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Edin Altumbabic, one of the participants in the Brcanska Malta battle, said that an event of crucial importance for the defence of the town, the region and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole, happened at that location 21 years ago.
“The defence forces established on the basis of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, SR BiH, jointly defended the town irrespective of their ethnic, religious and other affiliations. On May 15, 1992 members of the Yugoslav Army and paramilitary formations opened fire on members of Tuzla police and local citizens,” Altumbabic explained, adding that the scenario that happened in other towns of Bosnia and Herzegovina was prevented by a timely reaction by the defence forces.
Prior to the marking of the anniversary of town defence, a delegation from Republika Srpska, RS, whose members included family members of killed Yugoslav Army soldiers, laid flowers at Brcanska Malta. The event was organised by Tuzla municipality.
“It is hard to speak about it. Different things are said about this. I was wounded at Brcanska Malta. Both sides are to be blamed for the war. This is the first time I have decided to attend the anniversary. I should say that, after having been wounded, I was captured. While I was at the hospital, I received proper treatment and care. After that I was exchanged,” said Miodrag Vukmilica, former member of the Yugoslav National Army, JNA, from Belgrade.
After having laid flowers on the memorial erected in honour of the soldiers and Territorial Defence members killed at Brcanska Malta, a delegation composed of representatives of Tuzla municipality and war veterans organisations, as well as family members of the killed people, walked the city streets on their way to Slana Banja, where they laid flowers on a memorial erected in honour of all war victims in Tuzla.
