July 11th 2010 marked the 15th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide. On that day some 8,372 men and boys were murdered by Bosnian Serb forces in Bosnia Herzegovina's north eastern town of Srebrenica. In commemoration of this tragedy Toronto's Bosnian community hosted a series of well organized and well received events: a photo exhibit at the Gladstone Hotel, a silent march in downtown Toronto, and a commemoration ceremony in Etobicoke. Events were organized in partnership with the Congress of North American Bosniaks and the Institute for the Research of Genocide-Canada.
With these events we paid our respects to those who lost their lives, and we raised awareness of the dangers of not acting against genocidal tendencies wherever and wherever they appear. Some sixty five years ago the world pledged "Never Again," following horrific evils of the Holocaust. Today we remind ourselves, and especially our government, that only when we take practical steps to identify, denounce, and prevent the genocidal tendencies, the world over, the pledge "Never Again" will really mean never again.
For the past 15 years, survivors of the Srebrenica genocide have been seeking justice for the 8,372 men and boys killed by Bosnian Serb forces in what was supposed to be a United Nations protected enclave. Their witness accounts of this systematic, civilian massacre helped prosecutors convict seven men in The Hague earlier this month. Two former security officers received life in prison, and were handed down rare genocide convictions by a three-judge panel in the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Despite the convictions, the Canadian government has not yet passed a resolution to commemorate the Srebrenica genocide as many other countries – including the United States and members of the European Union – have. But the Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) community in Toronto believes that this violation of human rights needs to be recognized and remembered so as to decrease the chances of a similar war crimes occurring elsewhere in the world. Please help us support the resolution by calling upon Mr. Harper to recognize the Srebrenica Genocide and by signing this petition.
Listen to Seana Pasic's report produced for 'The Link' program on Radio Canada International.
