5/16/2018 Halilovich H. 2011 Beyond the Sadness... Memory Studies [1] - slidepdf.com

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Article

MemoryStudies4(1)4252©TheAuthor(s)2011

Beyondthesadness:Memories

Reprintsandpermission:sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav

andhomecomingsamong

DOI:10.1177/1750698010382160http://mss.sagepub.com

survivorsofethniccleansinginaBosnianvillage

HarizHalilovich

UniversityofMelbourne,Australia

Abstract

The11newmarbleheadstoneserectedatthesmallvillagecemeteryattheoutski

rtsofHegic.iinlateJuly2007outnumberedthenumberofpeoplewhohadreturnedtothevillage.OnlythedatesofdeathengravedonthewhiteheadstonesrevealedthatmostofthepeopleburiedthatdaydiedtogetheronthesamedayinJuly1992.Thesmallcongregationofsome50people,madeupofsurvivingrelativesandneighbourscomingfromafar,mournedindignityandprayedforthesoulsofthevictimsofthemassacre.ThroughethnographyofacollectivefuneralforthevictimsofethniccleansinginasmallBosnianvillage,andreflexivenarrativeanalysisofthepastandpresentrealitiesofthesurvivors,thisarticleexploresthecomplexrelationship

betweenmemory,placeandreconciliationinpost-warBosniaandHerzegovina.

Keywords

displacement,ethics,massviolence,memoryresearch

Memoryscholarsresearchingactsofmassviolenceandtraumahaveachallengingtasktonegotiatebetweenthedemandsofthedisciplinaryrigourandthepressingethicalandpoliticalquestionsintrinsictotheirresearch.AnthropologistThomasCushman(2004:7)arguesthatthescholarsare.

izestheaccountsofperpetratorsofmassviolence;and,second,toavoidproducingaccountsthatdenythephenomenologicalrealitiesofsocialsuffering.InlinewithCushman,IhaveattemptedtoturnrawmemoriesofmassviolenceintoascholarlyarticlethatdoesnotrationalizewhathappenednorinanywaydenyordiminishthesufferingofthoseIwriteabout.Thisarticlediscusseshow.formedandrenderedmeaningfulasidentity(re)constructionsamongsurvivorsfro

5/16/2018 Halilovich H. 2011 Beyond the Sadness... Memory Studies [1] - slidepdf.com

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manethnicallycleansedvillageinnorth-westernBosnia.1.moniesofhorrificwarcrimesandinformationaboutwarcriminalswhocontinuetobenefitfromtheiractionsduringthewar.Someofthesetestimonieswerefirst-handwitnessaccounts,whileotherstorieswererecollectionsofnarrativestoldandrememberedbyothers.Thisarticle,like

Correspondingauthor:

HarizHalilovich,GeneralPractice&PrimaryHealthCareAcademicCentre,TheUniversityofMelbourne,200BerkeleyEmail:hha@unimelb.edu.au

5/16/2018 Halilovich H. 2011 Beyond the Sadness... Memory Studies [1] - slidepdf.com

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Halilovich43

muchofmyotherwork,isaboveallareminder,awrittenmemorialtoallthosewhoperishedandanaffirmationofthosewhosurvivedbutwhosestorieswouldnothavebeenotherwiseheardandremembered.

AsananthropologistlivinginAustralia,Iamaprofessionaloutsiderinrelationtomyinformants,

who,inmanycases,askthemselveswhyascholarfromsofarawaywouldbeinterestedintheirstories?However,regardlessofmyprofessionalpositioning,assomeonewhowasbornandraisedinBosniaIwillalwaysbeperceivedasaculturalinsiderwhichindeedIam.Moreimportantly,Iwillalsoalwaysbeaninsiderwhenitcomestomyrelationshipwiththe199295arinBosniainwhichmyintimateworldwasshatteredandmanyofmyrelativesandfriendsperished.Iwillneverdenytherelationshipwithmydeadrelativesandthesufferingtheyandmanyotherinnocentpeoplewentthrough.Anyotherapproachwouldbeunethicalandimpossib

le.Personalexperiencesofwarhavehadaprofoundimpactonmeasapersonandmadememorereceptivetohumansufferingandissuesofsocialjustice.ThescholarwitnessroleIhaveadoptedinmyworkraisesmanychallenges,includingtheinternalstrugglesIfaceasasurvivorinmyownright.

Narratingdisplacementandrememberinghome

Forceddisplacementhasprofoundlyinfluencedandsometimesradicallyreshapedtheidentitiesofsome2.2millionBosnianswhofledthe199295campaignofviolenceandethnicc

leansing.AsValColic-Peisker(2003:3)observed,thisgoesbeyondtheexperienceofthespecialdisplacementofrefugeesorinternallydisplacedpeople:itwas,andhasbeen,adisplacementofidentityaswell.Insomeinstances,theidentitiesofthedisplacedhavebeenpartiallyorcompletelyreplaced,adapted,hybridizedandentangledwithnewidentities,rolesandplaces,whileinotherinstancesthereisaprevalentfeelingofpermanentmisplacementunderpinnedbyaninabilitytoreconstructasenseofbelonginginanewsocioculturalenvironment.However,whenreferringtodisplacement,

Idonotsuggestthattheexperienceofemplacementisanaturalhumanconditionandthatidentitiesplacedorrootedinaparticularplacearestaticandunchangeable.

