Ahead of White Ribbon Day, a parade in Prijedor with 'Marš na Drinu' marking the so-called 'defence of the city'

(Patria) - In Prijedor, ahead of White Ribbon Day on May 31 and the commemoration of the persecution of Bosniaks and Croats in this city, a "parade marking the so-called defence of the city" was held today, organised by the Prijedor City Administration against 'Muslim-Croat enemies'.

The same city administration and Mayor Slobodan Javor do not allow the construction of a memorial for 102 murdered children of non-Serb ethnicity in Prijedor. Thus, tomorrow as well, family members, delegations, and activists will lay flowers at the city square.

During the parade, songs "Veseli se srpski rode" and "Marš na Drinu" were heard, and wreaths were laid in front of the memorial plaque "Za krst časni".

In 1992, the Bosnian Serb authorities ordered the non-Serb population to wear white ribbons on their arms and hang white sheets on their houses and apartments.

This is how the call broadcast via Radio Prijedor on May 31, 1992, read:

"Citizens of Serbian nationality, join your army and police in the pursuit of extremists. Other citizens, of Muslim and Croatian nationality, must hang white flags on their houses and apartments and put white ribbons on their arms. Otherwise, they will face severe consequences."

In recent years, the International White Ribbon Day in Prijedor has been marked by a peaceful walk through the streets of Prijedor and the laying of 102 flowers for 102 murdered children of Prijedor, who still do not have their own monument, although a request has been submitted to the city authorities.

According to data from the Association "Prijedor '92", 3,176 residents of Prijedor have been registered as killed or missing during the war, mostly civilians, predominantly Bosniaks, then Croats, while Roma, Albanians, and some Serbs were also killed. Among the victims were 256 women and 102 children.

It is important to note that crimes in Prijedor began even before May 1992. Three Prijedor camps (Omarska, Keraterm, and Trnopolje) were already open and full of civilians. About 12,000 Bosniaks were expelled from the areas of Hambarine and Kozarac, their property looted and destroyed, all political representatives of Bosniaks and Croats removed from their public positions, arrested or killed, and Bosniak and Croat police officers removed from their jobs.

After the laying of flowers and lighting of candles by representatives of institutions, organisations, veterans' and youth associations, more than a thousand citizens gathered at the square in Prijedor, from where they sent a message that they are celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the liberation of Prijedor from Croat-Muslim enemies.@BIRN_BiH pic.twitter.com/Ic0EZLqvFG

— Azra Husarić Omerović (@HusaricAzra) May 30, 2024