Gathering in Nezuk: Former soldiers and participants of the Peace March pay tribute to Captain Hajro

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the genocide against Bosniaks in Srebrenica, survivors of the former 28th Division of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered today in Nezuk, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

Members of the former 28th Division and participants of the 2015 Peace March visited the memorial to the commander of the 1st Teočak Brigade, Hajrudin Mešić, who was killed on 30 October 1992 when he and his Teočak Lions attempted to break through from Nezuk towards Kamenica, and later Srebrenica.

By reciting the Fatiha, they paid tribute to the fallen commander, known by the nickname Captain Hajro. He was posthumously awarded the Golden Lily and also decorated with the Police Medal for Bravery. Additionally, he was posthumously declared a hero of the liberation war and promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

Also present in Nezuk was Zulfo Salihović, president of the Survivors subcommittee, who said that “one must not remain silent about Srebrenica, that it must be talked about, and that the perpetrators must be brought to justice.”

Participants of the July 1995 breakout also addressed those present, reminding them of everything the participants went through during the breakout. One of the participants of the July 1995 breakout was Munir Habibović, who emphasized that the surviving soldiers of the 28th Division are “witnesses of a time, fighters for freedom, and that they should be paid tribute and respect.”

- We must not forget our dead, but we must also not forget those who survived. We must fight for our rights even in peacetime – said Habibović.

Those present were also addressed by the Mayor of Sapna Municipality Ismet Omerović, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs in the Tuzla Canton Government Fahrudin Skopljak, the Prime Minister of Tuzla Canton Bego Gutić, the President of the Tuzla Canton Assembly Senad Alić, and the Mayor of Srebrenica Municipality Ćamil Duraković.

The organizers of the “2015 Peace March” called on all participants to respect the code of conduct so that everything proceeds in the best order and peace.