Formanyfamiliesandlocalcommunitiesstoriesofforceddisplacementanditsaftermathcontinuetobetold,retoldandremembered,inmanydifferentwaysbecauseofitscataclysmicproportions.Infact,displacementhasplayedthecentralrolein(post-)warmemoryconstructionfor

5/16/2018 Halilovich H. 2011 Beyond the Sadness... Memory Studies [1] - slidepdf.com

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Bosniansunabletoremainintheirhomeland.Manysurvivors,includingthosedescribedinthisarticle,refertodisplacementasamemoryofapreviouslife.Yet,whiletalkingaboutwhotheyarenow,theydosoinrelationtotheirmemoriesofplaces,pastexperiencesandsocialhistories.Intheabsenceofahomelandandoldsocialnetworks,memoryofnotonlywhoIonceas,butalsowhoInowamoftenbecomesthequintessentialaspectoftheindividualandgroupidentityofthedisplaced.Thelossofplaceasanimportantanchorofsocialidentitygets

compensatedfororkeptalivebythememoriesandstoriesoftheplacelost.

Contestedmemories

In2009,whilerevisitingthePrijedorregioninnorth-westernBosnia,whereIconductedextensivefieldworkasapartmyPhDinsocialanthropology,Iwasdirectlyconfrontedwithconflictingmemoriesoftheeventsthattookplaceintheareaduringthe199295war.2Seventeenyearsafterethniccleansingwascommittedinthisarea,clearremnantsofthewarwerealsopresentinthe

competingnarrativesaboutviolencethattookplaceinthisoncemulticulturaltown.Inthemindsofmanypeople,whathappenedintheirhometownsandvillageswasaccountedforbythedominantpost-warnationalistnarratives.AsAleidaAssmann(2006:71)putit,foraslongasthepainful

5/16/2018 Halilovich H. 2011 Beyond the Sadness... Memory Studies [1] - slidepdf.com

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44MemoryStudies4(1)

asymmetryofmemorypersists,thewarcontinuestobepresentinbothpeoplesrealityandimagination.3Thememorymakingandunmakingprocessbeingasmuchaboutforgettingasaboutremembering(Ricoeur,2006)hasbeenoneofthemainpreoccupationsoftheethno-nationalistpoliticalelitesdominatingthepoliticsinthecountry.Thecontroloverpubliclyarticulatedand

transmittedmemoryisintegraltopowerrelationsas,toparaphraseGeorgeOrwell(1961),quiteliterally,thosewhocontrolthepresentcontrolthepast.AsinmanyotherplacesinBiH,theofficialnationalistdiscourseinPrijedorhasappropriatedandethnicizedpersonalmemories,withindividualsexpectedtoselectivelyrememberandforgetdifferentpartsofthetownsrecenthistorythatdo(ordonot)fittheprescribedethnichistory.TheofficialhistoryoftheRepublikaSrpska(RS)governmentisdiametricallyopposedtothepopularmemoryofthosewhowereethnicallycleansedfromPrijedor.Infact,theRSgovernmenthasbeenactivelydenyingand

ignoringboththememoriesofthevictimsandjudicialrulingsaboutcrimescommittedinPrijedorduringthewar.4Thesamepoliticalimperativeshavealsohegemonizedthepublicmemoryoftheirownpeople,Serbs,excludingallindividualsandeventsthatdonotfittheexclusivenationalistframework.Thereis,forinstance,nomentionofSerbswhorejectedparticipatinginthe199295ethniccleansingoftheirtown.Someofthesebrave,nowforgotten,individualsdiedatthehandsoftheirethniccompatriots(Lippman2010).Whileforgettingthosewhodonotqualifyforitsversionof

history,theRSgovernmenthasbeeninscribingtheofficialmemoryinpublicspace,renamingstreetsandsquarestorepresentandremembersomeofthefiercestnationalistssuchasZoranKarlica,JovanRaskovicorNikolaPasic,aswellaserectinggrandiosemonumentsintheformofexclusivereligioussymbolsandintroducingnewpublicholidaysandcommemorations.Thetownsofficialholiday,PrijedorsLiberationDay,celebratedon30April,isthesamedaytheSerbmilitiasstartedthecampaignofethniccleansingofnon-Serbsfromtheareain1992.5

PublicexpressionofthepopularmemoryofethnicallycleansedBosniaksandCroa

tsinthePrijedorregionhasbeenreducedtolow-keycommemorationsandburialsofidentifiedvictimsrecoveredfrommassgravesintheregion(cf.Tochman,2008;WesselinghandVaulerin,2005).Formanyofthedisplacedsurvivors,returningtotheirdestroyedvillagestoburytheirdeadisseenasanactofreaffirmingthecontinuityoftheirlocalidentitiesaswellasanactofresistanceanddefiance.Forsurvivors,thesearecrucialstepsinregainingcontrolovertheirmemoriesinplace,evenifthe

5/16/2018 Halilovich H. 2011 Beyond the Sadness... Memory Studies [1] - slidepdf.com

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ynowlivethousandsofkilometersaway.Thereturnofthedeadbecomesasymbolicreturnofthosewhosurvived.Byre-buryingthedead,survivorsarere-groundingthemselvestheiridentities,life-storiesandcommunitiesintheplacethatwastakenawayfromthem.Inthiscontext,thefuneralsandcommemorationsactasacatalystforstoriesthatneedtobetoldandremembered.Onbehalfofandthroughthedeadthesurvivorsarereclaimingtheirownpastandtheirrighttotheplaceinthepresentandfuture,

whiletheirtransientreturnistheeternalreturnofthosewhosharedthatpastwiththem.

Myexplorationofsurvivorstoriesandmemorieswilltakethereadertotwodifferentgeographicallocations,bothofthemcentraltotheexperiencesandmemoriesofasurvivorfromavillagenearPrijedor,inwaysthatenmeshplaceandlife-story.AsLeslievanGelder(2008:4)putsit:

beneathourcapacitytostoryisourdeepercomprehensionoftheconceptofplace.Wearealwayssomewhere,anditisthroughplacethatweareabletorootoursenseofstoryandoursens

eofself.Ourstoriesmakeplacesimportanttous,andplacesbecomevesselsforholdingandkeepingourstories.

However,itsalsoclearthatforthosewhohaveexperiencedforceddisplacement,thisrelationshipcanbereversedsothatstoriesbecomevesselsforholdingandkeepingplaces.Weareabletorootoursenseofplaceandoursenseofselfthroughstory.Thereis,infact,anactiveinterplaybetweenplacesandstoriesormemoriesofplacesespeciallywhenplaces,suchasthosewith

5/16/2018 Halilovich H. 2011 Beyond the Sadness... Memory Studies [1] - slidepdf.com

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whichImconcernedinthisarticle,arevandalized,butchered,dividedupandscarred.Thatkindofplace,evoked,narratedandremembered,canbecomeaconstantreminderofhumiliationandsuffering,aspacefilledwithtraumathattriggerspsychicandvisceralreactionsonthepartofexpellees,butitalsoremainsaplaceofdesire,withthosewhooncelivedtherepropelledbyasenseofobligationtokeeptellingitsstories.

PlacingEditasstory

Establishedin1902,thehairdressingsalonBachingershasbeeninbusinessformorethanacentury.LocatedintheSecondBezirkinthehistoricalpartofVienna,thesalonhasretainedmanyelementsofthegloriousAustrianpastwithinitswalls.Thesalonsfurnitureandinterioritselfwouldfitwellintoamuseumcollectionfromthelate1800sorearly1900s.Aframedpictureoftheoncemuch-lovedKaiserinSisithatdominatestheroommightwellhavebeenhangingthereformostofthepreviouscentury.6Highceilings,typicaloftheVienneseAltbau,ha

veretainedthesameornamentaldesign,andantique,ice-likecrystalchandeliershangingaboveclientsheads.7Thedisplayofhairdressingtools,lotionsandpumpsalongwiththedimmedlightandthepleasantsmelloffreshlywashedhair,evokeatranquil,decadentatmosphereoftimeslonggone.Thewholesettingradiatescontinuity,stabilityandharmony,witheverythingandeveryoneintherightplace.ItdoesnotlookalikelyplaceinwhichtofindaBosnianrefugeewhosurvivedamassacre.

InBachingerssaloneverythingisViennese:theinterior,theclients,thelocal

storiesandthetowngossipbeingtoldandretoldagainandagain.EventhelanguagespokenisadistinctlocaldialectofGerman,theso-calledwienerischorViennese.MeisterinEdita,thehairdresserinchargeofthesalon,ispopularwiththeregularclienteleforherconversationalskillsandgoodsenseofhumour.HerwienerischisasfineasthatofanyViennesewomanwhogrewupinthevicinityoftheStephansPlatz,goingtotheMarienKircheorPrateronSundaysandenjoyingtheNeujahrskonzertonthefirstdayofJanuary.8

ForEdita,Bachingerssalonhasbeenmorethanajob.Ithasbecomeapartofwhosheis,aplacewhereshebelongsandisrespectedforwhatshedoes.ThosewhocomeregularlytothesalonhavelearnedthatEditaisthebackboneofBachingers.ButnotmanyknoworhaveeveraskedwhoEditareallyisandwhereshecomesfrommainlybecausethereisnosuggestionthatEditamightnotbeViennesebybirth.HerfirstnameisnotuncommoninVienna,norisherappearancedistinctive.

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ShelookslikeanyordinaryyoungViennesewoman,maybeslightlytooenthusiasticaboutherjob,whichisanotherGermanicvirtue,somemightsay.AndthisiswhoEditahasbeenformanyyearsnow:anexcellenthairdresseratBachingers,ajollyVienneseFraulein,anAustriancitizen.Butheracculturatedbelongingconcealsherever-presentsadnessandherimmensepersonalloss.OnlyafewpeopleinViennaknowthatsome18yearsago,whenshewasstillachild,Editalivedacompletelydifferentlife,inadifferentcountry,inasmallvillagewithman

yrelatives.Andthenshebecamearefugee,andgrewupinamatterofmonths.

MappingEditasmemoriesoflosthome

Untilsummer1992,EditaHegic,whowas13yearsoldatthetime,livedwithherfamilyher17-year-oldbrotherFikret,hermotherEnisa,herfatherAlijaandhergrandfatherSmajointhehamletofHegici,whichbelongedtoaclusterofsmallervillagesattachedtothelargervillageofBiscani,7kilometersfromthecityofPrijedor,innorth-westernBosnia.Mostofthe48housesin

thehamletbelongedtoothermembersoftheextendedHegicfamily,BosnianMuslims(Bosniaks)whohadinhabitedtheareaforgenerations.Infact,thehamlet,asitsnamereveals,wasfoundedby

5/16/2018 Halilovich H. 2011 Beyond the Sadness... Memory Studies [1] - slidepdf.com

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aHegicancestormanyyearsago.ApartfromfourOrthodoxChristian(Serb)families,therewerefewfamiliestowhichtheHegicswerenotdirectlyrelatedlivinginthehamlet.

