October 18, 2012

The Norwegian Nobel Committee

Protest letter regarding current decision by the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award the Nobel Award for peace to the European Union

The current decision by the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award the Nobel Award for peace to the European Union {EU} is a direct insult to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, to victims of sexual violence, to concentration camp detainees and all other civilian victims of war. These victims have suffered some of the worst atrocities since World War II as the EU stood by. Awarding the EU the most distinguished award for the apparent promotion of peace, while ignoring their passiveness to stop the aggression and genocide in the middle of Europe sends a message that the events that occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina {B&H} are irrelevant.

As the Committee announced the award, news of a new mass grave with eleven Bosniaks were uncovered near the town of Vlasenica. The ongoing discovery of mass graves, 17 years after the aggression and genocide could have been prevented if the EU cared enough to intervene; maybe then a Nobel peace prize would be justified. The Institute for Research of Genocide, Canada {IGC} is deeply disappointed with the Norwegian Nobel Committees decision and sees no legitimate reasons to present the EU with such a distinct award. In a world where so many individuals have dedicated their lives to promoting peace and protecting human rights, it is a shame that the Norwegian Nobel Committee has been able to easily look past that.

IGC suggests the EU donates the Nobel Prize amount to the families of the victims of Srebrenica genocide. These people suffered directly as a consequence of the peace efforts of the EU. The peacekeepers, from the EU, operating under the auspices of the UN (also a past Peace Prize winner) who stood by and let more than 8,000 mostly men and boys be taken away and massacred. This occurred in July 1995, just two months after 'Europe' and the EU was patting itself on the back and celebrating 50 years of 'peace' since the end of the Second World War.

IGC looks forward to hearing from EU in regard to protest letter and the suggestions therein.

In solidarity with the victims of the Bosnian genocide and genocide in the world.

Professor Emir Ramic

Director of the Institute for Research of Genocide, Canada