WREATHS LAID AT MEMORIAL TO SERBS KILLED IN OPERATION "FLASH"

GRADIŠKA, MAY 1 /SRNA/ – Wreaths and flowers were laid today at the memorial dedicated to Serb civilians and soldiers from Western Slavonia who were killed, marking the 31st anniversary of the pogrom of Serbs in the Croatian operation "Flash".

Wreaths on behalf of Republika Srpska were laid by Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan, National Assembly Speaker Nenad Stevandić, Minister of Labour, War Veterans and Disabled Persons Protection Radan Ostojić, an envoy of the Serb BiH Presidency member, as well as ministers in the Republika Srpska Government. On behalf of Serbia, wreaths were laid by State Secretary at the Ministry for Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Nikola Vukelić, along with representatives of the Consulate General of Serbia in Banja Luka. Flowers were also laid by Serb representatives in the BiH institutions, the leadership of Gradiška and neighbouring towns and municipalities, and the Jadovno 1941civic association. Tribute was paid by families of Serbs killed in Western Slavonia, representatives of associations of Serbs expelled from Western Slavonia, organisations stemming from the Defesive-Patriotic War, delegations of the Third Infantry /Republika Srpska/ Regiment, and representatives of city associations and citizens. Earlier, a memorial service was held for the 263 Serbs killed in this operation. The marking of this event of republic significance is organised by the Republika Srpska Government’s Committee nurturing tTradition of liberation wars. On May 1, 1995, Croatian armed forces carried out an offensive under the codename "Flash" against the Serbian region of Western Slavonia, which was part of the Republic of Serbian Krajina, at a time when the area was under UN protection. On May 1, 1995, Croatian armed forces carried out an offensive under the codename "Flash" against the Serb-controlled region of Western Slavonia, which was part of Republika Srpska Krajina, at a time when the area was under UN protection. More than 16,000 members of the Croatian armed forces were deployed against the Serbs in Western Slavonia, including around 15,000 civilians and about 4,000 soldiers. Around 1,450 members of the Serb Army of Krajina were captured, most of them through deception with the assistance of UN forces, many of whom later endured severe psychological and physical abuse in Bjelovar and Varaždin. This Croatian operation, within just 36 hours, expelled 15,000 Serbs, killed at least 263, including 107 civilians, among them 12 children.