Bećirović: I call on everyone to support the construction of a monument in Prijedor, the culture of remembrance is the foundation for building a just society

(Patria) - On the occasion of May 31, White Armband Day, BiH Presidency member Denis Bećirović
stated that today, May 31, we are marking White Armband Day – a day of remembrance of one of the most horrific persecutions of civilians in Europe after World War II.

"On this day, in 1992, non-Bosniak residents of Prijedor were ordered to mark their houses with white sheets and to wear white armbands when moving around the city. This discriminatory practice was a prelude to mass war crimes, including killings, rapes, imprisonment in camps, and forced expulsions.

More than 3,000 civilians, including 102 children, were killed in Prijedor during the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, even after three decades, these children do not have a dignified memorial in their hometown.
Marking White Armband Day is an act of remembrance and a call for justice, truth, and accountability. It is a reminder that the crimes committed in Prijedor, including the Omarska, Keraterm, and Trnopolje camps, have not been forgotten and that their perpetrators must be brought to justice," Bećirović emphasized.

He added that White Armband Day symbolizes the fight against forgetting and denial of crimes.

"It is a day when we remember the innocent victims and express solidarity with their families. I call on all competent institutions, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the international community, to support initiatives for the construction of a memorial to the murdered children of Prijedor and to resolutely oppose any form of denial and relativization of crimes. The culture of remembrance is the foundation for building a just and peaceful society. It is the obligation of all of us
to preserve the truth, pay tribute to the victims, and teach future generations about the importance of respecting human rights and dignity.“