MILIĆ: BUKVIK - ONE OF LARGEST SITES OF MASS KILLINGS OF SERBS

BRČKO, SEPTEMBER 14 /SRNA/ - The 34th anniversary of the suffering of the Serb population of the Bukvik area near Brčko was marked today, as in the attack by joint Muslim-Croat forces in 1992, 68 local residents, mostly civilians, were killed in just two days, while more than 2,500 people were expelled and taken to camps.

Mayor of Brčko District Siniša Milić said that Bukvik was one of the largest sites of mass killings of Serbs in this area which, unfortunately, had not received an adequate judicial outcome.

"It is our duty to remind people every year of what happened during the past war, to pay due tribute to all those who suffered and, through gatherings such as this, remember the price that was paid for freedom, peace and Republika Srpska," Milić said.

He stressed that irresponsible statements and hate speech coming from political Sarajevo should not be met with hatred, but with even greater unity, love for Republika Srpska and the preservation of peace.

Local resident Slobodan Mijatović recalled that Serb villages were attacked on September 14, 1992, and that the population found there was killed on their doorsteps, including the elderly and disabled, while more than 500 households were destroyed and burned.

"A typical local genocide was committed - the population was killed, robbed and taken to camps in Gornji Rahić, Ulice, Tuzla and Bijela. For all of this, we have only minor sentences for commanders, amounting to several years in prison, which is a sad confirmation that there is no real justice for Serb victims," Mijatović said, warning that witnesses and survivors are dying.

President of the Bukvik Local Community Ilija Jovičić pointed to the catastrophic demographic consequences that followed these crimes, stressing that the demographic picture has been completely changed and that no more than 130 people currently live throughout the territory of the former Bukvik region.