STOJIČIĆ: BREAKOUT OF JASENOVAC CAMP INMATES ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS FOR PASSING ON THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CAMP

KOZARSKA DUBICA, APRIL 26 /SRNA/ - The Jasenovac Memorial Academy "The Earth Is Silent, the Silence Screams" was held in Kozarska Dubica on Saturday evening, where the enormous suffering of civilians in the Jasenovac concentration camp was portrayed in a moving artistic way. It was emphasized that the breakout of the Jasenovac camp inmates is one of the most significant events of the Second World War for passing on the truth about that camp.

The Minister of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska, Željka Stojičić, pointed out that out of 600 prisoners, only 90 unarmed and exhausted inmates survived the breakout, and that this event is almost unique in history and must not be covered by "the dust of oblivion."

"It is of immeasurable importance for bearing witness to the truth about the fate of the inmates of Jasenovac, where 700,000 Serbs, Jews, Roma, and anti-fascists perished. The truth - and only the truth - is what we must speak and defend, and that truth is so horrifying, cruel, and disturbing that every word echoes and builds images of horror, pain, and suffering," emphasized Stojičić.

She said that in studying this topic, Republika Srpska relies on verified scientific data from historians, curators, and archaeologists. She thanked all researchers who have worked on the topic of the Jasenovac camp, as well as artists, actors, directors, and all those who bear witness to and spread the truth about the suffering of Serbs throughout the world.

"May our determination on this patriotic path be carried by the heroic courage of the Jasenovac camp inmates," Stojičić said.

She emphasized that the power of art is immense and that it is an obligation to write books and produce films about the breakout of Jasenovac inmates.

In his address at the Memorial Academy, the mayor of Kozarska Dubica, Igor Savković, reminded those present of the tragic fate of Kozarska Dubica, the municipality on whose territory Donja Gradina, the largest execution site of the Jasenovac camp, is located.

Savković said that during the Second World War, Kozarska Dubica lost 55 percent of its population, and that for decades after the war, there were almost no youth or recruits in the municipality.

"Before the Second World War, this municipality had over 33,000 inhabitants, but emerged from the war with 18,495 fewer residents. The Ustashe brutally killed more than 55 percent of the population here," Savković said.

The program of the academy featured performances by actors from the "Jazavac" studio, secondary school students, the String Ensemble, actors of the National Theatre of Republika Srpska, the singing group "Veselin Masliša," and the Serbian Singing Society "Višnjić" from Kozarska Dubica.

Students of the Academy of Arts at the University of Banja Luka also performed.

The memorial academy in honor of the innocent victims of Jasenovac and Donja Gradina was held as part of the central commemoration of the Day of Remembrance for the victims of genocide against Serbs, Jews, and Roma in the Independent State of Croatia, and the 80th anniversary of the breakout of inmates from the Jasenovac concentration camp.