OPEN LETTER: To Judge Theodor Meron, President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Areas of Former Yugoslavia

20. 11. 2013.

OPEN LETTER: To Judge Theodor Meron, President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Areas of Former Yugoslavia

Mr. Meron we invite you to come to Tomasica, the largest discovered mass grave in Europe after World War II.  We invite you to publicly apologize to the victims of aggression and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina. You have personally insulted them through your lack of interest in the truth and justice while you served in the position of president of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. We invite you to come to Tomasica in the name of promoting truth and justice for the future of humanity and civilization.

While the World and Europe is increasingly accepting the facts of the  accomplished genocide against Bosniaks and other ethnic groups, on behalf of the victims of genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina {especially the victims of genocide in Prijedor}, we turn to you regarding your announced visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 26 and 27 of November as a part of celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Member of the International Expert Team of the Institute for Research of Genocide, Canada, survivor and witness of the Holocaust, Nobel prize winner Eli Viselli once said, " A man will die before his death because of indifference of others." Bosniaks died before their death due to the indifference of the world and Europe. Neither one would let them defend themselves, nor did they try to prevent this genocide. Tomasica stands as their witness as the largest mass grave in Europe after the Second World War. Bosniaks and many other ethnic groups may become victims for the second time because of the continued indifference of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia towards truth and justice.

This letter is written on behalf of victims and witnesses of aggression and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina and stands as an invitation to you Mr. Meron, to come and visit Tomasica, the biggest mass grave in Europe in order to accomplish the following:

·         The appointment of the truth about the crime in Prijedor - genocide

·         apology to the victims of aggression and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina

·         placing mass graves Tomašica in the indictment against Karadzic and Mladic, which will certainly contribute to a more just judgment 

We hope that you will have enough conscience that during your visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina you also pay a visit to the mass grave Tomašica.

Renowned experts in international law and respected researchers of genocide centered around the International Expert Team of the Institute for Research of Genocide, Canada are sending you a message that Tomašica, the largest mass grave in Europe since World War II, and its victims witnessed the following:

·         existence of a joint criminal enterprise and genocidal intentions against Bosniaks and Croats in Prijedor,

·         crime of deliberate, organized, and secret hiding of the dead bodies of victims of genocide so that their loved ones would never find them and burry them with dignity,

·         crime of displacement of remains with the intentional aim that the victims are never found, and that crime could not be proved,

·         crime of intentional silence of Serbs from Prijedor about mass graves, which in the case of genocide in Prijedor confirms the responsibility not only of individuals, but also the majority of Serb population regarding the crime of genocide,

·         a unique organized crime, which included murder of intellectual Bosniaks elite 

International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has so far only prosecuted those responsible for the killings and torture in terrible concentration camps such as Omarska, Keraterm and Trnopolje.  In these camps, according to the data of many international organizations for the protection of human rights and freedoms, have identified that in these camps over a 1,000 civilians have been eliminated. Detection of mass graves Tomašica should be the cause to prosecute criminals who have committed terrible murders at Mataruska hill {BišÄ‡ani, Rizvanovići, Rakovčani, Carakovo, Zecovi, Hambarine}, which occurred in the period of 20-23 of July of 1992, as well as the crimes of mass killings in Kozarac from 26-30, May of 1992. According to data from several international organizations for the protection of human rights and freedoms, in Mataruska Hill and Kozarac were killed more than 2,200 civilians - Bosniaks and Croats.

Once again we are remiding you that many responsibile individuals  who were the ex members of the Crisis Staff of Prijedor during the war have not been charged with any crimes, although they were actively participating in making decisions about the formation of concentration camps, death, orders to attack and kill civilians in the city and in the country.  They were responsible for the decisions to demolish the cultural, historical and religious objects.  They were also responsible for the decisions on the primary and secondary mass grave sites as well as taking the active part in the decision on expulsion and violent subtraction of property. It is unacceptable that today, twenty years after the aggression and genocide, in current political, police and military authorities, are sitting former members of the Prijedor Crisis Staff. It is unacceptable that at the forefront of Prijedor still stands Mr. Marko Pavic whose numberous  actions continue to humiliate victims and witnesses of aggression and genocide.

You must know that Bosniaks are not and will not remain indifferent towards your opinions and judgments. The unspoken truth about genocide against Bosniaks only strenghtens future war criminals to commit them again. Bosniaks have a moral obligation before the conscience of humanity, not only to remember, but always and everywhere remind the world of the genocide that was committed against them in part due to the European and world indifference. Bosniaks are entitled to seek prosecution and punishment of war criminals, as well as to help establish the truth about the aggression and genocide and do everything in their power to help that the justice for the victims of aggression and genocide is served, including reserving them a right to compensation for surviving the most despicable horrors during the aggression.

Institute for Research of Genocide Canada expresses protest and considers it unacceptable that largest mass grave in Europe since World War II, still has not seen the prosecutor for war crimes. Besides the fact that I can get a huge amount of information, I can be personally convinced in the dimensions of crime, and from the survivers of the victims they can get useful information for their work.

Institute for Research of Genocide Canada believe that genocide was committed in Prijedor, since it is clear that the genocidal intent existed. After investigating several members of the International Expert Team of the Institute for Research of Genocide, Canada we are confident that both Karadzic and Mladic were reposnible and had genocidal intent in this region, which aimed to partially or completely destroy a specific ethinic group, in this case Prijedor Bosniaks. Discovery of mass graves Tomašica will definitely lighten dimension and intentions of the committed crimes.

 

On behalf of the Board and the International Expert Team

Emir Ramic, Profesor

Director of the Institute for Research of Genocide, Canada