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.
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But BJP was able to do it in UP and Gujarat since EC is in its pocket
After model code of conduct came into existence in Karnataka, Congress crooks are not able to distribute money (both black money & fake currency) freely to get people for Pappu rallies like before.
Why can’t the idiot understand that Kannadigas have no interest in meeting him to listen to his nonsense.
Because it is a BJP stronghold and naturally communally sensitive region!
"Rahul asked party workers not to brag about their achievements and the
achievements of ministers, but to focus on key issues of each region
that ensure victory"
Is there anything to brag? And, he is advising to focus on key issues, now, during the election time? What were they doing for last 5 years?
Congress has change for its own good. Party party hierarchy, should be strong. The party must have zero tolerance on Corruption in the name of Party funds. Collect money from ministerial aspirants and Chairmen of statutory boards. Why other parties speak lightly about Congress is due to situation that is prevailing in the Congress. Native Congressmen are sidelined with migrated defected leaders. No one is listening or giving chances to hear views. This time Congress will learn a hard lesson for sidelining devout and loyal Congress leaders and giving prominence of migrants. Even senior leaders like Mr.Jaffar Sheriff and Moily are sidelined. Mr. S.M. Krishna left the party due to not giving importance to his seniority or experience. Now one after the other will start leaving the Congress after out come of the elections in Karnataka.
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