Killed in Bread Line: 33rd Anniversary of the Massacre on Trg solidarnosti Marked

(Patria) - Families of the killed, as well as representatives of victims' associations and authorities, laid flowers and paid tribute today at the site of the massacre on Trg solidarnosti at number 14, near the market in Alipašino Polje.

Thirty-three years ago, a shell fired from the aggressor's positions of the Army of Republika Srpska from the direction of Nedžarići killed 11 and wounded 53 Sarajevans, severely and lightly, at this location. The killed were: Rifet Bahtić, Jasmina Duraković, Jasmin Đozo, Muniba Ganija, Nermin Gušić, Zoran Kafedžić, Sadrija Krasnići, Adnan Lingo, Nadežda Puljić, Daniel Turkalj, and Edin Uzunović.

The delegation from the Canton of Sarajevo included assembly member Vedrana Vujović and the secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Administration, Indira Šulović. The Mayor Samir Avdić, who led the delegation from the City of Sarajevo, addressed those present with fitting words.

He reminded that on this day in 1992, a mortar shell fell on this spot among citizens who were in a large queue for bread.

"By marking this sad day, we not only pay tribute to our killed fellow citizens, but we also send a message that we will not forget. Places of remembrance, and we are at one of them today, are not just reminders of suffering and hardship, but also warnings for the future. It is a simple admonition: to do everything to never allow such crimes to happen again," stated Mayor Avdić.

As he reminded, Sarajevo survived the longest siege of modern times, and during it, more than 12,000 people were killed, including 1,601 children.

"These are huge numbers, which we must not utter lightly, because each of them represents a name, a face, a story, and immense grief for families. Justice is our debt to the victims," emphasized the Mayor.

He added that only a small number of those responsible for the crimes committed in Sarajevo have been convicted by international courts, and stated that verdicts are important, but not sufficient on their own.

"Justice is not only in punishments; justice is also in acknowledging the truth, in fighting against denial, and in our unwavering determination to teach new generations about these events. To speak of justice is also to speak of the future. Bosnia and Herzegovina must be built on the ideas of peace, coexistence, and mutual respect. Denying such crimes does not only deny the past; it sabotages the future. Therefore, we must insist on the truth, because only with truth do we build trust, and trust is the foundation of any coexistence," Mayor Avdić stated, among other things.