Srebrenica Genocide Commemorations Mark 30 Years Since Europe's Worst Atrocity Since WWII

Strategic Insights -

Thousands of mourners gathered in Srebrenica on Friday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the genocide committed by Bosnian Serb forces, which resulted in the deaths of over 8,000 Muslim men and boys. The victims were buried in mass graves, and only about 7,000 have been identified and buried so far, with approximately 1,000 still missing. Families of the victims are still waiting for the remains of their loved ones to be found, and many are hoping to visit the graves to find some comfort.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Srebrenica genocide, committed by Bosnian Serb forces, resulted in the deaths of over 8,000 Muslim men and boys.
  • About 7,000 victims have been identified and buried, while approximately 1,000 are still missing.
  • Families of the victims are still waiting for the remains of their loved ones to be found, with some hoping to visit the graves to find comfort.
  • The Bosnian Serb forces had the remains removed to secondary mass graves, causing many of the bodies to be shredded by heavy machinery.
  • Bosnian Serb wartime political and military leaders Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic were sentenced to life imprisonment for the Srebrenica genocide.
  • Serbia and Bosnian Serb leaders continue to deny that the massacre was a genocide.
  • An international day of remembrance was established by the United Nations to mark the Srebrenica genocide, despite protests from Belgrade and Bosnian Serbs.
  • The remains of most of the victims are incomplete, with some consisting of only one or two bones.
  • Families have been waiting for years to bury their loved ones, hoping that more remains would be found.

Statistics:

  • Over 8,000 Muslim men and boys killed by Bosnian Serb forces.
  • 7,000 victims identified and buried so far.
  • Approximately 1,000 victims still missing.
  • Only 30% of the remains have been identified.
  • Over 70% of the victims' families are still waiting for the remains of their loved ones to be found.

Sources:

  • A Canadian veteran, Daniel Chenard, who deployed with UN peacekeepers in 1993-1994
  • Munira Subasic, president of the association Mothers of Srebrenica, who lost her husband and son in the massacre.
  • Mevlida Omerovic, 55, whose husband Hasib was killed in one of the five mass-execution sites.
  • Sefika Mustafic, whose sons Enis and Salim were killed in the massacre.
  • AFP news agency.