THIS IS THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT SREBRENICA: Do not let them lie to you (PHOTO) (VIDEO)
This year, 50,000 people came to Srebrenica to pay homage to the innocent civilian victims who lost their lives in July 1995. What you will read in the following lines, can not be read in elsewhere...
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Because of these events, ordinary people have been forgotten.
Team Telegraf was in Potocari to mark the day and spent time in traffic jams, among people. We attended a great event, and we decided to show you what was going on in this town during this important day.
Vucic: Serious crimes occured in Srebrenica, let's respect other people's suffering
In Srebrenica, on that early morning, arrived a large number of people, some traveling all night to attend the ceremony. The street Potocari was taken over by a great number of souls, ready to devote the day to this event.
Meadows around the former battery factory were occupied by buses and their passengers, yards were reserved for cars and nearby houses to accommodate those who spent more days in this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On the old and war-worn houses you can still see the remains of the bloody conflict, the bullets are still there to remind us of the black history that occurred in our region.
While watching them, it looks as if the war was not so long ago, even though it has been two decades, a good old 20 years.
Catering facilities serve the guests, flags are flying, at a nearby school yard football is being played, while people in groups walk in both directions, waiting for the start of the commemoration.
People are sitting on the terraces of houses, trucks are handing out wet wipes, bottles of water and a special supplement for this anniversary of a Bosnian newspaper.
Many with school bags on their backs, from various parts of the region, mostly from Bosnia itself, were arriving all morning to this little town. High officials and representatives of their countries, are paving the way to the former Dutch UN battalion, where the ceremonial part will be held.
On the part of the street, a screen is set which will allow people to follow the talks. In the courtyard of the former factory are water cisterns, toilets, a press center ... People are colliding, passing, headed somewhere although there is not much choice of where to "kill" time before the main part of the program.
Entry to the museum is closed for us, mere mortals, so we'll have to wait for the politicians to leave.
As the afternoon hours approached, Potocari is filling up with people.
Nature around us, like everywhere else in Bosnia is breathtaking, and the green color seems unreal.
In front of the Memorial, we are impatiently waiting to get inside. Although crowded, the heat is well underway, we enter the center, which is easily being filled.
Everyone's taken their place under the canopy of trees and their shade was a temporary accommodation to believers.
Hill and space in the Memorial Centre were filled with visitors and believers, according to estimates, this year, 50,000 souls came to Srebrenica to pay homage to the victims.
Those who were not able to enter, remained behind the gates, peering through the bars. At the entrance to the center they were giving away white scarves, which are part of Muslim customs.
We also attended the discussions of the cameramen and photo reporters in the section reserved for the media. Each of them wanted to capture the best shot.
All major international and regional media attended the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre.
Muslims begin with adoration, you could hear the words of prayer and a few sobs in our vicinity. And so began the janaza, an islamic religious custom.
In Potocari there was a large number of small children, unaware of what was actually happening, but all emotionally reliving every moment with their close relatives. Gripping onto their parents, observing what was happening around them.
Over the speakers you could heard the names of the victims who, on that day were in coffins and laid to rest.
People were slowly leaving, the Memorial slowly emptied and left room for those who have come to bury their loved ones. Sobs, tears and disbelief on their faces. At one point, we saw individuals falling to their knees with pain.
We get out of the city, while walking we see coffins wrapped in green cloth, raised high, carried on the hands of the people.
On the street there is turmoil, everybody is trying to get away from the heat. The narrow streets in Potocari are too small for all the people who were on it at that moment.
A large number of them took part in various activities. Some have walked from Nezak to Potocari for three days, in the peace march.
From Belgrade, 35 cyclists started the path to Srebrenica, taking part in the action Peace cycling. They came from Serbia, Great Britain, Belarus, Ukraine, Italy, USA and Hungary, and drove 220 kilometers from Belgrade, a total of three days.
This year, the Women in Black from Belgrade organized a ride that has an international character, in which participants from home and abroad jointly promote a culture of memory, peace and non-violence.
In the previous days, various campaigns were organized in our capital as well as in BiH and the region, dedicated to those killed in Srebrenica, calling for peace and solidarity, reminding us that the crimes must not be forgotten.
After a few hours spent in Srebrenica, we are slowly heading home, full of impressions of that day, with emotions that we thought did not exist.
What sadly remains is the fact that politics was the focus of this day, and that we have allowed, that on this important day of the year, when thousands of people come to Srebrenica and BiH, for it to be the main focus and not that for which we have gathered.
And for which there was a war in the first place ...
Have a look at the video:
(Telegraf.co.uk / N. Ivanovski)