KARAN: JELENA BUHAČ-RADOJČIĆ WITNESS TO USTASHA GENOCIDE AGAINST SERBS

BANJA LUKA, APRIL 17 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan states that Jelena Buhač-Radojčić is not only a victim of the Jasenovac camp, but also the last witness of a system that aimed to erase the Serb people.
Following the awarding of a decoration to Radojčić, Karan emphasized that Republika Srpska thereby expresses respect for the victims, for witnesses of truth, and for all those who preserve the memory of them.

He stressed that genocide was committed against the Serb people in the NDH, which is not a matter of interpretation or political stance, but a historical fact based on numerous pieces of evidence, archives, testimonies of survivors, and serious academic research.

"However, if the truth is not spoken, if it is not preserved, if it is left to oblivion, it becomes vulnerable. When others attempt to distort or deny it, that vulnerability becomes a great danger. That is why it is our obligation to act institutionally, to remember, not allowing the victims to fall into oblivion, to be erased or humiliated," Karan said.

He noted that the film "The Last Witness" about the life of Jelena Buhač-Radojčić is one way of preserving the truth about Jasenovac.

"Her life story goes beyond the framework of a personal biography. It is not only the story of one woman; it is a testimony of the suffering of an entire people, the voice of those who can no longer speak, a warning that echoes through time," Karan said.

The president of Republika Srpska states that the decorations of Republika Srpska represent one of the most important attributes of its statehood and testify to the values on which society rests.

He emphasized that decorations are not only a symbol of recognition, but also a lasting reminder of deeds that are unique in nature and deeply embedded in the collective memory of the Serb people.

"Republika Srpska was created on the foundation of the historical determination of the Serb people that crimes against Serbs must never happen again. That determination is not directed against anyone, but toward the protection of life, dignity, and truth," Karan said.

Karan recalled that the Republic of Serbia National Assembly adopted in 2015 a Declaration on the genocide of the NDH against Serbs, Jews, and Roma, clearly determining the character of that crime as systematic, state-organised, with the intent of total destruction of a people.

"That declaration is not only a political act, but an expression of historical truth and full moral responsibility. The genocide was carried out through the gravest acts - mass and individual killings, torture, deportations, forced conversions, and the destruction of cultural and overall spiritual identity. Behind these terms are not only words, but human destinies, entire families, children, mothers, fathers," he stresses.

Karan added that the fate of Jelena Buhač-Radojčić is precisely one of those; her life obliges society to speak about a time that represents a civilizational collapse, but also about the human strength to survive, to testify, and to warn.

"She is not only a victim, she is a witness, the last witness of a system that aimed to erase the Serb people. The film `The Last Witness` is precisely one way to preserve that truth. This film not only documents the past, but also carries a strong message for our future to remember, to learn, and not to forget," Karan said.

Karan says it is the responsibility of society to pass the truth on to younger generations, because a people that forgets its past risks reliving it.

In addition to Karan, those attending the film premiere include Republika Srpska National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić, the Minister of Education and Culture Borivoje Golubović, Acting Director of the Republika Srpska Research Centre of War, War Crimes and Tracing Missing Persons Viktor Nuždić, representatives of organisations stemming from the Defensive-Patriotic War, clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and numerous public figures.

The film premiere is being held as part of the commemoration of the Day of Remembrance for the victims of genocide against Serbs, Jews, and Roma in the NDH between 1941 and 1945.

The film was directed by Nedeljko Lajšić, produced by Una Film from Belgrade, and the premiere screening is organised by the Office of the Republika Srpska President.