I CREATE SOLIDARITY MONUMENTS IN BALKANS
THESSALONIKI
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
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Author of the solidarity story - translated in English from the Joint language
(Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian and Montenegrin) by the author
Prof. Sabahudin Hadžialić
Assoc. Prof. Dr. & Dr. Honoris Causa
31.7.2019
Solidarity story –
A life gives lives
During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995) some terrible war crimes has happened and a lot of people have been killed on all involved sides of the war, although some memories has to be repeated as the light at the end of tunnel of lost hopes to show that the hope for joint life still exist.
Captain Amir Reko, a Bosniak Muslim, former captain of JNA (Yugoslav Peoples Army[1], which, by the beginning of the war at former Yugoslavia, at the 1991 and until the end of it, has been transformed into the Serbian Army instead to be Army of all people from the country, including Bosnaks-Muslims, Croats, Albanian, Slovenians, Montenegrins and Macedonians) had, in 1992, saved 45 lives of Serbs from the village of Bučje, near Goražde, in Eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina.
[1] Info (details): https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yugoslav-Peoples-Army
How that has happened? As a former captain of JNA (Tito’s time[1] within Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) he was trained as a soldier and not as an assassin. Although, some of his colleagues on all sides became exactly like that. When he escaped from the Army (at the beginning of 1992) which was not longer Yugoslav Peoples Army but Army of one people only – Serbs, Amir Reko returned back to his own home town-Goražde, Eastern BiH while the war was going on in Bosnia and Herzegovina already. It was in April 1992.
He was organizing a defense of the city, now as the member of the BiH Army, while some Serbian forces (called Serbian Army forces of BiH) was already done some attacks on Muslim villages around Goražde and even in his village(where he was born) Gudelj, already did a war crimes. Burning and killing his mother and the members of his family.
[1] Info (details): https://www.titoville.com/
Somebody would think that revenge from captain[1] Reko will come, but he was as a Muslim, due to the Serbian witnesses, the one who was against the killing of innocent civilians during the war, although the President of the War presidency of Goražde, due to the Book “War and Peace of Captain Reko” (written by Budo Simović, writer and journalist from Podgorica from Montenegro), Mr. Hadžo Efendić[2] wanted to “clean all of them” from the village of Bučje. Meaning, kill them all!
Amir Reko, a person who was raised on solidarity, tolerance and respect to other and different one, was against that and he, as a captain he defended them and did not allow this to be done, and he saved 45 Serbs from the classical slaughter planned by some members of BiH Army. Stood against it and saved them. They all lived through the war. Life gives lives. For sure.
Part from the above mentioned book of Budo Simonović (page 165)…Statement of Milivoje Čarapić from the village of Bučje nearby Goražde, Serb from Bosnia and Herzegovina…quote
„Which kind of human person I would be if I keep quite and forget what Captain Reko has done for us.
I will die, but I will never forget neither will anybody force me to think differently that on that judgment day in Bučje the God himself watch over us and that only thanks to him and to Amir Reko, we stayed alive.
His act of defending somebody from himself and others and his boldness, his humanity and courage, helped to have on that day in the village of Bučje not even a drop of the Serbian blood to be spilled.
It is irrefutable God’s truth which nobody of us will never and must not forget, as well the truth that he is not in any way guilty or responsible for all things has happened to us afterwards.
The guilty ones are those who will try to have his head down as well because he did not allow to “clean” village Bučje out of Serbs, the guilty ones are those who called him, because of that, a coward and traitor, those who forced him to, very soon, turn his back to everything, take of his uniform and throw the weapons to avoid to stumble like a human, to spit on himself and to run over his believes, put a blood on his hands with the blood of innocent people and wade into the war crimes like those who were his commanders and those who ordered to “clean” Bučje.”..end of quote.
His story which is in the documentary movie as well already: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKYjDXVQFxM will be soon as well on motion pictures, as we heard.
