MASSE REMEMBERS SREBRENICA ON THE 20thANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE

MASSE REMEMBERS SREBRENICA ON THE 20thANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE

July 10th, 2015 - 2:27pm

Windsor, ON – Today Brian Masse M.P. remembered the more than 8000 victims of the Srebrenica Genocide that took place in Bosnia between 1992 and 1995. One of the darkest chapters in recent European history, Masse also remembers the survivors of this genocide, including the families and Mothers of Srebrenica, who shared their personal memories with him personally in Bosnia.

 

 

 

“Remembering, especially on this 20thanniversary, is crucial as we begin to educate a new generation about the atrocities committed two decades ago in Bosnia. It is vital that we use the lessons learned from Srebrenica to challenge hatred and intolerance and teach the history of war crimes carried out in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995,” Masse stated.

 

 

 

After the fall of Srebrenica on July 11th 1995, Bosnian Serb forces, commanded by General Ratko Mladic (an indicted war criminal), and paramilitary units rapidly executed more than 8,000 Bosniak (Muslim) men, boys, and elderly, who had sought safety in the area. Moreover, approximately 30,000 people were forcibly deported in an UN-assisted ethnic cleansing. The European Parliament resolution referred to the Srebrenica Massacre as "the biggest war crime in Europe since the end of WWII."

 

 

 

“My recently passed motion in the House of Commons is a testament to the importance of remembering this genocide and reaffirms Canada’s support for the Bosniak community throughout our nation who continue to live with the devastating memories and their tragic suffering and losses at Srebrenica. It also reiterates the importance of their work to ensure that future barriers are broken down and we will work together for justice and reconciliation. We will always remember,” said Masse.

 

 

 

Masse’s Motion passed on May   14, 2015, and read: “That, in the opinion of the House, and in advance   of the twentieth anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide of 11 July 2015,   Parliament should (a) reaffirm support for former Motion M-416 passed in the   House of Commons on 19 October 2010, which recognized July 11 annually as   Srebrenica Remembrance Day in Canada, and (b) include the Srebrenica   genocide, and Srebrenica Remembrance Day as part of “Genocide Remembrance,   Condemnation and Awareness Month“ every April going forth as supported by the   House in Motion M-587 passed by Parliament 24 April 2015.”

 

 

 

“Lastly, I must thank the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada and the Congress of North American Bosniaks, along with the Canadian Bosniak community, for working with me to ensure that together this genocide will not be forgotten. It is through this combined dedication to educate future generations of this atrocity that we can try to prevent such an event from ever happening again,” said Masse.

 

 

 

This atrocity has been declared an act of genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate in 2005 have passed resolutions on the Srebrenica Genocide and all the atrocities that occurred during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. The European parliament passed its resolution on January 15, 2009 institutionalizing July 11 as the day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica Genocide. The Government of Canada began officially recognizing this genocide after Masse’s motion passed in the House of Commons in 2010 calling for the Government to recognize every July 11 as Srebrenica Remembrance Day in Canada.