BOSNIA: SURVIVORS SHARE CHILLING MEMORIES OF WAR TIME ATROCITIES

Описание: (23 Oct 1996) Bosnian/Serbo-Croat/Nat

The guns have fallen silent in Bosnia, but for the survivors the chilling memories of what happened live on and on.

For a group of girls from Kljuc in northern Bosnia the memories are bitter, tainted with death and the murder of their families.

Earlier this month in Kljuc: Remembering Muslims executed in Biljani Donji by Serb paratroopers and their own neighbours in 1992

On June 1, 1992 Serbs from surrounding villages came into the village of Prhovo, six miles north of Kljuc, north Bosnia... they are accused of burning the village down and executing 50 to 70 civilians.

The number differs from source to source, because no official investigation has been concluded.

Merima Jusic said the Serbs came looking for men, forced one of the villagers to show them the shelter were some of them were hiding, than executed them.

The Serbian commander in charge is said to be Ratomir Kukalj.

Before the war he was working in a primary school in Kljuc, teaching geography and history.

Salko Karajlic, School Principal and School Deputy Principal, Fadil Jakupovic, described Ratomir Kukalj as a nice and peaceful man.

SOUNDBITE (Serbo-Croat/Bosnian)
" He was very polite, and even had more friends among Bosnia-Muslims and Croats than among Serbs."
SUPERCAPTION: Salko Karajlic, School Principal and School Deputy Principal, Fadil Jakupovic

Azra and Merima Jusic were in the village of Prhovo on the day of the arrival of Serbs.

They lead normal lives now going to the same school where the funerals took place for the victims of the killings.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat/Bosnian)
commenting on physics
"Aaaaaaa, I don't like it..."
SUPERCAPTION: Azra Jusic/Witnessed Killings

Azra's brother was found, wounded and than killed, and her three sisters were killed by shell while they were trying to run out of the village.

And for Azra's friends a similar horror.

SOUNDBITE: (Bosnian)
"When I came there I saw many of them...those that were close to me, my neighbours...I saw many of them. There were several relatives and so on...and then I...I saw my grandfather."
(Closer shot) "I don't know when they killed them...all I know is that they took him away on July 10...not only him, but all of them who were killed there in that school."
SUPERCAPTION: Jasna Mujezinovic/Witnessed Killings

The group of young girls returned to the scene of the crime to relive the pain and memories of that horrible day.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat/Bosnian)
"First, we came here...there in this shelter, but it was too many people already in. Then my sister called us...up there...we went up there to her shelter...and that's how we stayed alive. Before he had been killed, my brother brought the key of my mother's house and told her to take care of little children."
SUPERCAPTION: Merima Jusic/Witnessed killings.

Then she recounted the killings in more detail.

SOUNDBITE: (Serbo- Croat /Bosnian)
"First they just wounded Azra's brother, then they realised that he was still alive and than they killed him. And her sisters were killed there...at the middle of the village...near that valley...by artillery shell."
SUPERCAPTION: Merima Jusic/Witnessed killings

For Azra now it's life in a new home and a time for healing.

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