EditaandherbrotherFikretwereattendingthesecondarytradeschoolinPrijedor.TheirmotherEnisawasahousewifeandtheirwidowedgrandfatherSmajohelpedinthegarden.EditasfatherAlijawasapostman,deliveringmailinthelocalarea.Likemostothergovernmentjobsinthe

formerYugoslavia,especiallythosethatinvolvedanofficialuniform,apostmanheldawell-respectedpositioninthecommunity.AlijaHegicproudlyworehisbluepostmansuniform,whichverymuchresembledthatofapilotoranairforceofficer.Thepostofficealsoprovidedareliablemotorbike,whichAlijawasfreetouseandlookafterashisown.Helovedhisjob,ridingonhismotorbikebetweenvillagesandfromhousetohouse,exchangingthenewsandmakingmanyfriends.Hewaspopularandrespectedforhisreliability,honestyandagoodsenseofhumour.Hewasalwaysreadytocrackajokewithoutinsultinganyone.Itseemedthateveryo

nelovedPostmanAle,astheyfondlycalledhim.EditaandherbrotherFikretespeciallylovedhimandwereveryproudoftheirDad.Hewouldputthemonhismotorbikeandtheywouldholdhimfirmwhileridingaround,feelingexcitedandsafebehindhisback.Byanystandardstheycouldbeconsideredahappyfamily,livingtheirordinarylivesinthesmallvillage.ThisishowEditalikestorememberherchildhoodwhichabruptlyendedinsummerof1992.

MassacreinHegic.i

Evenwhen,inthespringof1992,mostoftheBosniakandCroatvillagesaroundPrijedorweredestroyedandethnicallycleansedbyvariousSerbmilitiascontrolledbySlobodanMilosevicandRadovanKaradzic,HegicihopedthattheywouldbesparedastheydidnthaveanyarmedgroupsinthevillagetoprovokeaconflictwiththeSerbs.9TheirrelationswiththeirSerbneighboursbecameprogressivelylesscordialandinmostcaseslimitedtoessentialgreetingswhentheycrossedpaths.EditaremembersthatonlyLjubica,aSerbwomanlivinginthevillage,remainedfriendlywithotherBosniaks.Risingtensionsbetweenthetwogroupswerepalpab

lebutnoonedidanythingprovoketheotherside.WhileBosniakslimitedtheirmovementstoessentialworkinthefieldsandtendingtoanimals,Serbneighbourswouldfrequentlyleavethevillageandonmanynightswouldnotreturntotheirhomes.ThisparticularlyworriedtheBosniaksinHegiciastheysuspectedtheirneighboursofplottingagainstthemwithotherSerbsoutsidethevillage.

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Onthenightof19July1992,noneoftheSerbvillagersstayedinHegici.Thenextmorningtwotrucksandfourarmedtransportpersonnelcarrierspackedwitharmed,uniformedmenhastilyenteredthevillage.Theyquicklyblockedalltheexitsfromthesmallvillage.ThearmedmenidentifiedthemselvesasSerbmilitarypolicesearchingforMuslimextremists,membersoftheMuslimSDApoliticalpartyandweapons.Thepolicecommander,barkingordersoveramegaphone,gaveanultimatumtothevillagerstohandoveralltheweaponsandallthemen

from16to60yearsofagetocomeout.Theywouldstartburningthehousesifthevillagersdidntcomplywithin10minutes.Immediately,Hegicimencameoutoftheirhomesandgatheredinthecentreofthevillage.Afewhuntingriflesandpistolswerehandedovertothemilitiamen.MostofthemilitiamenwerenotknowntothevillagersandsomespokethedistinctSerbiandialectofSerbsfromSerbia,butthevillagersrecognizedonesoldierinthegroup.ItwasJ.M.,alocalthugwholivedjustafewkilometersfromHegici,intheSerbvillageofJugovci.HewasheavilyarmedRambo-

styleandwasyellingatthevillagers,allofwhomheknewwell,nottohideanyoneoranyweaponsashewouldpersonallykilleachofthem.Noonedaredtospeakout.

Editasparentspanickedanddidntknowwhattodowiththe17-year-oldFikret.Editasmotherinsistedonkeepinghiminthehouse,whileherfatherthoughtitwastoodangeroustohidehim.In

5/16/2018 Halilovich H. 2011 Beyond the Sadness... Memory Studies [1] - slidepdf.com

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theend,Fikretjoinedhisfather.Thegrandfather,whowas70yearsofage,stayedinsidehopingthathissonandgrandsonwouldbebacksoon.Themorningstarteditsbloodycourseinthefollowingminutes.Whilemostwomenandchildrenkeptawayfromthewindowsoftheirhouses,hidingbehindtheblindsofherkitchenwindow,Editawastryingtoseewhatwashappeningoutside.Whatshesawwasthebeginningofanightmare,whichwastobecomeadefiningpartofherlife.J.M.