Amir Reko is a very good friend of mine and on regular basis we have meetings in Sarajevo, talking about the movement which will re-unite all positively streaming people from the former Yugoslavia, to re-establish not just a peace and respect, but also mutual love and cooperation on the basis of joint need of the all former Yugoslav Republics, based on solidarity and trust.
Why?
Because, on the first place we are all humans, then Slavs, and after that whatever we want to be, as a nation(s).
[1] Info (details): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKYjDXVQFxM
[2] Book by Budo Simonović „Rat i mir Kapetana Reka“ (War and peace of Captain Reko), published by ŠTAMPAR MAKARIJE, Belgrade, Serbia and OKTOIH, Podgorica, Montenegro, 2018 (pages 85. and 86.)
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Author of the solidarity story - translated in English from the Joint language
(Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian and Montenegrin) by the author
Prof. Sabahudin Hadžialić
Assoc. Prof. Dr. & Dr. Honoris Causa
01.8.2019
Solidarity story –
A hero – a life for the life
Srđan Aleksić was raising swimming star, as a pioneer, in his hometown Trebinje, south-east Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ordinary, amateur actor from the local Theatre who won several prizes on national level for acting. He was a Serb, having friends among the Muslims, and war (1992-1995) knocked on his door.
His father Rade said…quote:” My Srđo was a benevolent person whom everybody would accept it on the first look. He loved music and, in every situation, he was protecting a week one. As well as he did in this war. He lived little bit bohemian, studying law, but he was not in the hurry, like he knew that he would not need in his life[1]” …end of quote.
Exactly that goodness, in the time of evil, during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ex-Yugoslavia), has shown within its fullness, while creating an example of solidarity and humanity, protecting a fellow Muslim young man in Trebinje.
It was January 21, 1993. The followers of the war evil, having uniforms of the Republika Srpska Army (Serbian Army in BiH), more precisely, military police officers, were asking citizens in Trebinje to show them their ID cards. At one local tavern was sitting a person whose name, for the fascist crazy person as they were, was unimaginable crime. His name was Alen Glavović. A Muslim young man. First, those two police officers, infected by a huge amount of alcohol, started to provoke Glavović, and, after that, took him outside of the tavern, at the market place, where there were waiting for their two other crime brothers.
Srđan Aleksić[2] was there and he stood up against them. They wanted to take him to the prison, but in front of the Police station one of them called “Come over here, balija[3]”and overthrow Alen on the ground when they started to bit him up.
Srđan[4] was standing nearby, aside of kiosk, and he recognized in Alen a person with whom he was working together as a savior at the local swimming pool.
Srđan did not think a second, but immediately came to help Alen Glavović. Srđan did not understand why somebody surname would be enough to be bitten with gunstocks. When he did it, he helped Alen, who successfully escaped, but…so call “soldiers” continued to show the force on Srđan. Strikes of the gunstock were echoing on the streets of Trebinje.
[1] Al Jazeera Balkans: http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/srdan-aleksic-prica-koja-je-oplemenila-mnoge-duse
[2] Details – trailer of the movie CIRCLES (Krugovi): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgaE7y8QjT0
[3] „Balija“ is a bad word for Muslim, and insult of the person.
[4] Info_ IMBD_movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1839522/
They killled Srđan. One of the murderes was killed during the war, and others were sentenced on 28 months of jail (2 years and 6 months). Nobody knows if those murderers really spent this shame of sentence in jail (it was a war going on).
Alen Glavović lives today in Sweden, he was married and as two children. Every year he comes to Trebinje, visit Srđan grave and his father. He thought his children to be like Srđan.
After death, Srđan was awarded by the Plaque of the Helsinki Committee in Bosnia and Herzegovina and he has a street with his name in Sarajevo, BiH. Also, streets with his name are in Belgrade, Pančevo and one passage in Novi Sad, Serbia and street in Podgorica, Montenegro.
