Alija's Story. - She lost her husband and her 7 month old twins, at the time, during the war. In total she lost 27 members of her family. She sought refuge at an old factory at Potocari with the Dutch Peacekeeping Forces. She had to witness a man being slaughtered and his mother being forced to drink her son's blood.
Safia's Story. - She ran away with her 7 month pregnant daughter-in-law to the Dutch UN peacekeeping force was stationed in Potocari. The two waited to get on a UN truck, getting to a place called Trieste. At Trieste they were told to get off the truck and walk, as well as give the men everything they had. If they didn't sacrifice their belongings, the men threatened to cut off their breasts. Her daughter-in-law was taken by soldiers into the woods and proceeded to rape her, returning her to Safia afterwards.
Hasan Nuhanovic's Story. - Hired by the UN peacekeepers as an interpreter at first for the Canadians, then later the Dutch. The Dutch soldiers basically assisted the Serbs by handing people over. Many people sought refugee with the UN Peacekeepers but only about 5,000 to 6,000 were allowed in while 20,000 were kept outside. Among those inside was Hasan's family. Those inside were considered safe..until the Dutch decided to kick them out. Hasan was given a mega-phone and was told, "Tell the people to start leaving the base in groups of five." Outside at the gate, the Serbs separated the men from the women. Hasan's family was among the last people forced out by the Dutch. His parents and younger brother forced him to stay with the UN force, not allowing him to leave with them like he originally wanted. And that was the last time Hasan ever saw his family.
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Victims share their stories to raise awareness. They give us insight to the horrors that were occurring that the rest of the world turned a blind nose to. We repeatedly state over and over that we will never let genocide happen again. Yet "Never Again" is almost the exact opposite. Since the Holocaust, countless other genocides have taken place, including the Bosnian Genocide. "Never Again" seems to be happening over and over again. The world needs to get its act together, countries that promise to intervene when other countries need help the most need to fall through! Avoiding the word genocide and then recognizing events as just that later on is not right.
We must remember those who have fallen, and prevent others from experiencing the same fate.
Safia's Story. - She ran away with her 7 month pregnant daughter-in-law to the Dutch UN peacekeeping force was stationed in Potocari. The two waited to get on a UN truck, getting to a place called Trieste. At Trieste they were told to get off the truck and walk, as well as give the men everything they had. If they didn't sacrifice their belongings, the men threatened to cut off their breasts. Her daughter-in-law was taken by soldiers into the woods and proceeded to rape her, returning her to Safia afterwards.
Hasan Nuhanovic's Story. - Hired by the UN peacekeepers as an interpreter at first for the Canadians, then later the Dutch. The Dutch soldiers basically assisted the Serbs by handing people over. Many people sought refugee with the UN Peacekeepers but only about 5,000 to 6,000 were allowed in while 20,000 were kept outside. Among those inside was Hasan's family. Those inside were considered safe..until the Dutch decided to kick them out. Hasan was given a mega-phone and was told, "Tell the people to start leaving the base in groups of five." Outside at the gate, the Serbs separated the men from the women. Hasan's family was among the last people forced out by the Dutch. His parents and younger brother forced him to stay with the UN force, not allowing him to leave with them like he originally wanted. And that was the last time Hasan ever saw his family.
***************************************************************
Victims share their stories to raise awareness. They give us insight to the horrors that were occurring that the rest of the world turned a blind nose to. We repeatedly state over and over that we will never let genocide happen again. Yet "Never Again" is almost the exact opposite. Since the Holocaust, countless other genocides have taken place, including the Bosnian Genocide. "Never Again" seems to be happening over and over again. The world needs to get its act together, countries that promise to intervene when other countries need help the most need to fall through! Avoiding the word genocide and then recognizing events as just that later on is not right.
We must remember those who have fallen, and prevent others from experiencing the same fate.