CVIJANOVIĆ: REMEMBERING THOSE WHO SUFFERED IN OPERATION FLASH WILL NEVER FADE

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, MAY 1 /SRNA/ – The Serb BiH Presidency member Željka Cvijanović says that Republika Srpska, which became a safe home for many expelled from Western Slavonia, will never allow the memory of the Serbs who suffered in the Croatian Operation Flash to fade, stressing that never forgetting them is an obligation.

"Every year on May 1, we remember the exodus of the Serb people from Western Slavonia during the Croatian Operation Flash. Within just a few days, this area was ethnically cleansed, and our compatriots were expelled from their ancestral homes," Cvijanović posted on X. She emphasized that the most tragic episode of this crime was the bombing of a refugee convoy and the killing of civilians, which clearly demonstrated the intent to physically destroy the Serb population in this area. "Republika Srpska will never allow the memory of this crime and our fallen compatriots to fade. May the tribute to them be eternal, and never forgetting them is our duty," Cvijanović stated. Today Gradiška is marking the 31st anniversary of the pogrom of 15,000 Serbs from Western Slavonia during the Croatian operation Flash, which killed at least 263 Serbs, including 12 children. 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. 15,000 Serbs were expelled during this operation within just 36 hours.