ĆURGUZ: TRUTH ON CROATIAN AGGRESSION SHOULD BE PASSED ON TO YOUNGER GENERATIONS

KOZARSKA DUBICA, SEPTEMBER 17 /SRNA/ – A history lesson was held today in Kozarska Dubica about the September 1995 events, when Dubica residents defended themselves against Croatian aggression, resulting in 46 residents of the municipality being killed in just two days.

Pantelija Ćurguz, the wartime commander of Kozarska Dubica defence, said it was important to pass on the truth about the Croatian aggression in September 1995 to younger generations, as this means the survival of Republika Srpska. He stressed that these events should be included in school curricula and extracurricular activities, as well as discussed within families. "We are a generation that is gradually passing away and disappearing biologically. We need to pass on to young people the responsibility to preserve and nurture this heritage, and then the Republic will last forever," Ćurguz told the press. Ćurguz announced that he would propose the establishment of an association of people upholding the values of the Defensive-Patriotic War. Nenad Bulić, the head of the Kozarska Dubica Municipal Veterans Organisation, told the press that this history lesson has been organised for many years and that they will continue to share the wartime experiences of veterans, particularly those from September 18 and 19, 1995, with young residents of Dubica. "They must know what happened then and preserve the memory of those who gave their lives for their freedom and ours, and for the freedom of this town," Bulić said. He stressed that he would tell young fellow citizens that the Serb people should respect and remember their history, otherwise they cannot hope for a good future. Students were also addressed today about the events of September 18 and 19, 1995, by direct participants in the defence - Milanko Rajčević, who was a member of the rapid reaction unit of the Kozarska Dubica Police Station at the time, and Marinko Gvozden, then commander of an infantry company in Donja Gradina, a defence hero who destroyed an amphibious vehicle belonging to the Croatian army. Students Miloš Toroman, Katarina Milun, Nemanja Sekulić and Danilo Bokan said that, through stories told by their grandfathers and fathers, they were familiar with the events of September 1995 and were aware of the sacrifice made by the soldiers who defended their town and families. They expressed interest in these historical events and said they hoped to learn a great deal from the experiences of those who took part in the defence.