The war in Bosnia began in March 1992 and did not end until November 1995, the worst tragedy of the Bosnian war was the three day massacre in the city of Srebrinca, in eastern Bosnia, from July 11 -14, 1995. In April 1993, the United Nations declared Srebrenica a UN safe area, and it was guarded by a small unit operating under the mandate of United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the soldiers were Dutch and at the time of the massacre only numbered around 30, however the town was captured by the Army of Republika Srpska. The Srebrinca Genocide still haunts many, as the bodies of the estimated 8,000 men and boys that where killed, are still continuing to be identified. The Srebrinca genocide was also the largest single genocide in Europe, or ethnic cleansing, since World War II, and one more tragedy which the world turned a blind eye to. The main target of the massacre was Bosniak (Muslim Bosnian's) boys and men, who's ages ranged from 16-60 years old, however a number of younger boys, women, elderly and children, where also murdered during the bloody three day siege.
The story of the war in Bosnia, and the pursuing genocide in Srebrinca, is both complex and simple, for the town once bore little evidence of Serb nationalism, ethnic or religious tensions. With a Muslim majority at the time of the war, around 70%, the 1991 census has it at almost 64%, the town soon became almost entirely Serb following the massacre.
The marking of the 12th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide began on Sunday, July 8, with a three-day march from Nezuk in Sapna Municipality to Potocari, over the same route Srebrenica citizens used to escape to Tuzla in 1995. On July 11, a mass burial of approximately 450 identified bodies will take place.
BBC Coverage of the March on July 8, 2007
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Many Srebrenica citizens who temporarily moved to Sarajevo in April have made the decission to evacuate their tent settlement by the end of the week, most are planning to return to Srebrenica. Entity governments will take part in financing Fund for Support to Missing Persons' Families. The Bosnia Herzegovina (BiH) Missing Persons Institute (MPI) hopes that identifying missing persons' remains will continue to increase, will now go much faster. The BiH Council of Ministers has also adopted some proposals that will assist in implementing programs regarding abusive police officers, the list was sent by the United Nations Security Council President, and the BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, has been asked to forward the statement to all relevant institutions.
Genocide is a crime against humanity, and no one can escape its effects, but the ones who suffer the most from genocide are the children. Remember the fatherless children, the mother's still morning their sons, many who where only young children.
As this article does not delve deep into the history of the war in Bosnia, or the Srebrinca Genocide, the following BBC in depth report, which aired on #, is well worth watching and will give you most of the background information you need. Unfortunately a full clip was unable to be obtained and it is in 5 parts, each running around 9 minutes.
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Links:
Dutch commander says U.N., NATO abandoned peacekeepers
Srebrinca Genocide Blog
'srebrenica’, Code Word to Silence Critics of US Policy in the Balkans
The Real Srebrinca Genocide Blogspot
Lessons of the Srebrinca Genocide
Human Rights Watch – Bosnia-Hercegovina Genocide Conviction for Srebrenica
Srebrenica Genocide Mass Graves
