The Youth Initiative for Human Rights sees it as a failure of the “Miredita dobar dan” festival that some of its previous participants have partook recently in a campaign aimed at glorifying those convicted of war crimes and exerting pressure on the work of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in the Hague.
The values that gather artists from Serbia and Kosovo are in direct opposition to the values of the “Freedom has a name – KLA” campaign. The festival’s mission is to connect people through the values of civil society – where there is no room for extreme nationalism; the principles of human rights – where there is no room for ethnic discrimination; and the value of justice – where there is no room for denying accountability for crimes.
Still, the “Miredita, dobar dan” festival does not take place in a vacuum, but in the Balkans, a place where nationalism, ethnic discrimination and hatred are deeply rooted. We will always fight against that – but there is no guarantee that we will prevail.
The recently held festival in Belgrade sent out a clear message of support for the work of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in the Hague. We see in these bodies a chance to determine the truth, have those responsible for crimes held accountable and prosecuted, and achieve justice for the victims who have been practically invisible to judicial systems for the past two decades.
Photo: KosSev
