Souvenir de Bosnie… témoignage de reconnaissance

Au cours des derniers jours, à titre d’avocat, j’ai eu le plaisir et le privilège d’accompagner l’ex-militaire Pascal Lacoste, lors de sa grève de la faim. Dieu merci, nous avons tous été en mesure de trouver une solution négociée à cette affaire.

Depuis, j’ai reçu plusieurs mots d’encouragement pour la cause de mon client. Un message très particulièrement m’a ému et, avec la permission de son auteur, je reproduis ici ce texte, dans son intégralité.

Il s’agit d’une jeune femme bosniaque, âgée de 24 ans, qui habite maintenant Montréal et qui a connu les horreurs de la guerre.

Dear Mr. Sirois,

I am writing to you because I believe you are the lawyer who represents Mr. Pascal Lacoste. If you are not the Mr. Sirois I am looking for please disregard this message. If you are Mr. Lacoste's lawyer please forward this message to him.

My name is D. A. and I am 24 years old. I am originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina where you served Mr. Lacoste. I wanted to let you know how much

I appreciate what you have done for us in Bosnia. And how sorry I am about what is happening to you today as a result of that. I would give anything to change your situation right now because you gave up so much to come and protect me in my country when no one else would.

I was 6 years old when the war started and I had no idea how bad it would get. I lived through two refugee camps before I was 10 years old. My city was located in the Northwestern part of Bosnia, it's called Velika Kladusa. I do not know where you served but we had some Canadian soldiers there. They used to give us candy sometimes and for a small child you don't know how much that meant to me.

They treated us like human beings and talked to us like we mattered. I know no matter where you served Mr. Lacoste you gave those people something they haven't had since the war started: security, dignity and protection.

I know Bosnians all over the world are grateful to you for what you have done for us. I know that no words can make you feel better and no action can reverse what is happening to you and for that I am truly from the bottom of my heart sorry. I'm sorry I can't write this in French I am still learning. I don't know if you remember any Bosnian words but HVALA VAM ZA SVE.

Merci pour tout que vous avez fait pour moi et pour tout les Bosniaques. Je ne pourrai jamais rembourser la dette que nous vous devons. Si vous etes a Montreal sometimes I would like to take you to eat some cevapi and drink some cokta. I hope that they will bring some good memories of Bosnia for you like they do for me. If you ever want to talk this is my email, you can contact me any time I would be glad to speak to you. Good luck with your fight. I hope that you get the help you deserve. Thank you again.

Sincerely,

D. A.