Bosnia, Jul 12: Bosnians commemorated on Saturday the massacre of about 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica, marking the 25th anniversary of killings that shocked the world and have stood out as Europe's only atrocity since World War Two constituting genocide.
Nine newly identified victims were buried at a flower-shaped cemetery near the town, where tall white tombstones mark the graves of 6,643 other victims.
"After 25 years we succeeded in finding his mortal remains, so they can be laid to their final rest," said Fikret Pezic, who buried his father Hasan.
The remains of some 1,000 victims of the massacre in the eastern town during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war are still missing.
Ifeta Hasanovic decided to bury incomplete remains of her husband, saying: "We were aware they cannot be complete after 25 years, at least there are some, I did not want to make any new delays."
World leaders addressed the ceremony by video link, unable to attend because of coronavirus epidemic. Instead of the tens of thousands visitors who typically attend the commemoration each year, only a few thousand came after organisers banned organised visits.
During the Bosnian war, Bosnian Serb forces pushed non-Serbs out of territories they sought for their Serb statelet. Fleeing Muslims took shelter in several eastern towns, including Srebrenica, that were designated as United Nations "safe zones".
On July 11, 1995, the Serb forces commanded by General Ratko Mladic overran Srebrenica, which was protected by lightly armed Dutch peacekeepers.
They sent women and children away and captured and executed the men and boys they found. The bodies were dumped into mass graves and later exhumed by U.N. investigators and used as evidence in war crimes trials of Bosnian Serb leaders.
"We grieve with the families that tirelessly seek justice for the 8,000 innocent lives lost, all these years later," said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Washington brokered Bosnia's peace deal months after the massacre.
Most people at the commemoration were Muslim Bosniaks, reflecting conflicting narratives about the bloodshed - which hinders reconciliation nearly 25 years after the end of war in which about 100,000 people were killed.
The U.N. war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia convicted Mladic and his political chief Radovan Karadzic over Srebrenica genocide but they remained heroes for Serbs, many of whom deny that genocide happened.
On Saturday, the Serbs in the nearby town of Bratunac organised an event marking July 11 as the "Srebrenica Liberation Day".
Sefik Dzaferovic, the Bosniak chairman of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, called for legislation that would ban denial of genocide.
"There can be no trust as long as we witness attacks on the truth, denial of genocide and glorification and celebration of executors," Dzaferovic told the commemoration gathering.
Comments
today TRUMP ..tomorrow SUNNY LEION ...no doubt about that
and interested thing is TRUMP married thrice ... can cheddis ?
TRUMP likes to eat COW MATA and PIG BABA ... do they like?
one more interested thing is his grand father FREDRICK TRUMP was barber and owner of hotels and BROTHELS ....
Trump likes to have BEEF with cake, they forgot to bring it in the Party, Sena he is a BEEF (MATA) eater. Careful buddies!!!
This clearly shows that chaddis are anti nationals.
Because they are celebrating the birthday of one person who always hate Indians and scolded Indians many times.
Don't be surprised if these chaddis forget RAM Mandir and start demanding Trump Mandir...
How sad......what more can be expected from worshippers of Godse
This is what happens when some people remain illeterate. please my dear friends send your children to school, educate them, highly qualified to atleast understand what is right and wrong, so we will not see such kind of stupid brithday celebration in our future generations.
Good news....
Childrens be prepared for one more National Holiday (TRUMP JAYANTHI) in india.
Shameless Creatures....
Muslims are so powerful....chuddies (Trump) are scared......
he will ask \who r u ? touble mongers?"
Wonderful celebration by the RSS/ SEENA Mongers, these Buffoons thinking what??? Once Master Donald elected then he will teach Goonda Sennas A good lessons because he is Americians, these Cruel Baboon's not yet understand these American's, Puppet of Arabs, they will not believe you Poor Nasty's, they need money they are behind of money my dear Sena Criminals, spend poor people money for celebrating his Birthday totally waste and angry with your Neighbour friends made Dushman!!!!!! you criminals never and ever improve, feel like you Forgotten your died leader.
Jai Hoo Hindustan.
AFTER WINNING THE ELECTIONS TRUMP WILL CONVERT ALL CHADDIS INTO HIS MANGA JAATI.
Finaliy the RSS parivar proovd that hitler is the grand father and his belover is the father of the parivar.any how they not celebreated thire on father birthday so enjoy this tyip of stupid birthday,jai hoooooooooooooo
Now they forget to celeberate death anniversary of Late Takre.
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