In light of the recent strides that we have made, we would like to inform you about the steps that have led up this important moment.
Beginning of the lobbying exactly on the tenth anniversary of genocide in Srebrenica
The lobbying process for this resolution started five years ago, specifically, on the tenth anniversary of the genocide. Then, a member of the parliament – Jean Augustine, the first African American woman in the Canadian parliament, a member of the Liberal party of Canada and a close friend of the Bosniak community, read a statement to the parliament which said: “the massacre in Srebrenica was the worst crime of genocide in Europe since World War II. A resolution, presented by the Congress of North American Bosniaks, for the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica states that the political aggression and genocide created by the Serbian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina completely define the crime of genocide from point two: Conventions for preventing and punishing the crime of genocide. Recalling these crimes are still fresh in the hearts and minds of all friends of truth and justice in Canada.”
That same year, then minister of foreign affairs in Canada – Pierre Pettigrew (Liberal Party of Canada) turned to the Canadian public with a statement in the name of the Canadian government which stated: “the massacre in Srebrenica represents the worst crime in Europe since World War II. The best way to pay respects to those who were killed in Srebrenica is to arrest all the architects of the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to put them on trial.”
Canada has a chance to fix its mistake and recognize Genocide in Srebrenica like many other on the international scene.
The Conservative party of Canada, along with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, rejected the original resolution proposed by the Bosniak community and proposed a new version. Instead of using the correct term: Bosniak, the party and its leader changed it to “genocide committed on Bosnian peoples”. By using the term “Bosnian people”, the Conservatives were suggesting that victims of this genocide were all the nations who live in Bosnia and Hercegovina. As a result, the number of victims of the Srebrenica genocide was significantly reduced and the term genocide was changed to “mass killings”. Bosniak victims of genocide strongly protested against Conservatives’ altered version of the resolution. As for Harper, he accepted the term Bosniak and the actual number of victims of the genocide in Srebrenica but strongly opposed the use of the term genocide. Bosniaks from Canada believe there is no negotiation when it comes to genocide which was also confirmed by both international courts and in various other documents.
More than twenty countries adopted resolutions in their parliament that declare July 11th as a remembrance day for all victims of genocide in Srebrenica. This once again demonstrates that the Conservative party of Canada is under the influence of Serbian and Russian Canadians. In fact, Serbian Canadians had their own campaign opposing Srebrenica Remembrance Day and, in the parliament, handouts were given against this resolution. In return, the Congress of North American Bosniaks and the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada, along with many Bosniak Canadian citizens, organized the strongest lobby to date to support the original M-416 resolution. Canadian Bosniaks sent a clear message to the Canadian government and to the Canadian parliament: Bosniaks in Canada will never accept a resolution that does not contain the term genocide. Leaving out the word genocide is not just an insult to Bosniak Canadians and all victims of genocide, it is also an insult to human rights. Canadian Bosniaks will not negotiate the term genocide. No one has a right to negotiate in the name of thousands of innocent victims who gave their lives in defence of Bosniaks and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most prominent individuals from the international law and various human rights organizations support the endeavour of the Bosniak community in Canada so that the truth about the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina and justice for the crime is recognized by the Canadian parliament.
Declaring July 11th as Srebrenica Remembrance Day by the Canadian parliament sends a message to past war criminals, current and future war criminals that their crimes will be punished. With this resolution the goal is for every Canadian to know that “what occurred in Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a sin and a crime against humanity.” For that reason, Canada must confront its past actions in Bosnia through this resolution. Canadian Bosniaks have no fear of truth and justice regarding the aggression in Bosnia and Herzegovina or seeking justice for those victims. Through their lobbying actions for this resolution, they fought for human dignity, rights, truth and justice.
The Srebrenica genocide resolution has now officially adopted by Canadian parliament. This is the moment that all dedication and hard work of Bosniak – Canadian community has been proven worthwhile. On behave of Bosniak – Canadian community we thank the Canadian government and parliament for finally doing the right thing.
Canadian Bosniaks will once again feel proud to be Canadians.We thank to all Canadian Bosniaks who participated in this struggle. Thanks to all friends of truth and justice that us supported these five years, especially in moments when we are exposed to attacks by those who try to deny the genocide. Thanks to the media, who regularly publish results of all our struggles.
Boo-frickety-hoo.
If you in the Bosniak-Canadian Community do not feel proud to be Canadian, you know where you can go, directly and do not pass go on your way to Bosniakastan.
Yes folks were killed in Srebrenica, but to call it genocide?
All three factions are guilty of psychotic killing sprees.
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