While the rest of the world marked the International Day of Peace on 21 September, a date on which warring parties are asked to put down their weapons for 24 hours, many from the town of Maglaj, in north-central Bosnia and Herzegovina, recalled the first assault on the town by the Army of Republika Srpska back in 1992.
Over 25 years later, three veterans of those dark days – Rizo, Boro and Marko – are spearheading efforts to ensure that younger generations, many of whom were born after an uneasy peace was reached in 1995, do not repeat the mistakes of the past. In a documentary entitled ‘Maglaj – War and Peace’ (or ‘Maglaj – rat i mir’), supported by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, they share reflections about a war that consumed their lives.
The power of their testimonies derives in part from the fact that each of the three protagonists fought on different sides. Rizo ‘Talijan’ Salkić was commander of the Recon-Engineer Company of the 327th Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Maglaj Brigade; Boro Jevtić was company commander of the Army of Republika Srpska 3rd Ozren Brigade; whilst Marko Zelić served as the chief of military police in the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) covering the Maglaj area. Despite the war, their friendship has flourished.
