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
If it is so, why did'nt she came out when the incident took place.
If she was scared then, how she became bold now?
Such kind of blacksheep are found in all religions.
And if the priest is guilty then he must be punished as per law of the land.
I was just trying to think what kind of punishment we can give to this rapist.....first and foremost thing is his wife has been committed suicide...for that he did not get punishment....now raped this girl....she will have to face the society with baby which will come up in the near future....
best punishment for this crime is \hang him till death\""
Backstabbing the nation is the biggest crime. This is apparently not a rape. This is consensual sex. May be that woman is used as a bait by anti nationals.
Dear Viren , After this also do you think he is nationalist ? To become natiolist they should qualify by this type of test? Acche Din Already as promised!!!
.............ne walon ko parameshwari ma ke temple mein kue bitaya....
Looks like the troll,who tell this as their internal matter is hand in gloves with the priest or the blackmailer....he must be grilled
Ha Ha Ha Ha...This is called Viren Joke...Viren please list the people and the Crime which belong to ur Internal onces.So that no one in future will Comment on them.
One is Cleared RAPE and RAPIST is ur Internal.NEXT....
stone him to death if he is really a rapist
shame on u, dont call him priest please for god sake.
look at his face, by seeing his face only we can make out he s big proud, should enquir him properly. he stolen many gold jewellery from temple.
now a days for personal grudge some people will do like this. please enquiry on to this simply putting accused photo without clarification its against the law :)
Mr. Kotian Saheb, those who are raping women and those who are supporting these rapists are National, and those who are opposing these evil act are anti national.
Never mind we are anti national for those Desh aur dharm drohi's.
Women is our mother and our sisters.
this kind of human should be banned to enter temple. really black dot of society,
this should be stone to death if allegation against him are true.
No Bajarangi is speaking exept Kotian ? It is his internal matter,
Does Kotian will give the unborn chid his name as father ?
every religion priest are same. they do one thing and tell us to do other things. they only not following which s must.
Why people started screaming. This is our internal matter. anti nationals need not to interfere.
Temple Priest again....
Those who are intelligent should understand surely its not a divine place were many priest are caught in such evil acts specailly with girls.. If girls are not active & did not recognize the DIVINE option of COVERING their beauty to strangers... More of such incidents will follow in near future by these evil innocent looking foxes...
Now be careful ladies.... you are asking permission to go all the temples. Never mind you can go but go along with your blood relation men. Duniya Kharaab hain. Even you are not safe in temple or mandir. There are many Swamiji's were in India facing these charges. You know very well.
In 1400 years before Prophet Mohammed guided that any women who wish to go outside (such as market, mosque etc.) to accompany their blood relation men.
Inquisitive to see Comments from Kotians and like minded trolls
WAKE UP guys! Cheddi will twist this reality & U honest hindus will accept it as it is... Please dont support the culprits who are involved in crime of our girls.... Protect the girls which ever religions it is... Stop supporting the CULPRITS who alwz twist the realities.
Never FEAR this people - FEAR only the one who created U & ME. When U fear the one who gave us soul... our fear for CREATION will become WEAK>>>
Shameless People....Throw him out of Country.Ban him from India.This is what we call Intolerance.Being a priest in a reputed and Historic place how could he do such shameless act.Innocent girl should get Justice.
Pitty on his 20 year old Daughter.
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