The Apeal of the International Expert Team of the Institute for Research of Genocide, Canada regarding the Worldwide White Armband Day and the construction of a monument dedicated to children killed in the genocide in Prijedor
{The appeal was sent to more than a hundred addresses, individual and collective, political, academic and legal authorities in the world}
I
We support the Worldwide White Armband Day - to commemorate the genocide that took place in Prijedor when the self-proclaimed Republika Srpska applied the very same method used by the Nazis, which forced Jews to wear yellow ribbons.
II
While joining and supporting this petition, which seeks the construction of a monument dedicated to the102 innocent boys and girls who were killed in the genocide of Prijedor –we demand that Prijedor’s local authority promptly considers and agrees to the construction of such a monument to all children killed in the Prijedor genocide – and which is an initiative instigated by parents of those very children. Specifically we invite Bosniak's members from the Assembly of the town of Prijedor to use their councilor's, but also human and moral right and requested inclusion on the agenda of the Assembly request for the construction of a monument dedicated to children killed in the genocide in Prijedor
III
Surviving victims and witnesses of that aggressive genocide in Prijedor consider the need to plead for this right, humiliating.
IV
Their humane requirement to publicly remember their suffering is a part of a slow, but dignified process of reconciliation. The construction of a suitable monument, will allow and assist commemoration of what were the cruel deaths of their family members, friends, and fellow citizens.
V
During those years of aggression and genocide in Prijedor thousands of the city’s Bosniak and Croat inhabitants, including women and children, were murdered. Thousands more were tortured in concentration and death camps; several hundred women and girls were raped; tens of thousands of the lawful inhabitants of the city were forced from their homes; while the city’s cultural and sacral buildings and artifacts were purposely destroyed, as yet another strand of the extermination campaign against the region’s legitimate Bosniak and Croat inhabitants.
VI
On the 31st of May, friends of truth and justice, will again wear white armbands in memory of the brutal murder, torture and deportation of Bosniaks from Prijedor. A time when Prijedor’s Bosnian Serb authority issued orders via local radio broadcasts that all non-Serbian population were to identify their houses with white sheets or flags. They were also instructed that whenever they left their houses - for any reason - they were to prominently display (wear) a white armband. That was the beginning of a campaign of extermination in which were conducted: mass executions, rape, the establishment of concentration camps and commitment of myriad other crimes. The final outcome of such bestial behaviour was the removal – by any means - of 94 percent of Bosniaks and Croats from the Municipality of Prijedor.
VII
That was the first time since the 1939 Nazi proclamations which demanded all Polish Jews wear yellow armbands, sporting a blue Star of David on their sleeves. That symbol – at that time - identified membership of a particular ethnic/religious group that was to be exterminated.
VIII
We would remind the international public that the genocide and other forms of crimes against humanity and international law, within the Prijedor Municipality, lasted continuously from 1992-1995 and killed 102 children, 256 women, a total of 3,173 civilians, 31,000 people were detained in the death camps, 53.000 people are victims of persecution and deportation. In just three months 94 percent of Bosniaks. In Prijedor were eradicated via a mass genocide, culturicide, ecocide, ethnocide, urbicide, elitocide, deliberate, organized mass murders, deportation, rape, primarily of Bosniaks and Croats.
IX
We therefore call upon all friends of truth and justice in the world to mark the International Day of White Armbands in Prijedor, on May 31st 2015. The wearing of white armbands, not only symbolises the remembrance of the persecution, but also recognises the ongoing struggle against fascism - not yet defeated in Prijedor and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
X
Twenty years after the horrific crimes referred to herein, discrimination and crude violations of human rights and basic freedoms continue to be perpetrated against the city’s remaining Bosniak and Croat inhabitants. Different methods are used to continue the policies of aggression and genocide. Bosniak and Croat communities are deliberately and systematically being prevented from returning to their homes and reviving their legitimate, lawful presence in the municipality. Returnees are prevented from attaining their pre-war careers, positions, and property. The Municipality invests minimally, when at all in renovating / replacing / reviving those parts of the municipality that were targeted and destroyed purposely.
XI
We call on all international political, academic, legal entities worldwide, who believe and function within systems of truth and justice; together with all who struggle for human rights and freedom - to help Prijedor’s parents to finally build a monument worthy of 102 innocent boys and girls who lost their lives to fascist genocide in Prijedor. Petition for construction of the monument was given last year, however, the city council in has not voted on the initiative of this monument. We protest against this uncivilized conduct of Prijedor political establishment, led by Mayor Marko Pavic, who continues to dehumanise the survivors of that genocide.
