"Today, May 31, we mark White Armband Day – a day of remembrance of one of the most horrific persecutions of the civilian population in Europe after World War II. On this day in 1992, the non-Serb population in Prijedor was ordered to mark their houses with white sheets and to wear white armbands around their arms when moving around the city. This discriminatory practice was a prelude to mass war crimes, including murder, rape, imprisonment in camps and forced expulsions.
In Prijedor, more than 3,000
civilians were killed during the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina,
including 102 children. Unfortunately, even after three decades, these children
do not have a dignified memorial in their hometown.
The marking of White Armband Day is
an act of remembrance and a call for justice, truth and accountability. It is a
reminder that the crimes committed in Prijedor, including the Omarska, Keraterm
and Trnopolje camps, have not been forgotten and that their perpetrators must
be brought to justice.
White Armband Day symbolizes the
fight against forgetting and denying crimes. It is a day when we remember
innocent victims and express solidarity with their families. I call on all
competent institutions, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the international
community, to support initiatives to build a memorial to the murdered children
of Prijedor and to resolutely oppose any form of denial and gelatinization of
crimes.
The culture of remembrance is the
foundation of building a just and peaceful society. It is the obligation of all
of us to preserve the truth, pay tribute to the victims and teach future
generations about the importance of respecting human rights and dignity."