Graham Bamford’s act is not talked about enough.
Who was Graham Bamford? Many people don’t know the answer to that question. He was a man from England who set himself on fire in front of the House of Commons of the British Parliament on April 29, 1993, as a sign of protest against the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Diaspora in England never forgets it.
BiH citizens who came to Great Britain during the aggression in Bosnia and Herzegovina remember the Briton Graham. Activists and members of the BH UK Network do not forget his name and often lay flowers in his honor as a sign of remembrance so that the hero of Bosnia and Herzegovina is not forgotten. With this act, they remember, but at the same time spread the story of Graham and his heroism so that he is not forgotten and remembered. These are BiH citizens who came from BiH, from the country of the most terrible suffering where people were killed, persecuted and humiliated out of anger because of their different names and religions.
Did Graham Bamford have any connection with the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina? Of course not. He was a simple, witty and entertaining person with a remarkable dose of seriousness, as described by close family members and friends. His last words were: “We need to help Bosnia.”
Have the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina ever acknowledged this selfless act of burning? Why would they even mention an Englishman who sacrificed himself for that faraway Bosnia and Herzegovina? For most citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Graham Bamford is a typical British name and surname, without any special meaning or sentiment. Although he sacrificed himself to draw the attention of the world, and above all the British public, to the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, today his name is only mentioned on April 6, during the award ceremony named after him, which was established by the City Administration of the City of Sarajevo in 2009. So, an annual award and that’s it? Maybe we should name streets after him in Bosnia and Herzegovina and erect monuments so that future generations have an opportunity to tell the story of a man from a faraway island? The story of that Graham from the United Kingdom who, although he probably never been to Bosnia and Herzegovina or knew its citizens, cared for and sacrificed for them. For some, a lunatic, and for some, a hero…
– Britain must stop the war in Bosnia, by force if necessary. Now there are two guards at the mass graves. Bosnian babies, children and women are patiently waiting for politicians to do their job and give them protection – said the last message Graham left behind.
It is a sad realization that many lost their lives for that Bosnia and Herzegovina whose authorities do not recognize these people. There were many drops that overflowed the glass, a glass full of blood and dissatisfaction. But will that change in the future? Will we remember these already forgotten heroes for future generations?
The future will show us.
Rest in peace good man!
BH UK Network
