Canadian Bosniaks, have rights and dignity and to not accept Motion M – 416 without word genocide

April 05, 2010

 

Dear Mr. Brian Masse,

 

Motion M 416 is about the history of the crime of genocide against Bosniaks

Canadian Bosniaks, have rights and dignity and to not accept Motion M – 416 without word genocide

 

Throughout the history of Bosniaks - which is also a part of our joint and inclusive history upon this planet - have been subjected, as a people, to the crime of genocide, by their Serbian neighbours, eleven times. It is important to note and never forget that fact. The first genocide was committed in 1492, in Srebrenica, when the Serbs crossed the Drina river, slaughtered the inhabitants and occupied the silver mine (hence the name, Srebrenica. The word “srebro” means silver). Just as in World War II, under the cover of general lawlessness, disorder and mayhem, Serbs committed three separate acts of genocides against Bosniaks, all the while purporting to have been ‘allies’ of the Allies. The most recent genocide was committed in Srebrenica in July of 1995, for the second time in its history. That particular crime was recorded by the rest of the world and a judgement declared by the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

 

In the name of more than 50.000 Canadian Bosniaks, most of whom are victims of genocide, The Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch and Institute for Research Genocide Canada sent a loud and clear message to you, to Canadian Government and to the Canadian Parliament: that the Canadian Bosniak community will not accept any Parliamentary Motion on Srebrenica without the use of proper terminology – ie the term ‘genocide’. A lack of inclusion of the term ‘genocide’ causes nothing short of a major insult to the basics of human intelligence and human dignity of all victims and the survivors of genocide.

 

On February 26, 2007, The International Court of Justice, in The Hague, The Netherlands, which is the highest judicial body of the United Nations Organization, returned a verdict in which it declared that ‘genocide’ was in fact, committed against Bosniaks, and specifically against the Bosniak inhabitants of Srebrenica. The International Court of Justice and International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in Krstic judgement also declared that “genocide “was committed against Bosniaks. 

 

Canada, being a member of the international community of nations, has legal obligation to support the International Court of Justice, accept its rulings and enforce them.

 

Further, since the exhumation of remains of the victims of the Srebrenica genocide is still in progress, as it is a laborious task, the government of Canada’s version of “7,000 victims” is but inaccurate as the count, up until today, surpasses 8,000.

Therefore, should Canada not demonstrate that they are in step with respect to the most fundamental judicial rulings, or resolutions of its historical allies, the United States of America and the European Union, who have recently voted, with great fortitude indeed, with respect to the subject matter of genocide having been committed against Bosniaks, and specifically against Bosniaks of Srebrenica.

 However, Canada, as a sovereign parliamentary monarchy, has the right and duty to adhere to international law and in doing so recognize the facts which have been documented, duly processed and properly judged.

 

Motion M – 416 in its first, the original text has support from many members of the Conservative Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, New Democratic Party of Canada, Blok Quebecois, Green Party of Canada, the Islamic Congress of Canada, the  Jewish Congress of Canada, many organizations for protection of human rights and freedoms, and the Institute for Research on Crimes of Genocide. 

 

Government’s version is unacceptable as we insist upon truth. Government version is

unacceptable because it removes or misrepresents:

(1) 8,000 lost lives to 7,000,

(2) B&H Tribute week,

(3) Replaces 'Serbian forces' with 'Bosnian Serb' which is contrary to proven facts, from the ICJ ruling against Serbia/Montenegro to corpus delicti at the ICTY - having Serbia's documents that contain a statement given by Slobodan Milosevic (which reads): “We control over 72 percent of territory in B&H” (“to many others” this is not understood – does it mean ‘and’ many others?).

(4) Replaces 'Bosniak civilians' with "Bosnian civilians Our national name - according the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina- is “Bosniak”.

(5) Removes the worst act of genocide in Europe since the Second World War.

 

This is a collective response from the Canadian – Bosniak Community, supported by:

The Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch,

The Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada,

The Islamic Congress of Canada,

The Islamic Association of Bosniaks Canada’

Prominent Canadian Experts,

Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosniaks.

 

With respect,

 

Professor Emir Ramic

 

President of the Congress of North American Bosniaks – Canadian Branch & President of the Institute for the Research of Genocide - Canada