Srđan Aleksić was awarded as well in Serbia, after death, and the medal for courage „Miloš Obilić“[1] was handed over to his father Rade from President of Serbia in that time, Mr. Boris Tadić back in 2012.
Also, there is a Journalist prize named by Srđan Aleksić[2]
[1] Info – details: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnl53Ch3ptA
[2] Info-details: http://hcabl.org/novinarska-nagrada-srdan-aleksic/
The story of Srđan Aleksić should be a part of the schooling system in the primary school of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Why?
To represent a person, a hero Srđan who gave life for his friend Alen, protecting him as a human being, within solidarity way of thinking and executing his human task. To help other and different one, although human as he was.
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Author of the solidarity story - translated in English from the Joint language
(Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian and Montenegrin) by the author
Prof. Sabahudin Hadžialić
Assoc. Prof. Dr. & Dr. Honoris Causa
01.8.2019
A solidarity story
Book in France for the Orphans of Bosnian war 1992-1995
I have two children. Son Amer (1987) and Daughter Sabina (1994). They could have lost their father during the brotherhood, but aggressive war in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992-1995 because the question of living was not will I die, but when my time will come to die.
That is why I wanted, as a writer and a poet and freelance journalist wanted to show others: Bosniaks (Muslims), Croats (Catholics) and Serbs (Orthodox) that we all are humans and we can, for sure, live and make our lives better, if we are together.
Everything started during the war when I wrote some of mine strongest and heartful poems, just a night prior being wounded in Bugojno (city at the Middle Bosnia and Herzegovina, 120 kilometers west from my Sarajevo, where I was living since 1986 and during the war – my wife Amira is from Bugojno) and spent several days in comma at the Hospital in Zenica.
One of the poems is:
Jonathan Livingstone the Seagull
In their workshops
over and over again
they patched up the wings of my youth.
I will have them back
Rebuilt
Reassembled.
They will not be wings any more.
They will only be the expression
of something
that once upon the time was known as a voyage.
They will cover me with a tar
and display me for the world to see.
I foretell the future
My future and
their future.
....
I shall hold onto to my feathers,
They are mine.
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Book of poetry "Amanet" (BiH, 1996)
Book of poetry Testament (France, 1998)
After recovering, I have decide that, after the war, I will dedicate my life to help children of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regardless the age, gender and ethnicity (nationality) because they could have lost their father as mine could have lost me[1].
So, everything after that belongs to History, if I may say. Namely, after publishing a book of poetry in Bosnia and Herzegovina titled “Amanet”[2] and having a quite success within the Bosnia and Herzegovina cultural scene[3] in Sarajevo, my home town and in Bugojno, where I met, by coincidence[4] Mr. Michel Neveu back in 1997 in Bugojno, a Head of NGO “Promethee 71” (presented by Michele Neveu and Benoit Raphael) from St. Egreve (Grenoble), France and story started.
First, Michel was introduced to some of my poems with which he was delighted, and he said that he would like to recommend my poetry for the publishing by Artootem, Publisher from Annecy, France. Although being surprised being unknown person for the French cultural literature scene, I got enough courage to tell him that I agree, but under one condition: That all the income of the selling of the book goes to the Bosnia and Herzegovina orphans, regardless, their age, gender and ethnicity (nationality). Also, that he will be the guy (his NGO) who will coordinate with everything in France. We signed a contract on 19.09.1997¸and translators from France (Fatima Pirić, Christiane Dupont and Faris Rujanac) and Belgium (Edouard d’Aoust) begun their work in translation of the book of poetry. It took them a year.
While the book was translated, myself have tried to organize a contacts with all targeted people in Bosnia and Herzegovina to make children more focus on joint solidarity work on leaning on each other, so started to contact, first official institution – municipality of Bugojno and Association from Sarajevo “Education build Bosnia and Herzegovina) led by my dear friend Jovan Divjak. At the beginning I had problems with municipality leaders of Bugojno because, after the war in unorganized country (I call it still “organized anarchy”) they wanted to manipulate with me and ask me to take with me on vacation to France some of their children from the Municipal council leaders which I rejected and I directly contacted local Catholic priest and Muslim imam priest to help me to find a kids for helping them. They did but let’s focus first on the promotion of the book.
