplete remains in coffins.
“Even today, their villains and murderers are walking peacefully. The court and the Prosecutor’s Office are silent. They receive salaries until retirement, and it is the hardest for us these days. The villains are already asking for acquittals. They are asking to be released after serving two-thirds of their sentences. So what a shame for them,” said the president of the Podrinje Women’s Association – Bratunac Šuhra Sinanović.
Tribute in Sarajevo
The sad column was also stopped in Sarajevo. A large number of citizens, political, religious and international officials saw off the tabuts with respect and tribute. First in front of the Presidency, then at the monument to the murdered children of Sarajevo, then at Markale.
Among those gathered here are the families of the victims who were buried earlier in Potočari, but the emotions are the same.
In the days of July, the sadness is greater, and the pain is stronger even for those who came to offer support.
“I lost my grandson, son-in-law, cousins, my whole family. I can’t even count them,” said Ferida Hasanović.
“They are all mine. We are spiritually brothers and sisters in pain and sorrow. They are all ours,” said Adel Šabanović.
“I send away the taboos of my people. Part of me goes with them. Genocide was committed against my people. It is not separate, it is one fabric,” said Senija Ibišević.
The search is still ongoing
Every year, fewer and fewer victims are identified for burial. There are no new graves because those who know where they are are silent.
However, the families still hope to find at least one bone of their loved ones. That’s why they wait several years before giving consent for burial.
“In the Podrinje identification project, we have ten victims identified by the DNA method, whose identification has been confirmed by the families. However, the families have not yet decided to bury those remains. We also have another 36 victims identified by the DNA method, but their families have not yet proceeded with official identification or giving consent for the burial,” explained Suad Hasanović, a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Missing Persons of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In Potočari, after many years of searching, ten victims will find their final peace. And to be permanent witnesses of the genocide committed in front of the eyes of the whole world who knew and did not prevent it.
