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"Let us not forget"

  • Women in Black, Belgrade
    It is now ten years since the Army of the Republic of Srpska, with the support of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic, killed more than 8,000 Bosniaks in and around Srebrenica. All in the uniforms of the state we live in; therefore, in our name.

        The climate which produced war remains, and is maintained by the sources of war in the form of cultural patterns, the value system, and ideological positions. Serbia is still far from the state of mind that will enable it to effectively face the past and there is still much work to be done to change the dominant climate in the country.

    Never again

    At a vigil in central Belgrade held on 10 July - organised by Women in Black in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica - about 200 activists were present from across Serbia, Italy, Germany, USA, as well as supporters from several other countries (protest vigils also took place in 15 cities worldwide).
        In the main square in Belgrade we formed a semi-circle, dressed in black and holding banners that read "Let us not forget", "Never again" in seven different languages, "Ten years since the genocide in Srebrenica", "Women in Black for peace and human rights", and made a peace sign on the ground with candles.

    Under attack

    After standing in silence for around 20 minutes, fascistic counter-protesters began shouting "Knife, Wire, Srebrenica", "Serbia for Serbs", and were giving Nazi salutes and shouting insults. At one point someone threw a tear gas bomb, which exploded and the gas blew towards one side of the circle of demonstrators - about half of the activists were forced to temporarily flee but no one was physically hurt.
        As our activists slowly made their way back and reformed the semi-circle, the police presence was increased but the counterprotesters continued to attempt to provoke us while we stood in silence until the end of our vigil.
        We ended the vigil by placing white roses on the square's monument along with a banner which read "Let us not forget - Srebrenica - 1995 - 2005 - Women in Black".
        As we prepared to leave, counter-protesters continued to threaten us; because of this we were protected by the police during the night, until we began our journey, on 11 July, to the central commemoration held in Potocari near Srebrenica, where we again stood to pay our respects to the victims of genocide and express solidarity with their families.
    Zene u Crnom, Jug Bogdanova 18/5, 11000 Beograd (+38 1 (11) 2623 225; email stasazen@EUnet.yu;     http://www.wib-zeneucrnombelgrade.org).
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