Imagine hell on earth – children, pregnant women, elderly, tortured and killed without a shred of honor! This weekend in Bratunac marks the 33rd anniversary of one of the most horrific crimes against Serbs in Middle Podrinje and Birac. Thirty-three years ago, Muslim hordes of evil mercilessly slaughtered hundreds of innocent Serbs, and no one has been held accountable! Yes, you read that right – no one!
The tragedy in Bratunac is not just a number; it’s children whose heads were placed on logs, pregnant women who were tortured, elderly beaten with beechwood sticks. The Pilićarnik camp, where all residents of the Serbian village Čumavići and surrounding hamlets were imprisoned, was a place of merciless abuse under the command of Naser Orić.
Vinko Lale, president of the Birac region prisoners’ association, spares no words: “No one has been held responsible for the crimes committed in these camps!” Six prisoners died from beatings in the Territorial Defense warehouse, and children were tortured and force-fed. Brano Vučetić, who survived the Srebrenica camp as a nine-year-old boy, still carries the pain of losing his parents and brother. His message is clear: “We must never forget!”
The Metropolitan of Dabrobosanski, Hrizostom, promises to build a memorial center in Bratunac, a memorial church, and a monument that will forever remind of the suffering of Serbs in this region. But until that happens, the crimes remain unpunished, and the memory fades amid political games and historical manipulations.
Along the Bratunac-Srebrenica road, plaques with the names of killed Serbs, mostly civilians, have been placed so that all who come to Potočari can see and realize that Serbs were also victims of horror. Isidora Graorac, president of the organization of families of prisoners, killed, and missing persons, emphasizes that these people existed, but no one has been prosecuted.
This tragedy is a warning to all – do not let it be forgotten! If you have a story, testimony, or just want to share your thoughts, feel free to join the conversation. Let the voice of truth be louder than oblivion!
