"As of yesterday, two nominations have been received for the competition for the "Tomo Buzov" award for special contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, which is being awarded by the Municipality of Bijelo Polje from this year," the president of the jury told Vijesti. Nada Drobnjak.
The award will be presented every year, on February 27, on the anniversary of the kidnapping of passengers from a train in Štrpci, as an act of remembrance and respect for the victims of this crime.
"Given that there is a possibility that some nominations were sent by mail, the Jury for the award will wait for the expiration of the deadline for receiving documentation to ensure that all proposals have been properly received and considered. After that, the jury will meet to determine the final list of nominees, and then make a decision on the winner of the 'Tomo Buzov' award," she said.
In February last year, the Civic Alliance and the Association "Štrpci - against oblivion" sent an initiative to the Municipality of Bijelo Polje to establish the "Tomo Buzov" award for special contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. As a retired JNA officer, as previously announced by these associations, Buzov was killed in a kidnapping in Štrpci on February 27, 1993, because he tried to protect Bosniak civilians who were being forcibly taken from a train by members of the Army of Republika Srpska.
"It is particularly significant that this award was established by the Municipality from which a large number of the victims of the kidnapping in Štrpci originate, which shows the willingness of local authorities to foster values that represent the foundation of building a just society through concrete and permanent institutional practice," the Civic Alliance and the Association "Štrpci - against forgetting" stated earlier in a statement.
As previously announced by the Secretariat for Local Self-Government of Bijelo Polje, by establishing the award named after Toma Buzova, the local community has paid tribute in a dignified manner to a man who showed that even in times of destruction, there are individuals who shine as moral pillars of society.
"This would institutionalize his name as a permanent reminder that human rights should not be an abstract ideal, but an everyday practice that we inherit, support and reward," the Municipality stated.
The "Tomo Buzov" Award is awarded to individuals and legal entities from the territory of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje for a special contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. "The award may also be awarded to individuals who do not live in the territory of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje if their achievements in the promotion and protection of human rights are of special importance for the Municipality. Exceptionally, when there are significant reasons for this.
The award may be awarded posthumously.
Bonus video:
