{"id":229628,"date":"2020-09-26T08:23:19","date_gmt":"2020-09-26T06:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/remembering-the-victims-from-varivode-and-gosic-solidarity-with-victims-families-and-a-call-to-hold-the-perpetrators-responsible\/"},"modified":"2022-01-19T13:54:39","modified_gmt":"2022-01-19T12:54:39","slug":"remembering-the-victims-from-varivode-and-gosic-solidarity-with-victims-families-and-a-call-to-hold-the-perpetrators-responsible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/remembering-the-victims-from-varivode-and-gosic-solidarity-with-victims-families-and-a-call-to-hold-the-perpetrators-responsible\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering the victims from Varivode and Go\u0161i\u0107: Solidarity with victims\u2019 families and a call to hold the perpetrators responsible"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>28 September 2020 marks 25 years since the crime against Serb civilians in Varivode and Go\u0161i\u0107 near Knin. In solidarity with the families of the victims and calling on Croatian authorities to prosecute those responsible, war veterans and peace activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia join in remembering the killed civilians.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ratni veterani i mirovni aktivisti za sje\u0107anje na \u017ertve iz Varivoda i Go\u0161i\u0107a\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MEwhEjS3SCk?feature=oembed\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In <strong>Varivode<\/strong>, situated some 40 kilometres west of Knin, on 28 September 1995, almost two months after Operation \u201cStorm\u201d, unknown perpetrators killed nine elderly civilians, while in nearby <strong>Go\u0161i\u0107<\/strong>, another eight elderly civilians were killed on 27 September 1995. Although the Croatian authorities do not deny the committed crimes, those responsible have not been prosecuted or punished in the 25 years since.<\/p>\n<p>A mixed group of war veterans from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia, some 30 former members of the Army of RBiH, the Croatian Army, the Croat Defence Council, the Army of Republika Srpska, the Yugoslav National Army and the Army of Yugoslavia, attended the commemorations in Varivode and Go\u0161i\u0107 in 2017. Due to the pandemic and restrictions on travel and gatherings, this year a smaller delegation of the Centre for Nonviolent Action Sarajevo-Belgrade will honour the killed civilians, but other veterans and peace activists are also joining in remembering them.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt meant a lot to us to come to the commemoration in Varivode and Go\u0161i\u0107 because this is where civilians were killed and no one was held responsible. We thought that the presence of our group of war veterans could help at least in some way to move things along so that more attention is paid to civilians killed during the Homeland War and we, of course, also wanted to call for the prosecution and punishment of those responsible,\u201d said Davorka Turk, member of the Centre for Nonviolent Action from Zagreb. She also particularly thanked the Serb National Council (SNV) as co-organiser of the commemorations for their endeavours to build a culture of memory of victims that is inclusive and leads to peacebuilding.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-220685 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0384.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0384.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0384-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0384-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0384-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0384-998x666.jpg 998w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Zvonko Luci\u0107, a war veteran of the Croatian Army from Zagreb, says he was particularly touched by how much the organisers of the commemoration and the locals appreciated others coming to commemorate their victims.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt\u2019s important to participate in these things, because it is important to the people there, they feel recognised, they feel that they are part of the citizens of the country, part of an equal community,\u201d Luci\u0107 said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Stanislav Krezi\u0107, an HVO veteran from Mostar, has attended a number of commemorations in the region. As a war veteran and peace activist, he believes that remembering all victims is important especially for minority and returnee communities, as this gives them a clear sign from their neighbours that they are welcome and that their rights are not threatened.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe message of true defenders is surely, above all, to say we are sorry to these families that have lost their loved ones. The least we can do is bow and pay our respects to people, especially those who were defenceless&#8230;\u201d said Stanislav Krezi\u0107, who condemned the crime and added that its perpetrators are no heroes or knights, but mere cowards.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-229502\" src=\"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_CNA_0461.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"667\" height=\"1000\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The war veterans and peace activists welcomed this year\u2019s positive steps in Croatia, primarily the participation of state officials in commemorations to killed Serb civilians.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI view all this with a sense of great relief. I think it is a necessary and very much needed step for Croatian society as a whole, and not just for dealing with the crimes committed during the Homeland War, for which responsibility has been avoided up until now. Without dealing with this, I don\u2019t think it is possible to build good neighbourly relations or a healthy society. I think the relief I felt is shared by the great majority of Croatian citizens,\u201d Davorka Turk pointed out.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Zvonko Luci\u0107 sees these steps as important symbols, but he also expects more concrete actions to follow.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt would be very good if after this symbolism there is sustainability in real life and tensions between ethnicities decrease. That would be the biggest benefit for the whole society, not just for one community, but for society as a whole,\u201d Luci\u0107 concluded.