My first trip out of Bosnia and Herzegovina, after the war, was in 1998, for the purpose of the promotion of the Book of poetry “Testament” in France during 15 (fifteen) days organized promotional tour around South-West France. The preface of the book was written by the famous Abbe Pierre[5] who honored me with his words considering me as his brother within human civilization.
[1] Details about that humanitarian, solidarity story are here: https://sabihadzi.weebly.com/humanitarni-rad_humanitarian-work.html (photos, articles, movies, gratitudes).
[2] In Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian and Montenegring (Joint language) „Amanet“ translated in English is: behest.
[3] PBS Bosnia and Herzegovina – main public TV station: https://vimeo.com/14445609
[4] I was working between 1994 and 1997 within NGO AICF/USA as a translator and Program Officer and between 1998 and 2001 within OSCE BiH as translator, Program Officer and Deputy director for BiH Elections Implementation
[5] Abbe Pierre (1912-2007) - https://www.biographyonline.net/humanitarian/abbe_pierre.html
Having in mind that in that “after the war” time there was no flight connection between BiH and France, I went to airport in Split, Croatia and, together with my wife, flew from Split, via Paris, to Lyon in France where Michel Neveu was waiting for me at the airport. Those fifteen days of promotional tour for my book when I met hundreds of people from France and some other EU countries such as Spain and Belgium, including some refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina were my best experience ever in my life knowing that this solidarity work of mine will help orphans of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Why? Because, I wanted to show, that, regardless their late fathers who were fighting against each other in the war, the new generation must and will show that they can overcome the wounds of war and start new joint life of solidarity and respect.
First promotion[1] of the book was at Grenoble in Grenoble International at 6.30 p.m. Magnificent promotion thanks to people from Promethee (Michel Neveu, Aude and Emma Cuenot as well as Lucette Ribet) and Deputy Mayor of Grenoble who has opened the Promotion that night on October 9, 1998. Next one was on 10.10.1998 in the Theatre nearby DECITRE bookshop in Annecy (where the place of my Publisher was). I was honored to be a guest of honor of Dr. Joelhe from Annecy in her house after the promotion. Next promotion was on Monday, 12.10.1998 at Emmaus Community in Bourg. On Tuesday, October 13, 1998, Sabi had a promotion in city of TOURNUS in a High School and in the Secondary school. In the evening promotion was held at the Cinema "La Palette" after the presentation of the movie of Ademir Kenovic called "Perfect Circle". This time the host was Dr. Paul Polis and his family. On Wednesday, October 14, 1998, promotion was in city of MACON, having promotion at the High school as well as in the Bookshop "Cadran Lunaire".
I was signing a lot of books while my publisher was selling them for the benefits of Bosnia and Herzegovina children. Gave an interview to the local newspapers back in Annecy and Grenoble[2] and continue with the promotional tour. On Thursday, October 15, 1998, was in the city of CHALON SUR SAONE, having promotion at "La Mandragore" bookshop. On Saturday, October 17, 1998, went back in GRENOBLE and had a promotion at EMMAUS COMMUNITY in SASSENAGE at 2 p.m. After that the promotion was held within the Day of Poetry in ST EGREVE at BARNAVE'S library at 4 p.m. On October 19, 1998 (Monday), the Promotions were held at the Stendhal International High School at 10 a.m. and after that, during the evening at the "Tonneau de Diogene" cafe (readings of poems about tolerance and peace) at 8.30 p.m. The host was Laurent Marielle- Trehouart- Charge de mission of the Maison de la Poesie Rhone- Alpes and Xavier, French Artist. Also, Sabi gave an interview to the Radio France International in Grenoble.
