The Memorial Center of the Republic of Srpska in Bratunac has begun recording testimonies of Serbian victims from the Defensive-Patriotic War.

Representatives of the Memorial Center of the Republic of Srpska have begun in Bratunac the recording of audio-video testimonies of family members of killed and missing civilians and soldiers from the Defensive-Patriotic War.

The Memorial Center announced that the goal of the project is to preserve collective memory and collect authentic testimonies as a permanent historical source. The project has a research-documentary character and is being implemented throughout the Republic of Srpska with the aim of preserving the truth about the suffering of the Serbian people in the Defensive-Patriotic War.

The Head of the Municipality of Bratunac, Lazar Prodanović, stated that this initiative is of exceptional importance for the Republic of Srpska and Bratunac, especially considering that this municipality was one of the most heavily affected in the last war in BiH and that a large number of innocent civilians suffered. He emphasized the need to nurture the culture of remembrance and to remember those who gave their lives for the Republic of Srpska and the freedom of the Serbian people.

“It is necessary for all those who survived the horrors and traumas of war to join this project—from families of fallen fighters and civilians, families of the missing, to camp survivors and their descendants—so that a clear picture can be created of the nature of the war and the sacrifices of the Serbian people for the freedom we have and for the Republic of Srpska, which is the guarantor of that freedom,” Prodanović said.

“The Serbian people have never waged conquest wars, only liberation wars. That is why we must preserve the truth about our fighters. Conversations with families are not easy, but they are necessary. Through those stories, memory is preserved and the spirit of the struggle for freedom is passed on,” said Vinko Lale, President of the Association of Camp Survivors of the Birač Region.

Yesterday in Bratunac, five members of families of killed Serbian fighters gave their testimonies.

Rosa Magazin testified about the suffering of her husband Nikola from the village of Džepi near Konjic. She fled from her village to Hadžići, and after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, amid the Golgotha of Sarajevo Serbs, she arrived in Bratunac, where she still lives today.

The parents of tragically killed son Željko Perić, Milorad and Bojka Perić, left their testimony about his suffering to the Memorial Center of the Republic of Srpska.

Ivan Petrović also testified; during the war he lost his son, soldier Mladen, two cousins, one nephew, and his father Mirko, who was killed as a civilian at the age of 72.

Ivanka Mlađenović testified as well. Her husband Anđelko had his head severed by members of Muslim forces during the attack on the village of Ježestica on August 8, 1992; in addition to Anđelko, they also killed his brother Dragan and their mother Savka.

Cvija Kandić from Ježestica also testified. She is the sister of the killed Anđelko and Dragan Mlađenović; in addition to her brothers, she lost her husband Milojko in the war, and her father Ljubomir was wounded on July 12, 1992. After the deaths of his sons and daughter-in-law, he soon passed away from grief.

The Memorial Center of the Republic of Srpska invites all family members of killed and missing civilians and soldiers from the Defensive-Patriotic War to share their testimonies so that together we can preserve the truth and the memory of those who gave their lives for their homeland. Anyone who wishes to leave a testimony can contact us via email: komunikacije@mcrs.vladars.rs or by phone: 051/222-999.

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