While
I was reorganizing my photo archive, I found the pictures that I took
in Bosnia in the summer of 2010. At the beginning, my idea was to
stay in Bosnia for ten days to make a reportage on the research of
civilians killed during the war near the river Drina. Then, the
Balkans fascinated me and I decided to extend my trip.
Two months in
solitude, in which, however, I never was alone. Bosnia, my Bosnia
became a part of me as well as all the people I met in that magical
time spent travelling around the Balkans. I remember every moment of
those days spent in a place so far yet so close to my homeland: the
call to prayer of Muezzin, the smoke of the minarets, the mystical
atmosphere of Ramadan, the joy of the Kino
Bosna, the generosity and human warmth of the Bosnian people. Every
sensation is still indelibly imprinted in my mind. This is a little
photo diary of a trip that will last a lifetime.
Zaborav je Grijeh (Forget is a crime)
Some pictures taken in the course of the research of civilians killed during the war in the area of Višegrad.
Frames on the road - BH
Kosovarian Gypsies - Sarajevo
During the war in Kosovo, the Roma community was subject to serious discrimination and violence. Thousands Kosovo's gypsies were forced to emigrate. Some of them have migrated in Bosnia, where they occupied the houses destroyed by bombs during the Serbian-Bosnian conflict.
During my trip I met one of these communities. They lived in Sarajevo, in a crumbling house without doors, windows and toilets, in miserable humane conditions. They lived of begging and thanks to help offered them by the Bosnian people of the place. The Bosnian government don't give them any kind of assistance.
Here, as in Italy, the gypsies are often subject to serious discrimination. Nevertheless, In Bosnia, talking with the locals, I have perceived less hostility and more empathy to these population than in Italy: as a kind of profound solidarity between populations united by the common sufferings of war.
Drug rehabilitation centre - Sarajevo
After the war, Bosnian people had to ride out traumas and irreparable losses.
Many young Bosnians grew up in an economically wasted country and
without perspectives for the future. This situation, in addition to
the fact that Bosnia is one of the major Balkan routes for drugs, has
led to a noteworthy increase to drug addiction after the war.
On the road to the
largest drug rehabilitation centre of Sarajevo, my friend and
mediator Nes, asked an information to a local farmer: "Excuse
me, where is the community for junkies?". before showing us the
way, the farmer replied a bit annoyed : "They aren't junkies,
they are good men!".
Nes looked at me amused and
said: “Welcome to Bosnia!”
All content © Marika Puicher