startedswearingatBegoAlagic,oneofthevillagers,askinghimforweaponsandaccusinghimofbeinganSDAsupporter.Bego,alocalfarmerandasimplevillageman,triedtoexplainthatheneitherhadaweaponnorknewanythingaboutpolitics.J.M.hitBegoacrosshisface.Begowastryingtosaysomething,butbeforehewasabletodothat,J.M.aimedhisgunatBegoschestandpulledthetrigger.Almostinstantly,Begofelltotheground.Some20metersaway,Editawaswitnessingacold-bloodedmurderandshecouldnotbelievethatwhatshesawwasreal.Wasitsoeasytokillahumanbeing?Minuteslater,alltheHegicimenweremarchedoutsideth

evillage.ShortlyaftertheydisappearedfromEditasview,salvosofgunfirestarted.Theshootingwentonforhalf-an-hourandthenstopped.Editafearedtheworst.

Thesoldiersreturnedtothevillageandstartedsearchingthehouses,lookingforvaluables,askingformoneyandharassingthewomen,childrenandthefewelderlymen.No-onedaredtoresistthem.Bynoon,mostofthemilitiamenhadleftthevillage.Somedozensoldiersstayedinthevillage,preventinganyonefromleaving.J.Mseemedtobetheguyincharge.Laterthatevening,J.M.

andhisgangweredrinkingandsingingnationalisticSerbsongs.NoonesleptthatnightinHegici.Editacriedwithhermother.HergrandfatherSmajosilentlysmokedcigaretteaftercigarette.

Inthemorning,Editacouldnotwaitanylonger.Withhermotherandgrandfather,shewentoutand,takingashortcutbehindthehouses,walkedtothepaddockwheretheHegicimenweretakenthepreviousday.Onthepaddockbehindthehouses,ingroupsofuptoeight,84bodieswerelyinginthegreengrass.Theywerealldead.EditafeltparalysedwhilehermotherEnisa,frantically

startedlookingforAleandFikret.Sheturnedeachbodytoseethefaceofthevictim.GrandpaSmajohelpedher.Afterawhile,physicallyandmentallyexhausted,theystartedtolookforthelightblueshirtAlewaswearingthepreviousmorning.Theyspottedhimamongtheotherdeadmen.IttookthemanotherfewminutestofindFikretsbody.Hewaslyingsome20metersfromtheothers.Hemighthavetriedtorunawaybeforehewaskilled.

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Thebodieswereleftlyingforthenexttwohotdays.ThesoldiersrefusedSmajospleadingstoburythevictims.ThiswasanadditionalhumiliationofthesurvivorsasMuslimcustomrequiredthedeadtobeburiedwithin24hoursoftheirdeath.Onthethirdday,twotrucksarrivedinthevillageandfourelderlymenSmajoHegic,HasanHegic,HajrudinPelakandHusnijaHadzicwereorderedtogowiththesoldierstoloadthebodiesontothetrucks.Thefragileoldmenspenthourscarryingthebodiesoftheirclosestrelativesandloadingthemontothet

rucks.MostofthosekilledwerefromtheHegicfamily.Whenthecollectionofthebodieswascompleted,thefourmenwereforcedtostepontothetruckthemselves.WhenthetruckpassednexttoEditashouse,shesawhergrandpaSmajoforthelasttime.Hewasstandingontheuncoveredtruckamongallthedeadbodies.Hewavedatherwhilethetearswererunningdownhisoldcheeks.Nexttohimwastheirneighbour,Hasan.HajrudinandHusnijawereonthesecondtruck.Allfourdisappearedwiththetrucksthatweredrivingthe84bodiesaway.Yearslatermostofthebodiesandbodypartswere

foundinamassgraveinJakinaKosanearthedistanttownofLjubija.

ThesurvivingvillagersofHegici,thewomenandchildren,enduredamonthofpillage,humiliationandviolencebeforetheywereorderedtomarchtothefootballstadiuminPrijedorfromwheretheyweredeportedintrucksandbusestocentralBosnia,nearTravnik,on21August1992.IttooktwodaystoemptythestadiuminPrijedorofthethousandsofdesperatepeopleexpelledfromtheirhomes.DuringthetriptheconvoywasstoppedmanytimesbymorearmedSerb

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militias,eachrobbingandhumiliatingtheexpelleesastheypassedthrough.Some200peopleweretakenfromthebusesandtrucksanddisappearedbeforetheyreachedsafetyontheothersideofthedemarcationlineonthemountainVlasic(cf.Hecimovic,2009;Obradovic,2009).10

OnceintheBosniangovernment-controlledtownofTravnikwhichwasoverpopulatedwithrefugeesfromwesternBosniaandthousandsofotherdestitutepeoplewithnoshe

lterandlimitedfoodrationsfromthehumanitarianaidEditaandhermothercontinuedtheirone-wayjourneyinitiallytoCroatiaandthenfurthertoAustria.TheyreachedViennaon18ofOctober1992.ShortlyaftertheirarrivalinVienna,forthefirsttimeinmonths,theyweretouchedbythekindnessofstrangers.AfriendlyViennesefamilyinvitedEditaandhermothertostaywiththemandseparatedthemfromtheotherrefugeesattheovercrowdedrefugeereceptioncentre.Fromthatday,EditaandEnisahavefeltmorelikegueststhanrefugeesinAustria.Theywereaccommodatedinasmallapartment

ownedbytheirhostfamily,andshortlythereafterEditasmotherwasemployedbythehostsintheirfamily-ownedbusiness,whileEditawasenrolledinschool.BothEditaandhermotherstillfeeldeeplyindebtedtotheirhosts,who,overtheyears,havebecomeasecondfamilytothem.