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Aleksandar Sokolovi\u0107, a war veteran of the Yugoslav Army from Kru\u0161evac, has been participating in peace actions for years. He says of his experience:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe first time I participated in one of these actions, I didn\u2019t know what to expect. I was lost for words, but when I came and realised what my people had done to someone else, I felt relief that I was there, I felt as if a burden had been lifted off my back, though I never had any reason to carry it, but the pressure is always with you. And I think everyone should come, see, hear what happened. If you don\u2019t have sensitivity towards others\u2019 victims, you won\u2019t have it for your own either,\u201d Sokolovi\u0107 says.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-220688 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0437.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0437.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0437-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0437-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0437-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20170928_NCH_CNA_0437-998x666.jpg 998w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Adnan Hasanbegovi\u0107, a war veteran from Sarajevo, addressed those gathered at the commemoration in Varivode and Go\u0161i\u0107.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cAs veterans we have an energy that is important because we used to wage war, we contributed to the violence, but today we are trying to make amends by attending commemorations. I think it\u2019s important for people, especially when former enemy fighters come. To those that have a harder time accepting it, I always say these are honest people and they want to extend a hand in reconciliation and genuine remorse or mourning over what happened, but we have to try and go into the future together, we have to send a different message to future generations,\u201d Hasanbegovi\u0107 said. To criticism that this relativises other victims, Hasanbegovi\u0107 responds that respecting victims cannot in any way relativise other victims and that remembrance of all victims is an opportunity to build a more just society.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>By remembering the victims from Varivode and Go\u0161i\u0107, and all other victims, war veterans want to send a message to their own children and to young generations.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe want to show our children where we went wrong so that they and their children do not repeat our mistakes,\u201d said veteran Aleksandar Sokolovi\u0107 at the end.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Under the organisation of the Centre for Nonviolent Action, veterans from the region have attended commemorations in BiH in Gornji Vakuf, at Site 715 near Zavidovi\u0107i, in Stog near Vozu\u0107a, in Novi Grad\/Bosanski Novi, Sanski Most (Hrastova glavica), Sijekovac near Brod, Lani\u0161ta near Br\u010dko, Trusina near Konjic, Ahmi\u0107i near Vitez, Grabovica near Mostar, Skelani near Srebrenica, Bri\u0161evo and Zecovi near Prijedor, Kori\u0107anske stijene, Stupni Do near Vare\u0161, and in Serbia in Grdeli\u010dka klisura near Leskovac, Varvarin near Kru\u0161evac, Aleksinac, as well as in Croatia in Pakrac, Varivode and Go\u0161i\u0107 near Knin.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/galerija\/foto-ratni-veterani-u-posjeti-varivodama-i-gosicu-28-09-2020\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Photo gallery<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Media reports:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lupiga.com\/vijesti\/ratni-veterani-oni-koji-su-pocinili-zlocine-ne-mogu-biti-nikakvi-heroji-oni-su-obicne-kukavice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LUPIGA<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.in4s.net\/ratni-veterani-se-secaju-zrtava-iz-varivoda-i-gosica-solidarnost-sa-porodicama-zrtava-i-poziv-na-kaznjavanje-odgovornih\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IN4S.NET<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.glassumadije.rs\/ratni-veterani-se-secaju-zrtava-iz-varivoda-i-gosica-solidarnost-sa-porodicama-zrtava-i-poziv-na-kaznjavanje-odgovornih\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GLASSUMADIJE<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/javniservis.net\/mediji\/region\/plenkovic-svi-trebamo-preuzeti-svoj-dio-odgovornosti-za-ratne-zlocine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">JAVNISERVIS.NET<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/banija.rs\/oluja\/20804-plenkovic-svi-trebamo-preuzeti-svoj-dio-odgovornosti-za-ratne-zlocine.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BANIJA.RS<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.portalnovosti.com\/plenkovic-svi-trebamo-preuzeti-svoj-dio-odgovornosti-za-zlocine-u-ratu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NOVOSTI<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>War veterans and peace activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia join the memory of civilians killed 25 years ago.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":229490,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,72],"tags":[311,337,1838,145,181,305,304,2134,2122,182,1904,238],"class_list":["post-229628","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activities","category-excomb","tag-activism","tag-combatants","tag-commemoration-en","tag-dealing-with-the-past","tag-ex-combatants","tag-peace-promotion","tag-peacebuilding","tag-trust","tag-trust-building-en","tag-veterans","tag-war-veterans-in-peacebuilding","tag-war-veterans"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229628","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=229628"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229628\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":234493,"href":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229628\/revisions\/234493"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/229490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=229628"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=229628"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=229628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}