Bosnia marks 28th anniversary of Sarajevo market massacre

– Bosnians must insist on coexistence, mutual respect and tolerance, says Sarajevo Canton Parliament Speaker Elvedin Okeric

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – Bosnians gathered on Monday to commemorate the 28th anniversary of a 1995 massacre that took the lives of 43 people and injured nearly 84.

The Markale marketplace shelling was one of the bloodiest massacres committed by Bosnian Serb forces during the siege of Sarajevo from April 1992 to December 1995.

In a ceremony in the Bosnian capital, participants – including family members of the victims, survivors, and politicians – paid tribute, laid wreaths, and prayed for the dead.

The ceremony started with the reading of the names of those who lost their lives in the attack.

Sarajevo Canton Parliament Speaker Elvedin Okeric said that citizens in the besieged capital were under constant attack.

“These attacks were not a coincidence, we also saw these attacks in the queues for water and bread. We must build our future on the equality of all citizens. For Bosnia and Herzegovina to survive, we must insist on coexistence, mutual respect and tolerance. The perpetrators of the attacks must be punished,” said Okreric.

Jasmina Hodzic, 32, who was busy shopping for her wedding, was among the victims of the massacre, her relatives Zahid and Hasreta Hodzic said.

Historical and cultural artifacts and infrastructure of Sarajevo, which has hosted many civilizations throughout history, were also damaged during the prolonged blockade.

Sarajevo was exposed to daily bombings and mortar attacks by Bosnian Serb troops for 1,425 days.

Shoppers in markets, people waiting in the queue for bread, children playing in schoolyards and other civilians were targeted indiscriminately.

The first attack in the same marketplace took place on Feb. 5, 1994, killing 68 people and wounding 150 others.