Oh! Where Would You Put It! I, Where You Took It!

The question of how to respectfully handle the remains of victims from post-World War II killings in Slovenia remains a sensitive and unresolved issue. These remains, often stored in polyvinyl bags and containers, are currently housed in various storage facilities across the country. The author expresses dismay at the current situation, deeming it undignified and a disservice to the victims and the nation.

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Oh! Where would you put it! I, where you took it!

A prevailing sentiment favors the dignified burial of these remains. The author advocates for returning the skeletal remains to the precise locations where they were exhumed. For instance, remains found in Barbarin rov should be returned to that site, which is described as a magnificent natural tomb. This would create ossuaries, a recognized form of burial, for the victims. The article references existing ossuaries in Slovenia and globally, including those for World War I soldiers and medieval sites.

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The remains are in cubic meters and are stored in polyvinyl bags and containers of all kinds in warehouses of all kinds in various locations.

This proposed method of reburial is presented as the most economical and straightforward solution, as the sites already exist. The author suggests accompanying the reburial with appropriate religious and civil ceremonies. For sites like Barbarin rov, the suggestion includes installing heavy iron doors with strong locks and a memorial obelisk at least 20 meters high. For remains recovered from karst pits, caves, and sinkholes, such as those in Kočevski rog, the proposal involves covering them with slabs and erecting a memorial mausoleum or rotunda if resources permit.

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The prevailing opinion is that the remains of the victims of post-war killings must be buried with dignity.

The author questions the logic of interring these remains in municipal cemeteries like Žale in Ljubljana or elsewhere, arguing that their original discovery sites are inherently significant and perhaps more fitting resting places. The core proposal is to rebury the victims' remains precisely where they were found, simplifying the process and honoring their final resting place.

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In my opinion, it would be most right if all these remains were returned as accurately as possible to the locations where they were excavated.