XII
We ask the world's leaders and the most important international political, academic and judicial organizations to assist in resolving this emergency, through additional efforts to seek the unconditional compliance with this just struggle of Prijedor’s surviving victims and witnesses of aggression and genocide; for memory; truth and justice - without which there will be no reconciliation or happier common future in Prijedor and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Signatories:
Prof. Emir Ramić, Chairman of the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada
Prof. dr. Francis Boyle, University of Illinois, General Agent for the Republic of BiH before the International Court of Justice
Prof. dr. Dawid Pettigrew, Southern Connecticut State University
Prof. dr. Marko Attila Hoare, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Kingston University, London
Florence Hartman, French journalist and author, Former spokeswoman at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
Roger M. Richards, Filmmaker, Photographer, Author
Catrine Von Dinklage, Universal Peace Federation
Robert Leonard Rope, Indepedent Journalist
Prof. dr. Janja BeÄ Neumann, University Hamburg, Sarajevo, Dubrovnik, Bologna, Sociologist, Resear war crimes and genocide
Master Husein ef. Kavazović, The Grand Mufti of BiH
Academic Prof. dr. Smail Čekić, University of Sarajevo
Academic, Prof. dr. Ejup Ganić founder and chancellor of Sarajevo School of Science and Technology
Isnam Taljic, Writter
Avdo Huseinovic, Author
Dr. Mustafa Ceric, former reis-ul-ulema of BiH and currently president of the World Bosniak Congress
Master Hamdija Čustović, President of CNAB
Professor Semir Djulic, Atlanta, USA
Muhamed Velic, Imam
Prof. dr. Rasim Muratović, University of Sarajevo, Director of the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law
Prof. dr. Franjo Topic the Head of Sarajevo's (Catholic) Croatian Culltural Association "Napredak
Prof. dr. Sead Berberović, Universiy of Zagreb
Prof. dr. Kasim Trnka. University of Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Edina Becirevic, University of Sarajevo
Academic Prof. dr. Ferid Muhić, University of Skopje
Prof. dr. Tarik Zaimović, University of Sarajevo
Academic Prof. dr. Esad Duraković, University Sarajevo
Academic Prof. dr. Omer Ibrahimagić, University of Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Muris Osmanagić, University of Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Ismet Dizdarević, University of Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Fikret BeÄirović, University of Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Muriz Spahić, University of Sarajevo, President of the Association of Geographers in BiH
Prof. dr. Senadin Lavić, University of Sarajevo, President of the Cultural Community of Bosniaks
Prof. dr. Suad KurtÄehajić, Univerity of Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Ibrahim Kajan, University of Mostar
Ambassador, dr. Nedim Makarević
Ambassador, dr. Sabit Subasic
Prof. dr. Selma Rizvić, University of Tuzla
Prof. dr. Zemir Sinanović, University of Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Enver Halilović, University of Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Sakib Softić, University of Sarajevo, General Agent for of BiH before the International Court of Justice
Prof. dr. Džemal Najetović, University of Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Mujo Begić, University of Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Senada Delić, Ottawa University, Canada
Dr. Zijad Delić, Otawa, Canada
Prof. dr. Hariz Halilovic, Senior Lecturer in Socio-Cultural Anthropology, Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
Dr. Haris Alibašić, Associate professor at universities in Grand Rapids
Dr. Nedzad Grabus, Mufti of Slovenia
Prof. dr. Aras Konhodzic, Temple University, USA
Master Hamdija Čustović, President of CNAB
Professor Semir Djulic, Atlanta, USA
Amir Ahmić, Bosnian liaison officer with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
Master Fatmir Alispahić, Writer, publicist, writer
Mster Sanja Drnovšek Seferović, Chair of Bosnian American Genocide Institute and Education Center
Master Adamir Jerković, Director of the Archives of FbiH
Osman Softic, Political analyst
Master Haris Hromic, Haris Hromic is President Family Memorial Foundation, Trustee of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
Master Marjan Hajnel, Philosopher, author, humanist, Israel
Jusuf Trbić, Author
Mirela Kukan, Journalist
Kenan trebincevic, Author
Senahid TrebinÄević, Author
Eldin TrebinÄević, Autor
Elvir Klempić, International Affairs Professional
Adil Kulenović, President of Krug99
Emir Zlatar, The Secretary General of the Council of Bosniak Intellectuals
Aziz Tafro, Author
Muhamed Fazlagić – Fazla, Author
Meša Pargan, Writer, publicist, writer
Mirsad Duratović, President of the Association of Detainees Prijedor92
Bakira HaseÄić, President of the Association of Women Victims of War
Munira Subašić, President of the Movement of Mothers of Srebrenica and Zepa
Hasan Sehovic, President of the the World Diaspora Association of BiH
Senada Softic Telalovic, Council of BiH Organizations of Australia
Murat Tahirovic, President of the Association of victims and witnesses of genocide
Lawyer Amor Masovic, Institute for Missing Persons
Kemal Balihodžić, Author
Adnan Bajrić, Menager
Senada Tatarević Kararić
Hava Tatarević, Lost six sons and her husband
Šukrija Meholjić, Autor
Sejfudin Tokić, BosniaK movement for equality of nations
Nedim Seferović, Lawyer
Vehid Gunić, Writter
Aziz Tafro, Author
Sanela Fejzić
Satko Mujagic. „Guardians of Omarska“
Dzenana Karup Drusko, Journalist
Nihad Alickovic, AntiDayton Group
Senad Alicehajic, Bosnian Community Windsor, Canada
Nasko Budimlic