www.forensic-architecture.org/explorations/a-memorial-in-exile-orbits-of-responsibility-for-a-war-crime/

Press Release June 27 2012

Orbits of Responsibility for a War Crime from a Bosnian mine to London’s Olympic Park
Press Conference Organisers
Centre for Research Architecture, Grupa Spomenik, Four Faces of Omarska

[PDF] 2 July 2012 Event Press Release

[PDF] Opinion Piece by Susan Schuppli

Download Images of Omarska

On July 2 2012 London’s Olympic tower — the ArcelorMittal Orbit — will be reclaimed as A Memorial in Exile by survivors of the Bosnian concentration camp at Omarska, now a fully-functional mine operated by ArcelorMittal. Iron ore and profits extracted from Omarksa have been used to manufacture London’s newest landmark.

Details of Press Conference: Monday 2 July 2012 from 2-3pm
Location 64 Broadway, Stratford, London E15 1NG (East London Centre)

Walking commentary and view of the ArcelorMittal Orbit at Warton & Loop Roads (Olympic Park perimeter) from 3-4pm

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• From 25 May 1992 till 22 August 1992 the Omarska mine in Prijedor, Bosnia was used as a concentration camp by Bosnian Serb forces. At least 3,334 Bosniaks and Croats from Prijedor were imprisoned in the Omarska camp, 700-800 were killed. Still missing in the Prijedor region: 2, 916 men, 262 women and 11 children.

• In 2004, ArcelorMittal assumed 51% of the ownership of the Ljubija mining complex that included Omarska and resumed commercial mining operations.

• In 2005, ArcelorMittal made a commitment to finance and build a memorial on the grounds of Omarska.

• Seven years on and twenty years after the war crimes committed there, still no space of public commemoration exists.

• Grounds, buildings, and equipment that were once used for the perpetration of these crimes now serve a commercial enterprise run by the world’s largest steel producer.

• On 14 April 2012, Mladen Jela?a, Director of ArcelorMittal Prijedor confirmed to Professor Eyal Weizman, of Goldsmiths, University of London and artist Milica Tomic of the Monument Group, Belgrade, that iron ore mined at Omarska mine has been used in the fabrication of the ArcelorMittal Orbit.

• In the absence of this promised memorial and until such time that it is built, London’s Olympic tower — the ArcelorMittal Orbit — will be reclaimed as the Omarska Memorial in Exile.

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SPEAKERS / PARTICIPANTS

Survivors from the Omarska / Prijedor camps: Satko Mujagic, Rezak Hukanovic, Kemal Pervanic, Sudbin Music, Fikret Alic, Mirsad Duratovic

Srdjan Hercigonja, Milica Tomic, Antonia Majaca, (Four Faces of Omarska Belgrade), Adisa Pamukcic, Susan Schuppli, Eyal Weizman (Goldsmiths, University of London) and Ed Vulliamy (journalist)

Please join our press conference and help to bring awareness to this issue. With the Olympics fast approaching ArcelorMittal has a significant window of opportunity to make things right!
How to Find us on July 2 2012
64 Broadway, Stratford, London E15 1NG (East London Centre)

Research Links:

United Nations Security Council Annex 4 The Prijedor Report

Shame of Camp Omarska, Ed Vulliamy

The Horror of a Camp called Omarksa and the Serb Strategy, Mark Danner

Five Serbs Guilty of Omarska Camp Atrocities, Andrew Osborn

Bosnian Mine Thought to Hold Evidence of Mass Killings, Chris Hedges

Lujubija Mines Scandal (Iron Ore Enriched With Human Bones)

Bosnia War Memorial Plan Halted, Nick Hawton

Omarska: The Dark side of the Olympics “Orbit”, Refik Hodzic

International Center for Transitional Justice

Balkan Transitional Justice

Bosnia’s Victims 20 Years on: Survivors of a Nightmare with no Reckoning, Ed Vulliamy

ArcelorMittal Links:

ArcelorMittal Human Rights Policy

ArcelorMittal Prijedor Corporate Responsibilities

ArcelorMittal Annual Report 2011

ArcelorMittal Prijedor announces additional dates for access at Omarska mine May 15 2012

ArcelorMittal Orbit Links:

ArcelorMittal Orbit Facts and Figures

ArcelorMittal Orbit embraces Olympic Spirit with Steel from Every Continent

Building Britain’s Largest Sculpture

A Press Trip to the ArcelorMittal Orbit

Orbits Journey – The Story