With the laying of flowers, speeches by officials and the presence of a large number of citizens, the 33rd anniversary of the defense of the city was marked in Tuzla today – one of the key moments in the fight for the independence and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On behalf of the City of Tuzla, Mayor Zijad Lugavić addressed the attendees, emphasizing the significance of this date not only for the past, but also for the future of Tuzla.
“All rights and freedoms for living together, for diversity, for peace, unity and harmony, for that Tuzla spirit that has marked Tuzla all this time, that marks Tuzla today, and that will mark Tuzla in the future – only great people can do that. People who love their city and their homeland. I would like to thank them immensely on behalf of all the citizens of Tuzla for standing in defense of unity, freedom, life and property,” said Lugavić, emphasizing that the truth about May 15th must be passed on to the younger generations.
“Today, when we witness attempts to deny what really happened that day, it is even more important to cultivate a culture of memory and truth. The City of Tuzla will continue to be the bearer of activities marking the Day of Defense of Tuzla. Last year, we completed and opened a monument on this date, in order to send a message about the truth in this way,” added the mayor.
On this day in 1992, paramilitary formations of the so-called Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with forces of the then Yugoslav Army, carried out an armed attack on Tuzla. Members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Public Security Station Tuzla, acting in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic, resolutely repelled the attack, preventing the entry of the aggressor forces and thus defending the city and its citizens.
That act was crucial not only for the preservation of Tuzla, but also for the overall resistance to the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tuzla remained a symbol of resistance, unity and multiethnic coexistence throughout the war.
Special attention was also drawn to the speech of Meša Bajrić, then Chief of the Tuzla Public Security Station, who said that this date had a lasting impact on his life.
“We must remember the conflict in Brčanska Malta for the sake of the culture of remembrance, for the sake of truth, but also for the sake of reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina,”said Bajrić.
“That day must be a reminder of what really happened on May 15th,” he added.
Speaking about the very moment of the attack, Bajrić pointed out that, although it is not known for certain whether the JNA members from the column were under the influence of alcohol, their behavior was extremely reckless and uncontrolled.
“They must have been driven into their heads by the logic of looting and ethnic cleansing that was already rampant in many parts of the country at that time. It seemed as if the same fate was being planned for Tuzla,” Bajrić recalled the moments when he and his associates were making key decisions for the defense of the city.
As part of today’s commemoration program, delegations from the City of Tuzla, higher levels of government, veterans’ organizations, representatives of civil society and citizens laid flowers and paid tribute to the fallen defenders and civilian victims of the war. The commemoration took place in a sign of dignity, piety and a message that the victims will not be forgotten.
The city of Tuzla, as in all previous years, continues to cherish the values of truth, anti-fascism and mutual respect, founded on the heroic resistance of May 15, 1992, Fena news agency writes.
Photo: RTVTK
