Prime Minister: With Our Choices, Actions, and Words We Have to Fight for Humanity Everyday
On Thursday, 21st of September, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė took part in the "Path of Remembrance" procession and the ceremony honouring the victims of the genocide of Lithuanian Jews at the Paneriai Memorial.
This September also marks the 80th anniversary of the liquidation of the Vilnius Ghetto. Most of the Jews imprisoned in the ghetto were killed in Paneriai Forest.
"Paneriai Forest, once renowned for its natural beauty, became the site of a huge tragedy during the Second World War. The horrors of genocide took place here when the forces of hatred and intolerance brutally took thousands of innocent lives – Jews, Poles, Roma, and others of different nationalities. Families were torn apart, innocent lives snuffed out, vibrant communities destroyed.
Today, let us pause and reflect on the painful reality of our past. Let us remember those who died here, whose hopes and dreams were lost forever, and whose aspirations were extinguished too soon. Let us also remember the courage of those who risked everything to help their neighbours, despite the darkness that had fallen upon our land," the Prime Minister said in her speech in Paneriai.
The Head of Government also paid tribute to the Holocaust survivors, who bore the weight of terrible memories and the scars of hardship for the rest of their lives.
"Their strength and resilience are a testament to the enduring human spirit. Their stories remind us of the importance of resilience, hope and the indomitable will to stand up again. It is only thanks to them that we know what happened here. Their recollections have become a historic memory. A memory that allows us today to make our own decisions and to understand the importance of the responsibility we carry into the future.
This is especially true now, because brutal, history-repeating decisions are being made by Putin, who is killing the Ukrainian people and waging a terrible war against the innocent, against the West. This is a painful signal that we cannot let our guard down, and we must fight for humanity every day with our choices, actions and words, and not let the sprouts of hatred and greed grow," said Prime Minister Šimonytė.
The Prime Minister stressed that by commemorating the Genocide Memorial Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensure that the lessons of history will never be forgotten.
"Our actions today must be a testament to our unwavering commitment to tolerance and peace. We must educate our young people about the atrocities committed here so that they can carry the torch of memory into the future. By doing so, we can work together to create a world where such horrors are unthinkable. Let us be vigilant guardians of the values that will ensure that such atrocities never happen again, not only in Lithuania, but throughout the world.
May the memory of the victims of Paneriai Forest inspire us forever to strive for a world in which the darkest moments of humanity are replaced by a future of hope, understanding and love," said Šimonytė.
The Day of Remembrance of the Genocide of Lithuanian Jews is commemorated every year on 23 September.