Association of Concentration Camp Detainees in BiH in cooperation with the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of RS visited today former concentration “Čelebići” camp near Konjic where Serbs were detained.
Head of the Council of Europe Office in BiH Marry Ann Hennessy, who also visited the camp, said it is very important not to forget that everyone was victim of war in BiH.
”Today’s message is the word solidarity which should refer to all people in BiH. If we build solidarity which concerns victims who suffered, then we can build a future for all people in BiH,” she emphasized.
President of the Association of Concentration Camp Prisoners in BiH Jasmin Mešković reminded that a concentration camp is any space where people of any nation, religion or sex were detained, and which there are rulings for in the International Court in Hague or court in BiH.
”Victims will always be victims to us. We represent co-existence, tolerance and reconciliation. We are aware we cannot live off the past and we should look in the future,” he said.
He also emphasized the need to adopt the law on torture victims in BiH.
”Executive Director of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in RS Branko Todorović finds that former detainees have been marginalized for 19 years, adding it is expected because authority in BiH today is partly composed of those who created crimes and concentration camps in BiH.
”It is normal to expect them to want to cover up those crimes and obstruct all attempts in BiH for the civil victims of war to exercise their rights such as the right to truth or punishing of criminals,” he emphasized.
“Čelebići” Camp was operating from May to December 1992 and it detained around 400 Serbs, of which 16 were killed.
Court in Hague convicted Zdravko Mucić, Hazim Delić and Esad Landža for crimes committed in this camp.
(Source: Fena)
