The Steering Board of the Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Centre – Memorial and cemetery for the victims of the 1995 genocide gave full and unequivocal support to the current and former coworkers who, over the past six years, have been involved in the programmatic, research, educational, memorial, and other activities of this institution.
They said in a statement that with their authority, responsibility, and integrity, they stand with the individuals who lawfully and professionally cooperated with the Memorial Centre.
They emphasised that the election and involvement of the coworkers were conducted in accordance with applicable regulations, internal acts, approved programmes, and prescribed administrative procedures, and that their work was directed towards fulfilling the Memorial Centre’s statutory mission.
Opposing Criminalization and Pressures
The Steering Board is strictly against any attempt to criminalize coworkers’ involvement, or any form of political, police, judicial, or any other institutional pressure on coworkers, employees, management, and the institution itself.
They stated that they are especially concerned about the fact that notices for questioning of current and former coworkers followed soon after presenting the annual Report on Genocide Denial in Srebrenica.
As emphasised, there are serious reasons for concern that the activities of the Zvornik Police Administration and the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bijeljina are a direct reaction to the publication of the report, which documented and named individuals and institutions that, according to the Memorial Centre, denied the Srebrenica genocide, glorified convicted war criminals, and participated in other forms of the historical revisionism.
The Steering Board believes that the use of police and judicial mechanisms as a response to documenting and public naming of genocide deniers is an unacceptable form of pressure on freedom of research, freedom of speech, protection of human rights and lawful operation of the Memorial Centre.
Support to Director Suljagić
The Steering Board gave full support to the Memorial Centre’s director, Emir Suljagić, in initiating all available legal mechanisms to protect current and former employees and coworkers who are subjected to pressure, intimidation, unfounded questioning, damage to reputation, or other forms of unlawful conduct.
They expect the director, in cooperation with legal representatives and competent institutions, to undertake all necessary measures to protect the rights, security, privacy, and professional integrity of all individuals involved in the Memorial Centre’s work.
They said in a statement that the Memorial Centre will not give up on its legal and moral obligation to preserve the truth on genocide, protect the dignity of the victims and oppose its denial, and that the Steering Board will remain united in protecting the institution, its leadership, employees and coworkers.
