Bosnia marks 25th anniversary of Srebrenica Genocide

SREBRENICA, Bosnia Herzegovina 

Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday marked the 25th anniversary of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide, bidding farewell to nine newly identified victims of the massacre at a memorial service.

Every year on July 11, newly identified victims of the genocide are laid to rest at a memorial cemetery in Potocari, eastern Bosnia. Thousands of visitors from various countries attend the service.

The memorial center is the focal point of remembrance for friends and relatives of the victims, mostly men and boys, murdered by Bosnian Serb militias.

At this year’s ceremony, world leaders sent video messages on the anniversary of the genocide being marked under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was among the leaders who sent a message.

Erdogan said that although a quarter of a century has passed since the genocide, our pain is still fresh.

“Although I am not physically among you because of the coronavirus, my feelings and thoughts are always in Bosnia, always with you,” he added.

“We will never forget our martyrs nor the genocide in Srebrenica,” Erdogan said.

The Turkish president concluded his address with a message that Turkey and the Turkish people stand by Bosnia and Herzegovina.

‘Terrible reality’

Sefik Dzaferovic, the Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia, said that Srebrenica has become synonymous with the suffering of innocent people, and the crime committed was called by the only real name — genocide.

“Today, we are here in the Potocari valley of sorrow and pain to see off together the remains of nine innocent victims, some of whom were young men, killed only because they […] were Bosniaks,” Dzaferovic said.

“Today, 25 years later, the whole civilized world has become aware of the scale of the crime committed and the mistakes made,” said Dzaferovic.

Slovenian President Borut Pahor in his video message said the key for the future of Bosnia “is truth and not denial.”

“We cannot change the past, but we can change the future. For the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the key is truth and not denial, respect and not hatred, open dialogue and not quarrel,” Pahor said.

Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic said the Srebrenica Genocide is a common shame for all those who did not prevent it.

“It is a testimony to the terrible reality of a bloody war, an eternal warning and reminder to all our people that without the truth of the past there is no peaceful or secure future,” said Djukanovic.

Salko Ibisevic, who was only 23 when he was killed, was the youngest victim to be buried this year. Hasan Pezic, the oldest, was 70, and was laid to rest in this year’s ceremony.

Commemorations 

Also at the historic bridge in Mostar — an iconic multi-faith city — people gathered on Thursday to throw white lilies into the Neretva River, symbolizing the innocence of the genocide’s victims.

Elsewhere, hundreds of motorcyclists from across Europe held a procession from the country’s capital Sarajevo to Srebrenica to commemorate the victims.

More than 300 bicyclists from across the country also gathered in the northern city of Bihac to honor the victims. A group of 10 bicyclists on Monday also took off from Austria’s capital Vienna.

On Wednesday, a three-day peace march in Zvornik to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica began under the shadow of COVID-19.

SREBRENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – JULY 11: Relatives of Srebrenica Genocide victims are seen at the Srebrenica–Potocari Memorial during the burial of recently identified remains of 9 victims on the 25th anniversary of Srebrenica Genocide on July 11, 2020 in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. ( Samır Jordamovıc – Anadolu Agency )

Traditionally thousands of people from all over the world come to the Bosnian town of Nezuk every year to participate in the march. This year, it started from Crni Vrh near Zvornik, as new COVID-19 cases were recently detected in Nezuk.

The participants marched for three days, and spent nights at designated areas before concluding at a cemetery in Potocari, where the funeral prayer and burial ceremony were held for nine victims.

Since 2005, thousands of people have attended the Mars Mira — which means Peace March in Bosnian — following the same forest path used by the Bosniaks when they were fleeing the Srebrenica Genocide.

More than 8,300 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed after Bosnian Serb forces attacked the UN “safe area” of Srebrenica in July 1995, despite the presence of Dutch troops tasked with acting as international peacekeepers.

Srebrenica was besieged by Serb forces who were trying to wrest territory from Bosnian Muslims and Croats to form their own state.

The UN Security Council had declared Srebrenica a “safe area” in the spring of 1993. However, Serb troops led by Gen. Ratko Mladic — later found guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide — overran the UN zone.

