Remembering the Martyrs of Prozor: These are the events that the living need

(Patria) - In memory of the 350 murdered Bosniaks of Prozor, a memorial program was held today, organized by the Islamic Community (MIZ) Prozor and the families of martyrs and fallen soldiers of Prozor.

Surah Yasin and a prayer were recited at the Mahala cemetery, and a martyrs' mevlud was recited in the City Mosque.

“The month of July is full of difficult emotions throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the same in Prozor, where we mark the anniversaries of suffering in all our congregations. Today is the central commemoration, when we remember the martyrs who lost their lives in various ways, whether in combat, through camps, or as human shields,” said the chief imam of MIZ Prozor, Safet-ef. Pozder.

He reminded of the painful fact that the most brutal ways of killing Bosniaks were recorded in Prozor.

“It is our obligation to remember this, because we endure as long as our memory lasts. It is important that these events are so well attended, and I hope that the messages we send will reach people,” said efendija Pozder.

The president of the Association of Camp Detainees of Prozor, Suljo Kmetaš, states that during July and August, one could talk about remembrance and memory every day in Prozor, so many crimes were committed.

„During 1993, almost every day someone from the Bosniak population was killed. There were as many as 17 mass graves and several dozen secondary graves in the area of the municipality of Prozor, and about 1,000 camp detainees passed through camps throughout Herzegovina,” said Kmetaš.

Ibro Plecić, the chairman of the Municipal Council (OV) of the Municipality of Prozor, emphasized that the testimonies of survivors are a lesson for the present.

„It is very important that these commemorations are realized so that young people, as well as future generations, know what happened in these areas. In this way, we will know how to appreciate the blessing of freedom that we enjoy in this piece of land. We should not remain silent about the heroism of the Bosnian man, who stood with his brothers and neighbors and defended what is called Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Plecić.

Ramo Pilav, whose wife and child were killed by HVO members while he was imprisoned in a camp, says that although it is known who the perpetrators of that crime were, no one has been held accountable.

His seven-month-old child is the youngest Bosniak victim killed in the Prozor area. As the organizers point out, along with the hosts and guests attending this event, there are also many from the diaspora who organize their free time in accordance with these dates.

“Our martyrs do not need this, but we who are alive do, as a reminder that what happened to many Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including those from Prozor, never happens again to anyone. Our martyrs gave their lives so that we can walk freely in our homeland today,” said Nihad-ef. Ahmetović.
A march to Crni Vrh, where 24 camp detainees were killed as human shields, is planned for Wednesday, July 31.