Parents of Soldiers Killed in Army Barracks form Association

26 January 2007

Miljan Kostic

After prolonged attempts to get the truth about what happened to their children killed while serving in the Army, in suspect circumstances, from the Army and other state institutions, their parents established the �Parents in Black� Association, as an organized attempt to get to the truth.

These are parents of soldiers killed in Serbian Army barracks after 2000. The incidents were usually explained by the commanding officers and too vague and ambiguous terms, claiming that the soldiers were suicidal or criminally inclined, drug-addicts, or recruits coming from families with long history of social pathology and psychic disturbances.

While the military refuses to accept any responsibility for the deaths of recruits that took place in the barracks, Parents in Black blame the officers and the military leadership. They present a number of suspect facts that make them doubt the official autopsy findings and reports.

After the �Don�t Forget� action, the Parents in Black got an opportunity to present their views on the Milic and Milic blog, where they presented disturbing details about the deaths of their children and the ostracism they experienced at the hands of the military and its officers after the tragedies.

"They agreed to go to all future litigations and trials together. The fact is that someone was interested to divide and separate them, and to prolong the court cases forever. They need help and assistance, both legal and material. Nonetheless, what they need the most is solidarity and public pressure and reaction. They need material assistance to be able to meet and coordinate their moves, to enable all of them to go to the trials, regardless of which actual family is concerned in a given case�, says the Milic and Milic blog.

The blog reports that Parents in Black opened a mutual bank account at the Intessa Bank, Acc. No. 908-16001-8, Card No. 51-102-0001820/4, at the name Milijan Kostic. Parents in Black expressed their gratitude, in advance, to all persons that show solidarity with their plight for any assistance and contributions.

The personal stories by members of Parents in Black can be seen at http://blog.b92.net/node/3769, http://blog.b92.net/node/3652, http://blog.b92.net/node/3423.