Bosnian War’s ‘Disappeared’ Remembered with Roses

A memorial event to remember those who went missing during the 1992-95 Bosnian war and to mark the Day of the Disappeared was held in the town of Mostar on Monday by the Missing Persons Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina and war victims' associations from all over the country.

"White roses were thrown into the River Neretva from the Old Bridge in Mostar at five minutes to 12 in honour of the victims, the missing persons who are still being searched for," said Emza Fazlic, spokesperson for the Missing Persons Institute.

She said that the participants then walked together to Spanski Square, where an exhibition about missing persons by Adis Hukanovic, entitled 'Where are They?', is on display.

Dijana Strujic, president of the Association of Families of the Killed and Missing Croat Veterans from Bugojno, said she has been searching her husband Mihovil for 28 years.

She said he was first detained in a hotel in Bugojno, then at various detention camps, the worst of which was at the Iskra football stadium.

"They were taken to Rostovo in late September 1993. My husband's fate beyond that date is not known to me. The same goes for 19 other people who were taken to Rostovo with him," Strujic said.

She said she believes that her husband's remains are in Rostovo, where the remains of four other people have been found, but it will be hard to find them unless the perpetrators are prosecuted and reveal where the bodies are buried.

"We are all convinced they are at that location, but it will be difficult to find the bones of our loved ones without the perpetrators of the crime," she explained.

Elvir Custo, of the Association of Families of the Missing Persons Istina - Kalinovik '92, said he has been searching his brother,...