BUHAČ-RADOJČIĆ: MAY NO ONE EVER EXPERIENCE WHAT I DID

BANJA LUKA, APRIL 17 /SRNA/ – Jelena Buhač-Radojčić, a survivor and heroine of the Jasenovac concentration camp, wished today for all people to live peaceful lives and for no one to experience what she went through.

Buhač-Radojčić told reporters in Banja Luka, after the premiere of the film about her life "The Last Witness," that she is deeply honoured that the film was screened.

"While I was watching it, I remembered the escape I survived. It lasted about two months of fleeing," she said.

She emphasized that her most painful memories are related to a deprived childhood and separation from her family.

Film director Nedeljko Lajšić thanked everyone who attended the screening, especially grandmother Jelena, who continues to testify about the evil of the Jasenovac camp so that it may never happen again.

"Among the lucky ones who survived 1945 was our Jela. All of them had only one wish - to have a home in this Serb region. That wish was fulfilled 50 years later. That is why we must protect our Republika Srpska from Trebinje to Novi Grad, and we will preserve it only through love," Lajšić said.

The film premiered on the occasion of marking the Day of Remembrance for the victims of genocide against Serbs, Jews, and Roma in the Independent State of Croatia from 1941 to 1945.

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

The President of Republika Srpska Siniša Karan awarded Radojčić a decoration today and stated that Republika Srpska thereby expresses respect for the victims, witnesses of truth, and all those who preserve their memory.

The Republika Srpska Government declared April 19 a Day of Mourning in the entity, marking the Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Ustasha genocide in the Jasenovac concentration camp and its largest execution site, Donja Gradina in the NDH from 1941 to 1945.

According to data of the Donja Gradina Memorial Zone, 700,000 victims of Ustasha crimes were killed in the notorious Jasenovac camp during World War II, including 500,000 Serbs, 40,000 Roma, 33,000 Jews, and 127,000 anti-fascists. Around 20,000 children were killed in Jasenovac.