Canadian parliament unanimously adopts the Srebrenica genocide resolution

After five years of lobbying by the Canadian - Bosniak community, the Canadian parliament has unanimously adopted the Srebrenica genocide resolution {M-416} recognizing the genocide that happened in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Hercegovine, in 1995

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 

 In 2009, Brian Masse, a member of the Canadian parliament (New Democratic Party of Canada) became the parliamentary sponsor of the Srebrenica genocide resolution.  At the end of August, 2009, Brian Masse held a press conference in downtown Windsor.  At that time, Mr. Masse stated: "Genocide occurred fourteen years ago, and Canada has not paid enough attention to that genocide nor identified the scars and aftermath of that genocide.  Today, Canada has a chance to fix this mistake and recognize what many in the international community have already recognized.  Victims of this genocide deserve support and help.  Everyone needs to learn the lesson from this event because anyone could find themselves in a situation where our voice is not strong enough to prevent such disastrous losses of human life.  Furthermore, those who want to prevent such massacres from happening must work on strengthening the lobbying actions against genocide while improving the quality of life of all victims so they can live a normal life.  This is not just the case of Bosniaks and Muslims, nor is this just my resolution, a positive result is important.  An individual must be able to identify the need to prevent genocide wherever it may be happening.  This is why I am proud of the Bosniak community in Canada, they share their openness and progressive nature to work with others to create better standards of live for all people.  This guarantees that the job will be well done.  Srebrenica is genocide, and there is no debate about it.  Since Canada has accepted thousands of Bosniaks, it is the responsibility of this country to protect other nations' traditions as well as help ease the scars that have been created in their home countries.  By passing this resolution, Canada would join other countries on the international scene."

 Resolution M-416 states that Canada, as a member of the international community, has the responsibility to support the decisions of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, respect all countries that passed individual resolutions on the Srebrenica genocide, respect international law, and accept information regarding the Srebrenica genocide which has already been declared genocide in international courts. With this resolution we ask that July 11th is declared as a remembrance day for more than 8,000 innocent Bosniak victims of genocide in Srebrenica and that the week of July 11^th is declared Bosnia and Hercegovina Tribute week.  Through a well organized campaign, the Bosniak community in Canada successfully received support from more than two thirds of the parliament and from three political parties.

Rob Oliphant, a member of the Canadian parliament (Liberal Party of Canada) heard about the initiative from the Congress of North American Bosniaks and the Institute for Research of Genocide Canada and became a sponsor of a private member's bill for Srebrenica Remembrance Day.  By having a remembrance day through a private member's bill, Canada would become the only country in the world to do that. At a conference in the Canadian parliament, Rob Oliphant stated: "It is an honour to present a bill that will establish a Canadian national day of remembrance for the genocide in Srebrenica that would be marked on July 11th. In July of 1995, over 8,000 Bosniaks were massacred in the Srebrenica Region in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a UN safe area, by the Bosnian Serbs. This was the biggest mass killing in Europe since World War II.  The International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice in the Haag concluded that the massacre in Srebrenica is genocide".

Bosniaks in Canada will never accept a resolution that does not contain the term genocide

Therefore, resolutions that accept this genocide have been voted on in the European and American parliament as well as in the American Senate. Recognizing the devastation caused by the genocide in Srebrenica in July of 1995, this bill would give an opportunity to all Canadians to stand together with the members of the Bosniak-Canadian community to pay respect to the victims who were massacred. Since the fifteenth anniversary of this genocide is fast approaching, I hope that this bill will serve as a step in the right direction which will ultimately provide some comfort for the survivors of this genocide that live here in Canada. May we never allow the memories of those killed in this genocide fade."

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.

Canadian Bosniaks protected their rights, justice and home land by continuously fighting for the Srebrenica genocide resolution

 The adoption of this resolution in Canada will pay respect to the victims of Genocide in Srebrenica and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, adopting this resolution shows the regret Canada feels for not preventing this genocide from happening. This resolution also implies that all human rights abuses must be punished and victims of genocide cannot be forgotten. Survivors of aggression in Bosnia and Herzegovina are aware that the past cannot be changed however it is easier to mourn for the killed ones when there are allies.

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 adoption of the resolution is just the beginning of more serious work on informing the Canadian public and Canadian authorities with the dimensions of the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina and genocide against Bosniaks. Opportunity for this is already provided in the lobbying for the adoption of Bill, C - 533 an Act respecting a Srebrenica Remembrance Day in Canada.

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.

Professor, Emir Ramic

Director Institute for Research of Genocide Canada

President of the Governing Board of the Congress of North American Bosniaks, Canadian Branch

http://www.instituteforgenocide.ca/

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