Commemorating the 26th anniversary of the killing of Croat soldiers and civilians, citizens and political representatives laid wreaths at a memorial in the central Bosnian hamlet of Stipica Livada.

On the morning of July 28, 1993, members of the Bosnian Army killed 33 soldiers and civilians at Stipica Livada, near Doljani in the municipality of Jablanica.

More than 200 survivors, mostly women and children, were rounded up and taken to Jablanica where they were detained until March 1, 1994, after which they were exchanged for Bosniak prisoners of war.

Priest Ante Maric gave a sermon, saying it is now a calm place where God left his daughters and sons to rest peacefully.

”We today are ‘disturbing’ the peace at Stipica Livada. Here nature holds our martyrs in its embrace, here the horses quietly graze the dewy grass and know that God gave this quiet place to his children,” he said.

Before the mass, representatives of the Croat National Council (HNS), an organisation of Croat parties led by the leader of the strongest Croat party, the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ), Dragan Covic, laid wreaths at the memorial and lit candles.

According to former HVO General Stanko Baja Sopta, those killed in Stipica Livada will always be remembered in Croat history.

“While our heart is beating we will be coming here and thanking you. We will never forget Stipica Livada, it is inscribed with golden letters in our history and we will remember each of the names (of the victims),” Sopta said.