Promotion was held as well at the University Campus in Grenoble on Tuesday, October 20, at 12.30 a.m. at Arthaud Campus bookshop and then with the Drugi Most NGO outside of the bookshop. During the day I visited Maison de la Poesie Rhone- Alpes at Saint Martin d'Herese and signed the memory writers book. At the evening, the Promotion was held at "Le Sphinx" bookshop at 6.30 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, 1998. Last day of the promotion. Last promotion was held at J.Jacques ROUSSEAU bookshop in CHAMBERY at 5 p.m. After that, Sabi was interviewed by the local journalist from Chambery for the daily newspaper. On Thursday, October 22, Sabi with his wife Amira went, extremely satisfied, back home from airport SATOLAS (Lyon to Bugojno, Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Rock'n'roll will never die having in mind a task in front of myself in regards realizing:
1. choosing a orphans from BIH and 2. taking them on summer vacation to Grenoble and teaching them tolerance, solidarity and peace.
It has arrived towards realization during the summer of 2001. The money collected out of the selling of the book (15.000 Euros) was enough to take kids of the age between 10 and 14 to Grenoble, France from Bugojno (as write above, local Priests (Musim and Catholic one helped me to choose real orhpans and not family members of the municipal leaders): Anica Radić, Miranda Gavrić, Miroslav Budimir, Miran Gavrić, Saldin Opardija, Amel Bambur, Haris Ćurić, Mirza Idrizović, Munib Muratspahić and Elvedin Dautbegović and from Sarajevo (to choose the orphans received a help from Mr. Jovan Divjak and Association “Education builds Bosnia and Herzegovina”: Anida Hasanović, Ivana Mujanović, Esmer Hodžić, Damir Hodžić and Fehim Selimović.
[1] History of the promotional tour: http://sabahudinh.tripod.com/france98/
[2] Info (articles, videos, photos): https://sabihadzi.weebly.com/france-1998_2001.html
At the beginning of August of 2001[1], I hired a bus and organized 2 weeks’ vacation for the orphans from Bosnia and Herzegovina during which they have been staying in Motel (I took my family as well with me and as well Saša Mujezinović as the last year students of the Social work Department within Faculty of Political sciences of the University of Sarajevo to coordinate the children and one parent of two children from Bugojno, Mrs. Marica Gavrić) upon the hills above Grenoble, France. Children were, during 14 days of stay, playing tennis, travelling around, attending “School of tolerance”, visiting NGO’s, receiving gifts, football and basketball, travelling bikes, climbing, swimming in the pool and paragliding as well.
Solidarity within its fullness has shown that they can play, become friends and continue the friendship even after their fathers were shooting to each other during the war. New dawn is coming and Sabahudin Hadžialić wanted to give an example how that can work out. In the same time, other people helped Sabahudin, aside of the Publisher and NGO “Promethee 71” from France among which the best help was from Michel Neveu and Aude Cuenot. A friend from Luxembourg, Francois Schoentgen donated 750 Euros and Sabahudin gave to each kid 50 Euros for the books in school as well. Sabahudin also gave each kid a bicycle as a gift to have as the memory for the tolerance and solidarity trip in France, back in 2001.
The biggest gift to Sabahudin was that children will never forget that vacation and they gave Sabahudin a scrapbook with their memories on the last day of the vacation which is the most important gift I have ever got in my life[2]. A lot of newspapers, TV stations in France and in BiH was reporting about this trip and one of the headlines in Croatian newspaper said: “If Everybody would do it like Sabahudin did”. That was a goal of solidarity from Sabahudin Hadžialić side – to show others that “good gives good” and we can only go through this short life as humans first, and then everything else we want to be. But, the humans first.
[1] Info (details): http://grenoble2001.blogspot.com/
[2] Info (detals): http://grenoble2001.blogspot.com/2009/12/fotografija-same-govorephotos-speaks.html
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