Editashomecoming

Fifteenyearslater,Editamadeherfirsthomecoming.TherewerealmostnoHegicsleftinHegici,apartfromafewageingreturnees,mostlywidowedwomen.Editadidnotreturntostayorto

rebuildherhouseburneddown15yearsearlier.Astheonlysurvivingchildandgrandchild,shewasbacktoattendtheburialofherfatherandhergrandfather,whoseremainswerefoundinamassgrave.EditasDNAhadbeenusedintheprocessofidentifyingtheirremains.Shetoldmehow,beforethefuneral,shewenttotheforensicmorguelabinSanskiMostwherethebodieshadbeenstored,andwepttouchingherfathersandhergrandfathersbones.Thoughtheskeletonswereincompleteassomebonescouldnotbelocated,shefeltthattheybelongedtoherrelatives.ButherbrotherFikretwasnottobeburiedontheday:hisremainswerenotfounda

ndhecontinuedtobecountedasmissing.

Afteralow-keyreligiousceremonytolaytorestthe100victimsofthe1992ethniccleansingofPrijedorsMuslims,thedayendedattherebuiltmosqueindowntownPrijedor.Casketswiththeremainsweredistributedaccordingtothevictimsplaceoforigin.MostBosniakvillagesaroundPrijedorreceivedsomeoftheirlostresidents.AtthecemeteryinHegici,11fr

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eshgravesweredug.SurvivingrelativescamefromAustria,SwedenandtheUSAtoparticipateatthefuneral.Editaknewallofthem,butitwasasadreunionintheplacethatoncewashomeandwasnowfilledwithpainfulmemories.ShewasheretosayherfinalgoodbyetoherDadAleandherGrandpaSmajo.Attimes,hersadnesswasmixedwithangerandsomethingthatcouldonlybedescribedasprideordefiance.Webroughtthemhome,shedeclared.Theyreturnedtostay.

The11newmarbleheadstoneserectedatthesmallvillagecemeteryattheoutskirtsofHegiciinlateJuly2007outnumberedthenumberofpeoplewhohadreturnedtothevillage.Onthedaythatthe11victimswereaddedtothegraveyard,therewasnopublicacknowledgementormourning,noranyofficialrecognitionthatsomethingtragichadhappenedtotheHegicipeople15yearsearlier.Onlythedatesofdeathengravedonthewhiteheadstonesrevealedthatthepeopleburiedthatdaydiedtogether;inotherwords,theywerekilledonthesamedayinJuly1992.Thesmallcongregationofsome50people,madeupofsurvivingrelativesandneighbours,m

ournedindignityandprayedforthesoulsofthevictimsofthemassacre.Thereligiousceremonyitselfwastransformedbythemassacres,asinIslamonlymenareallowedtoparticipateinfuneralpractices.However,onthatdayattheMuslimcemeteryinHegici,womenwereburyingtheirmen,performingtherolestraditionallyreservedformalesonly.Thestrictreligiousrulesneededtobeadjusted

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toreflectthenewrealities;mostlymenperishedandmostlywomensurvived.EditaandhermotherEnisaperformedtheirrolesstoicallyandwithdignity.

Fromthecemetery,theHegicisurvivorscouldseetheremainsofwhatwasoncetheirvillage,theruinsandburnedoutemptyshellsoftheirhomes,withonlyafewnewredroofsofthosewhohadreturnedandrebuilttheirhouses.TheycouldalsoseetheolduntouchedhousesoftheirSerb

neighbours.Formerneighbours.Thesightoftheirdestroyedvillage,thefuneraloftheirdeadfellowvillagerswhohadbeengunneddowninthefieldclearlyvisiblefromthecemetery,theuntouchedSerbhouses,andthesamehotdayinJulymusthaveremindedtheHegicisurvivorsofthehotJuly15yearsearlier.Itseemedthattimehadstoppedandeverythingthathadhappenedwasstillhappeningtothemandtheirvillage.OnthishotJulyday,7kilometersfromPrijedor,inthegreenfieldmarkedbydozensofwhiteheadstones,againtheyfeltasalone,abandonedandforgottenastheywereinJuly1992.Buttheyalsofeltastrongsenseofbelongingtoeac

hotherandtotheirdeadrelativesaswellasasenseofmoralsuperiorityandpridefortakingpartintheimportantceremony.Afterall,theydidnotkillanyoneandtheywereburyingtheirdeadintheirland.Therewasnooneaskingthemforforgivenessthatday;SerbneighborsandRSofficialsstayedawayorwatchedfromadistanceyetanotherbelatedmassfuneralofMuslims.Yetanotherreturnofthosewhooncelivedinthevillagebringingtheirdeadhomeandleavingagainuntilthenextfuneralmakesthemcomeback.

