32nd anniversary of the murder of fellow citizens at Budakovići during a funeral observed

(Patria) - By laying flowers and paying tribute, families, friends, government representatives, associations of civilian war victims, and Sarajevo students from the "Vrhbosna" Elementary School marked 32 years since the murder of 10 citizens at the Budakovići cemetery, committed by the aggressor during the siege of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1995.

On that sad day in 1993, a mortar shell was fired from the positions of the Army of Republika Srpska from the direction of Trebević, which fell on the Budakovići cemetery during the funeral of Fadila Karšić, who was also killed by a shell the day before in Briješće.

As a result of the explosive and shrapnel effect of the shell, the following were killed: Edhem Borovina, Salko Bradić, Osman Curić, Asim Džaferović, Amir Džanko, Asim Konaković, Sejdalija Kurtić, Kasim Pintol, Smail Sarač, and Began Sarajkić, while three people were seriously and lightly wounded.

On behalf of the Sarajevo Canton, flowers were laid by Jasmin Šaljić, a member of the KS Assembly, and Lamija Husić, Assistant Minister for Secondary and Adult Education.

In her address, Husić stated that today's gathering at the site of the tragedy is a moment of remembrance and an act of respect for the citizens killed here, as well as for all others who were killed – over 11,000 during the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina and its capital city.

"The memory of them and the siege of Sarajevo, during which our citizens suffered under impossible conditions, without food, water, electricity, and gas, with constant shelling and sniper fire, remains a lasting reminder of human courage, endurance, and resilience, but also of the horrors we must not forget. However, the culture of remembrance is more than that. It is not just remembering the past, but also learning from the past, so this gathering is also an appeal for the future that such events never happen again to anyone," said Husić.

She added that, while remembering the terrible crimes of the past, we must strongly advocate for the values that are the foundation of a just society.

"The future of Bosnia and Herzegovina must be built on the foundations of peace and mutual respect. This is our moral obligation to all victims of the aggression against BiH, and especially to every child who was killed. May our collective memory be a beacon of hope and inspiration for a better future, where every child can grow up safely, in peace and love," emphasized Husić.