The Institute for the Research of Genocide Canada (IGK) condemned the fact that a local organisation in the Bosnian town of Prijedor planned an event to mark the birthday of Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, on May 31- the same day when Prijedor marks the White Ribbon Day in memory of the victims of horrific crimes against Bosniaks that took place in that area.
On May 31, 1992, the Bosnian Serb local government ordered all non-Serbs in the Prijedor area to mark their houses with white sheets and to wear white ribbons on their arms.
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This was an introduction to the ethnic cleansing of the non-Serb population in the Prijedor area. During the next three and a half years, 3,176 people were killed in and around Prijedor. Tens of thousands of people were sent to concentration camps (Omarska, Trnopolje and Keraterm), where they were subjected to mass executions, rape, various forms of torture, as well as crimes against humanity. Among those killed in Prijedor were 102 children under the age of 18.
The youth organization “Princip” plans to celebrate the 58th birthday of the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, and the 55th birthday of the owner of Pink TV, Zeljko Mitrovic, on May 31 in Prijedor.
The IGK stressed that this represents an obvious provocation.
It said that members of the organisation today show the same kind of hatred that led to the war crimes committed in the area 30 years ago.
The IGK warned that the announcement of public birthday celebrations on the day when the whole world pays tribute to Prijedor victims represents “clear proof of the continuity of the fascist idea reflected in the mass violation of basic human rights and freedoms of refugees and returnees, genocide survivors and witnesses.”
“Frustrated municipal authorities of Prijedor never publicly acknowledged the actions of the then fascist authorities, expressed repentance for the suffering of thousands of Bosniaks and Croats or offered a hand of reconciliation and repentance,” the IGK said, urging police authorities in Prijedor to ban the rally, arguing that it is insulting to the victims and further disturbs ethnic relations in the town.
“ We are protesting against such anti-civilization actions of the Youth Organization ‘Princip’, asking the mayor of Prijedor and the city authorities to give up this anti-civilization act. We ask the competent state bodies, especially the judiciary, the High Representative and the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council in BiH, to take quick action to prevent the humiliation of Prijedor victims,” it said.