InsteadofaConclusion

AtEditasinvitation,Itravelledtoherformervillagetoattendthefuneralofherlong-lostrelatives.ThelocationsofEditasmemories,whichIhadbeeninchargeofrecordingformorthanfouryears,wereforthefirsttimegraphicallypresentedtome.Isawtheruinsofherhome,IsawthefieldbehindthevillagewheretheHegicimenwerekilledinasummaryexecutionadecadeandhalfearlier.Isawthecoffinsandfreshgraveswhereherrelativeswereputtotheirfinalrest.

WithoutthousandsofordinarypeoplesuchasJ.M,whohadparticipatedinthekillingsoftheHegicimenandboysdrivenbyalogic,albeitperverse,thattheywerefollowingtheirconscienceanddoinggoodfortheirpeoplegenocideinBosniawouldnothavehappened.WhilethevisitorsformerresidentsofHegiciwereleavingtheirdeadrelativesandtheirformervillagebehind,someoftheformerSerbneighboursandtheirnewSerbcompatriotswhosettledinHegiciwere

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sittinginfrontofashopwhichalsoservesastheonlyvillagepub.AmongthemwasJ.M.Hewascalmlydrinkinghisbeerandlookingatthepassingcarsandthepassengersinthemasifallthishadnothingtodowithhim.Tome,hedidnotlooklikesomeonewhoshowedanyremorseforhisdeeds,orlikesomeonewhowasworriedbecausehehadcommittedawarcrime15yearsearlier.Tohimthecrimesmighthavepaidoffashispre-warstatusasalocalthugwaselevatedtothatofaSerbwarveteran.IcouldonlythinkofHannahArendt,ofthebanalityofevil

,evenofthebanalityofmyresearch.HereIwasresearching,butinrealityIwasoverwhelmedbythegriefofmyresearchparticipantsandtheirimmenseloss,andtherehewas,oneoftheexecutionershavinganotherofhisordinarydays,drinkinganotherbeer.Iwasunabletodoanythingbuttakenotesaboutthosewhosurvived,thosewhodiedandthosewhokilledthem.RecreatingthisnarrativefromfragmentsofEditasmemoriesandmyfieldnotes,IamawarethatIamgoingbeyondwritinganacademicarticle,becomingawitnessofalocalwarcrimethatremainswidelyunknownand

forgotten;bythe199295Bosnianstandards,thefigureoflessthan100victimsmassacreistoolowtoattracttheseriousinterestofwarcrimeinvestigators,eventhoughthemassacreinHegicihadaclearintenttodestroyinwholeorinpartthetargetedgroupandthuswasaformofgenocide(cf.Lemkin,2002).

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TurningtherecordofaforgottenwarcrimeintoascholarlyarticleservesmydesiretheunspokenmoralobligationtowardsEditaandherperishedrelativestosharemyfindingswhthewidercommunityofscholarscommittedtoaddressingissuesofhumanrightsviolations.Thisisamissionthatsometimescollideswithrigidlyprescribedprofessionalethicsoftheinstitutionalframeworkswithinwhichtheresearchersformallyoperate.Theinstitutionalframeworksandtheacademicgenrecan

demand(over)theorizedanddetachedscholarly(scientific)accountsofsocialreality.Researchersareexpectedtoconveytheirfindingsinatask-oriented,scientificandapoliticalmannerwiththepersonalusuallyconsideredsoft,lackinginrigour,toosubjective,evenemotionalandfeminine.Ihavenotattemptedtocreateascientificvalue-neutralrepresentationofsocialrealityinthisarticle.Beyondanacademicinquisitivenessandtheepistemologicalrelevanceofthetopic,myresearchintomemoriesofmassviolencehasbeendrivenbyasearchforanswerstoontologicalquestionsthataffectmeatadeeppersonallevel.Thesequestionsareasmuchaboutwhathappenedasaboutwhatco

uldwememoryscholarsdotoactivelyconfrontdiscrimination,marginalization,warcrimesandgenocide.Sometimes,ifnotalways,confrontingthecausesandconsequencesofongoinghumansufferinginvolvesleavingthecomfortzoneofascholarandintervening,eventakingpoliticalactionsifnecessary.

Crossingthelinefrompurememoryresearchintointerventionultimatelyimpliesthattheethicalimperativeprimumnonnecereisnotsufficientwhenresearchinghumanrightsabusesrangingfrombanalinstitutionaldiscriminationtotheannihilationofwholecommunities.

Insuchinstancesanyresearcheristempted,ifnotethicallyobliged,toworkatactivelyprotectingandadvancingthehumanrightsanddignityoftheirinformants.Inreality,however,thisisnotalwaysthecase:asHerbertHirsch(1995:85)argues,blindedbythemythsofobjectivityandthemaskofscientificmethodology,professionalsareabletodistancethemselves,inthenameofscientificrigor,fromemotionalconfrontationwithmassdeath.IwasnotabletodistancemyselffromemotionalconfrontationwithEditasmemoriesofherimmenseloss,noramIexpectingthereadersofthearticle

toremainindifferenttothetragiceventsIdescribehere.Theaimofthearticle,however,istogobeyondthesadnessofthegreattragedyofasmallvillage,todenounceevilandtocelebratethespiritofEdita,aViennesehairdresserandasurvivorofgenocide.