The Dutch troops failed to act as Serb forces occupied the area, killing about 2,000 men and boys on July 11 alone. Some 15,000 Srebrenica people fled into the surrounding mountains, but Serb troops hunted down and killed 6,000 of them in the forests.AA

 

Also read-

1 COMMENT

  1. It was distressing, horrendous, convulsive, and lamentable to view the “melancholy surroundings” which was intermittently and intentionally perpetuated by the so-called “Serbian Militias” against the unarmed Muslim brethren of Bosnia Herzegovina and Croatia. It was so pathetic to watch such horrible scenarios committed against them, which can be assumed as cold-blooded slayings of which I had looked through the televisions with heaves and sighs. The renowned hard-core terrorist militia stalwart; Radwan Karadzic and Slobodan Milosevic were the main culprits of those who were trying to annihilate our brothers in “Former Yugoslavia”. Nowadays; in India also, the same volatile programs are being planned by the minority ‘brahminical Hindutva Fascists” in order to take vengeance against the Indian minorities; such as the Muslims, the Christians, and Dalits as well, even though the “Brahminical Ideologues are the real invaders who had entered into India through porous Himalayan mountainous regions. It is quite essential to suppress these Minority “Fascist Saffron Goons” before it is too late.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Stories

Bosnian Muslims observed “Srebrenica Genocide” Anniversary”

0
US and Europe knew but refused to prevent the genocide . By Latheef Farook Early this month Bosnian Muslims observed the twenty eighth anniversary of the...

Srebrenica Genocide : A cruelty against humanity

0
By Shabeeb Muhammed July 11 was the anniversary of Srebrenica genocide. It was considered as one of the worst massacres in Europe afer the 2nd...

Silence falls over Srebrenica memorial cemetery after day of tearful farewells

0
SREBRENICA, Bosnia: Silence fell over the Potocari Memorial Cemetery on Sunday evening after a day of tearful farewells for 19 more victims of the...

We are Gau Mata country: Himanta on DMK MP’s comment

Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said India is a “Gau Mata” country and asserted that there is no dispute...

‘Here to make it easier for Muslims in India to go to Makkah, Madinah”: Saudi Minister of Hajj

New Delhi : Saudi Minister of Haj and Umrah Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah on Wednesday said “We are here to make it easier for...

31 years after Babri Mosque demolition: Perpetrators rule India

By Shamsul Islam Criminal Hindutva perpetrators instead of being punished rule India The RSS-BJP government of India led by a seasoned RSS whole-timer, Narendra Modi has...

Indian Army Major dismissed for ‘ties with Pakistani intelligence operative’

An Indian Army Major, who was recently dismissed from service by the President in October, is alleged to have been in contact with a...

Postpone probe into madrasas: UP madrasa board to Yogi govt

Lucknow : Following the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to initiate a probe into the availability of basic facilities and competent teachers at state-funded madrasas,...

Turkey, Qatar sign 12 agreements, issue joint declaration after high strategic committee meeting

DOHA, Qatar : Turkey and Qatar on Monday signed 12 cooperation agreements in various fields and the joint declaration of the 9th meeting of...

Anti-terror case: NIA searches in 5 J&K districts

Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out searches at several places in five districts of Kashmir valley as part of a...

Almost 1.9M Palestinian displaced across Gaza Strip since Oct. 7: UN

ISTANBUL : Almost 1.9 million people, or over 80% of the population, have been displaced across the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, the UN...

Modi will become PM for third time: Badruddin Ajmal

Guwahati : All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief, Badruddin Ajmal said that the BJP’s victory in the three state Assembly elections have proved...

Saudi Arabia gears up to deliver world-class services to Hajj and Umrah performers

By Tareq Wahab In recognition of its historical obligation and with a deep sense of honor, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques government has...

Afghan tragedy unfolds in Pakistan

By Asad Mirza For the last two months the international attention has been focussed on the continuing Gaza crisis, yet in its background another human...

2022 sees 24% rise in crime against women, minors, SC/ST: NCRB report

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recently released its comprehensive data for 2022, shedding light on the surge in crime against women, children, Schedule...

Hindu young women will lose rights if they marry Muslims: Karnataka BJP leader

Dakshina Kannada : BJP leader Malavika Avinash asserted that Hindu young women who marry a Muslim would lose their rights. She also raised questions about...

Is the party now over for Mayawati and BSP in UP?

Lucknow : The Bahujan Samaj Party has miserably failed to arrest its downslide in politics. The BSP failed to open its account in Chhattisgarh, Madhya...

FIR against Kafeel Khan for ‘objectionable’ content in his book

Lucknow : A case has been registered against Kafeel Khan, a former doctor at the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, and five unidentified people...