The planning of a permanent memorial was memorialisation as a means of symbolic reparation
plagued by conflicts. Massive consultations on and recognition is overshadowing other more
remembrance included all levels of Belgium (very pressing needs and demands of the survivors
complex) government. It resulted with a plan for and victims’ families. The issues of reparations,
a memorial for all the victims of terrorist attacks access to medical care and adequate psychological
(not only of the attacks in Brussels) to “allow the support are some of their key concerns. A young
relatives of the victims, survivors and citizens to girl that survived the Maelbeek metro attack told
gather and remember.” A call for proposals was me, “commemorations are like a political memorial
launched already six months after the attacks and circus. Everyone is here to remember that day, to
a monument ordered for a sum of 100.000 euro. hold our hands and take picture. But I have to live
Many survivors and local residents questioned the with this by the rest of my life. I am reliving that
decisions of the Government, namely the cost and day 365 days per year.” The role of politics, in her
location of the monument. Belgian decision-makers view, is to acknowledge their tragedy and injustice
opted to install the monument in the European suffered by providing protection and reparation,
Quarter, thus far from the actual places of tragedy taking care of their needs and ensuring security
(Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro station) and for the community – and to a lesser extent to
certainly not in the city centre that emerged as a commemorate.
symbol of post-attacks remembrance.
The unveiling of the monument at Schuman Square
was another moment of division and delusion
for some of the survivors in Brussels. Besides
its questionable aesthetics ( de gustibus non
disputandum est), the survivors were disappointed
because the names of the victims were not engraved
onto the monument. “It’s too neutral, it doesn’t
communicate and it’s clearly not saying what
happened and how it happened” – says one of
the survivors of the Zaventem bombings. For the
victims it is very hard to identify with “impersonal
memorial” that offers “no reading of the tragedy.”
Unveiling of a memorial plaque at the Zaventem
Airport and attending the commemoration at the
Maelbeek metro were also very emotional moments
for the survivors and victims’ families. Every return
to the site of the crime, even for the reason of
commemorating, stirs up very strong feelings that
some of the survivors are not ready to relive yet.
Many interviewed survivors don’t harbour any
illusion that a memorial in Brussels will help the
healing process, provide them some closure, or
even a sort of relief. Still, they believe that having
a memorial is useful to “leave a footprint of these
terrible events in history.” Yet, overemphasis on
62
Observing Memories
ISSUE 2
The monument at Schuman Square in Brussels. The survivors were dis-
appointed because the names of the victims were not engraved onto the
monument | Ana Milošević