Notes

1.The199295warinBosnia-Herzegovina(BiH)wasthelongestandthemostbrutalinaseriesofthe

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Yugoslavwarsofsecession.ThewarstartedinMarch1992whentheBiHgovernmentfollowedtheexamplesofSloveniaandCroatiaandafterholdingareferendum(boycottedbytheSerbDemocraticParty(SDS),themainpoliticalpartyofBosnianSerbsatthetime)declaredindependencefromtheYugoslavFederation.InlateMarchandearlyApril1992,theSerbiangovernment-controlledmilitiasinvadedtheeasternBosnianbordertownsofBijeljina,BrckoandZvornik,killingnon-Serbcivilians.BymidApril1992,therewasall-outwarinthecountrybetweentheSDSmilitias(l

aterArmyofRepublikaSrpskaorVRS)andtheYugoslavNationalArmy(JNA)andBiHgovernment-controlledpoliceandterritorialdefence(laterArmyofBiH)andCroatianDefenceCouncil(HVO),thearmed-wingoftheCroatDemocraticUnion(HDZ),thenationalistpartyofBosnianCroats.

2.On30April1992,thetownofPrijedorwasoccupiedbySerbmilitiasandrenamedSerbianPrijedorintheSerbRepublicofBosniaHerzegovina(whichlaterbecameRepublikaSrpskaorerbRepublic);andthereafter,theadjectiveSerbwasaddedtothenamesofalltheplicinstitutions.This

practicallyexcludedmorethanhalfofPrijedors112,543population.Atthetimeoftheoccupation,theethnicallymixedtownofPrijedorwithitssurroundingareahad49,351or43.9percentBosniaks(BosnianMuslims);47,581or42.3percentSerbs;6316or5.6percentCroats;andasizablenumberofothers9295or8.2percent(Yugoslavs,Roma,Ukrainians,Jewsandmembersofotherethnicminorities).Cf.GovernmentofBosniaHerzegovina(1991).

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3.ThecitationtranslatedfromGermanbyHarizHalilovich.

4.Cf.InternationalCriminalTribunalfortheformerYugoslavias(ICTY)CasesIndictmentsProceedingsJudgments:Tadic(IT-94-1)Prijedor,Kovacevic,Milan(IT-97-24)Prijedor,andSc(IT-97-24)Prijedor,availableattheICTYofficialwebsite(ICTY,n.d.).

5.AllthenamesofstreetsandsquaresthatdidnotreflectSerbhistoryasdefinedbytheRSauthoritieswere

changedduringandafterthewar.Whilenon-Serbstreetnameswereexcluded,thenewstreetnameswereinclusiveofdifferentSerbnationalismsandhistories.ThenameslistedinthetexthereincludealocalSerbmilitiamanwhowaskilledduringthewarinPrijedor(ZoranKarlica);thefirstSerbpoliticalleaderofrebelliousSerbsinCroatiaintheearly1990s(JovanRaskovic)andtheforefatheroftheSerbRadicalPartyfromthebeginningofthe20thcentury(NikolaPasic).OthernewstreetandsquarenamesinPrijedorincludenamesfromSerbhistory,suchasKingAleksander,MilosObrenovic,PetarPetrovicNjegos,VukKaradzic,Solunska,etc.

6.KaiserinSisiwasthepopularnameofQueenElisabethofAustria.In1854,asayounggirlof16yearsofage,shemarriedtheAustrianKing(Kaiser)FranzJosephandwasinthespotlighttillshewastragicallykilledinGenevain1898.Herpopularityatthetime(whichcontinuestofascinatemanypeopletoday)couldbecomparedtothatofthelateDianaPrincessofWales.

7.Altbau(lit.oldbuilding)referstoanarchitecturalstylecharacterizedbylargerooms,highceilingsandlargewindowsanddoorsinwhichmostofthehistoricalbuildingsinViennaandotherCentralEuropean

citieshavebeenbuilt.

8.TheserepresentsomeoftheiconsofViennesecityculture.

9.RegardedasthefatherofSerbnationalism,throughoutthe1990s,SlobodanMilosevic,TheBucherfromtheBalkans,ledaseriesofwarsagainstnon-SerbsinCroatia,BosniaandKosovo.HewasindictedbytheInternationalCriminalTribunalfortheformerYugoslavia(ICTY)forgenocideandcrimesagainsthumanity,butin2006diedinprisoninTheHaguebeforebeingsentenced.Milosevicsrighthand,RadovanKaradzic,BosnianSerbwar-timeleader,iscurrently(July2010)ontria

lforgenocideandcrimesagainsthumanityattheICTY.

10.SomestablefrontlinesbetweenarmedSerbsandBiHGovernment-controlledareaswereestablishedintheearlysummerof1992.Theywereoftentreatedasdemarcationlinesbetweentwodifferentterritoriesratherthanactivefrontlinesbetweentwo(ormore)armies.TheymaintainedVlasicseparatedSerb-controlledareasinwesternBosniafromterritoriesincentralBosnia,controlle

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dbyBosniaksandCroats.Inmanyinstances,thesedemarcationlinesbecame(un)officialbordersbetweenRepublikaSrpskaandBosniakCroatFederationattheendofthewarin1995.

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Authorbiography

HarizHalilovich,PhD,isasocialanthropologistworkingasapostdoctoralrese

archfellowattheUniversityofMelbourne,Australia.Harizsresearchandprofessionalinterestshavebeenprimarilyintheareasofforceddisplacement,memory,politicallymotivatedviolence,humanrightsandmentalhealth.Harizhaspublishedarticles,bookchaptersandshortstoriesinBosnian,Croatian,EnglishandGerman.

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