33rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF 14 SOLDIERS ON TREBEVIĆ MARKED

PALE, JUNE 8 /SRNA/ - A memorial service was held and wreaths were laid today in Pale to mark the 33rd anniversary of the death of 14 fighters from the “Petar Pandurević” platoon of the Republika Srpska Army, who were killed during an attack by Muslim forces on Serb positions on Mount Trebević.

Their commander, Petar Pandurević, was also killed alongside his comrades on June 8, 1992. Milan, the son of the fallen commander and vice president of the “Petar Pandurević” Platoon Association, told reporters that this is a very sad day and that Pale suffered its highest number of casualties from June 4 to June 8, 1992. “Žepa was the result of the loss of fighters from the ‘Petar Pandurević’ platoon. Muslim forces knew that the funeral for those killed in Žepa was taking place that day, and they broke through the positions at Vidikovac and Osmica. This platoon reclaimed those lines with heroic fighting,” Pandurević recalled. He emphasized that the Association was formed to support the families of the fallen and wounded fighters. Member of the Republika Srpska National Assembly, Aco Stanišić, reminded that the first days of June are etched in black ink in the history of Pale. “By commemorating the anniversary of the suffering in Žepa and Trebević, we remember our great fighters, who were not special forces but ordinary residents, citizens of Pale, who defended their homes with rifles,” said Stanišić. The mayor of Pale, Dejan Kojić, emphasized that this is one of the saddest days for Pale. “In the history of Pale, it has never happened that 50 fighters, knights, gave their lives in just two days,” said Kojić. The president of the Pale Municipal Assembly, Branko Koroman, emphasized that this crime strongly disproves claims that the previous war was a war of aggression. “All these monuments show that it was a defensive war, that people were defending their families and homes,” said Koroman. On June 8, 1992, Muslim forces launched an attack on Serb positions during the funeral of 45 fighters who were killed on June 4 in Žepa. Strong enemy forces attempted to break through the weakened defensive line on Mount Trebević and penetrate deep into Serb territory. In the attack, 14 fighters from this platoon, along with their commander, were killed. The “Petar Pandurević” platoon was formed at the beginning of the Defense Patriotic War. It had 200 fighters, guarded Serb positions on Mount Trebević, and fought in numerous battlefields across Republika Srpska.