East Sarajevo Mayor Ljubiša Ćosić has condemned a recent tribute to Mušan Topalović, known as Caco, whose unit was responsible for the killings of Serb civilians at Kazani during the war in BiH, describing the commemoration as a reflection of Sarajevo’s continued disregard for Serb victims.
Speaking to the Srna news agency, Ćosić said that honoring Topalović demonstrates, in his view, that the suffering of Sarajevo’s Serbs has never received the recognition it deserves.
“Political Sarajevo, as well as those who support such actions, should become the subject of scientific examination, because it is a complete pathology for someone to continuously harbor such hatred toward Serbs and celebrate a man who murdered Serb civilians more than 30 years ago,” Ćosić stated.
Ćosić condemns glorification of those responsible for civilian killings
Ćosić accused Bosniak political and social circles of minimizing Serb suffering while portraying themselves exclusively as victims of the war.
He claimed that many people in Sarajevo identify with Mušan Topalović Caco, despite his involvement in crimes against civilians.
“For them, Serb victims are merely numbers that should be eliminated from their surroundings. They believe that Orthodox Christians should not share the same space with them, and unfortunately, they associate this attitude with their religion, Islam,” Ćosić claimed.
He emphasized that commemorating individuals responsible for wartime atrocities causes additional suffering to the families of victims.
According to Ćosić, such commemorations symbolically victimize the murdered Serb civilians all over again.
He also stressed that he would never celebrate a Serb responsible for killing defenseless and innocent Bosniak, Croat or other civilians.
“I would never honor any Serb who killed unarmed and innocent civilians, whether Bosniaks, Croats or anyone else,” Ćosić said.
“We pay tribute to our generals and military commanders who did not kill innocent people who were unable to defend themselves or protect their own lives,” he added.
Kazani: A site of wartime atrocities against Sarajevo Serbs
The Kazani pit, located on the slopes of Mount Trebević above Sarajevo, is one of the most notorious sites associated with the wartime killings of Serb civilians in the city.
During 1992 and 1993, civilians were murdered and their bodies thrown into the natural ravine.
The crimes were committed by members of the 10th Mountain Brigade of the Army of BiH, commanded by Mušan Topalović, known as Caco, who had a criminal background before the war.
According to estimates cited in the report, more than 100 bodies of murdered Sarajevo Serbs are suspected to have been thrown into pits on Mount Trebević.
The Kazani killings remain a painful chapter in Sarajevo’s wartime history and a continuing source of controversy surrounding the recognition and commemoration of civilian victims.
Former Green Berets members pay tribute to Topalović
The latest controversy followed a commemoration held in Sarajevo several days ago, when former members of the Green Berets paid tribute to Mušan Topalović Caco.
Ćosić strongly criticized the gesture, arguing that honoring individuals associated with crimes against civilians undermines efforts to acknowledge the suffering of all communities during the war.
Source: RTRS
