The Humanitarian Law Fund (HLF) has called on Serbian institutions to prosecute the former JNA officers who directly contributed to the crime at Ovčara near Vukovar. They also urged authorities to stop supporting war criminals and to work more effectively in finding missing persons. In addition, the organization requested an end to the multi-year search for the remains of victims and the establishment of a culture of memory that honors the memories of those who were killed.
Despite being found guilty, JNA Major Veselin Šljivančanin, a member of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s Central Committee, has faced no consequences and has even appeared in the media as an analyst. The HLC emphasized that it is necessary for Serbia to recognize and honor the victims of Ovčara by publicly expressing reverence for them and their families. To begin this process, HLC suggested that Serbia should start by mapping out locations where civilians and Croatian forces were detained, participating in commemorative events, and opening up JNA archives to gather information from witnesses.
After completing its investigation into Ovčara, HLC filed lawsuits on behalf of families affected by the tragedy seeking compensation for loss of life. These proceedings resulted in 11 successful outcomes for plaintiffs. However, despite these efforts, HLC emphasized that there are still obstacles preventing decisive action from being taken to determine full responsibility for Ovčara’s crimes, locate missing individuals, and support victims.
The Humanitarian Law Fund (HLF) has asked Serbian institutions to prosecute officers from the former Yugoslav National Army (JNA) who committed crimes at Ovčara near Vukovar. They also urged authorities not to support war criminals and work harder in finding missing people. Additionally, they asked for an end to a long-standing search for victim remains and recommended creating a culture of memory that honors their memory.
However, despite being found guilty in court proceedings against Major Veselin Šljivančanin from Serbia’s ruling party Central Committee after his involvement at Ovčara during Yugoslavia’s civil war, he was not held accountable for his actions. As a result, he appeared in various media outlets as an analyst rather than facing any consequences.
HLC highlighted that it is crucial for Serbia to recognize and acknowledge its history by showing respect towards its victims through public acknowledgement and reverence towards their families. To begin this process, they proposed mapping out areas where civilians were detained or Croatian troops were present during wartime.
Additionally, participating in commemorative events was essential since it would allow people to remember those who lost their lives during this conflict while also encouraging future generations not to forget about it.
In conclusion
