Friday, July 15, 2011

Mars Mira 2011- Peace March Tuzla- Srebrenica

Mladic has been caught. With the Serbian capture of Srebrenica in July 1995, the biggest genocide post Second World War unfolded in Bosnia. More then 8000 men and boys were systematically killed in only a few days. To mark the anniversary of this event, a peace march takes place over three days between the towns of Tuzla and Srebrenica. The walk is about 110 km and goes through a rather hilly district in Bosnia Herzegovina in pretty much extreme summer temperatures (We had 42 degrees Celsius this year!). in 1995 men and boys walked this route in order to escape the slaughter. After the three days of walking, the coffins of the identified bodies from this year are carried out to the memorial cemetery at Potocari for a memorial funeral that takes place on the 11th of every July. This year 613 bodies were laid to rest. I took part this year and spoke to many interesting people who had many incredible stories to tell. The work to make this into a story has only just begun, but here are some samples:

Walking through villages

Exhaustion after one long day of walking (about 42km)

Evening prayers

Ready for a new day

People arriving at the Potočari memorial cemetery

613 coffins being carried out

Mourning their loved once