\u201cFor us, this is the third year running that we have come to pay our respects to the children killed in Vitez. In the previous two years, we came with a smaller group of colleagues, friends and associates, but this year we have come with a larger group that also includes war veterans. As in so many other places, it is always painful when we come together to commemorate victims, and all the more so when they are children. We know that the families are seeking justice, and we support them in their endeavours to finally determine all the circumstances and possibly the names of those responsible. We may not be powerful, but we are here today, as we have been in previous years, as we go to various places, to express our condolences to the families, to support them on this sad day, to send a message to our society that together, we can remember all victims, that we can learn from the painful past and together build a better future for ourselves and for the coming generations,\u201d said Davorka Turk, member of the Centre for Nonviolent Action.<\/p>\n
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The families of the killed children have been organising the commemoration without the official presence or support of politicians or representatives of associations related to the past war, because, as they say, they will not stand for any manipulation or politicising of the victims. All people of good will are welcome, of course, to join the families, friends and neighbours in prayer and remember the innocents who were killed.<\/p>\n \u201cAs peace activists and war veterans from different sides, we have come to give direct support to the families of the victims. I think the idea to work closely with families of victims is the best path not just for peace work and dealing with the past, but also more broadly, to heal society. This cooperation is needed to help heal the culture of memory in BiH,\u201d said Adnan Hasanbegovi\u0107, a peace activist and veteran of ARBiH.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Under the organisation of the Centre for Nonviolent Action, peace activists and war 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, Uborak and Sutina near Mostar, Bri\u0161evo and Zecovi near Prijedor, Kori\u0107anske stijene, Stupni Do near Vare\u0161, Boderi\u0161te near Br\u010dko, the bridge over the Sava in Br\u010dko, Bradina near Konjic, Skelani near Srebrenica, the Silo in Tar\u010din near Had\u017ei\u0107i, 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 \u201cThis is one of the more difficult commemorations we have attended. Emotions are overwhelming. Eight children were killed by a shell fired in the evening. We are here, veterans of all armies from BiH, Serbia and Croatia, to pay our respects to these children who were killed in their playground, on their doorsteps. It is very difficult to be here, but we have to find the strength to break the vicious circle and show that we can be humane and live next to each other, among each other, with each other, because there is no other way. To show that it is high time we take this new path and live in peace,\u201d said Mirko Ze\u010devi\u0107 Tadi\u0107, an HVO veteran from Br\u010dko.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nenasilje.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/20220610_NNV_68205-scaled.jpg\")
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