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
Shame on Indian police for registering this kind of cases as even they know this has no basis in constitution.
they supported a cricket or sports team... even I supported UAE Team..I have my right to support any sports team..
PLEASE SEND SRI SRI RAVI SHANKER TO PAKISTANN PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE
IF HINDHU SAY THAT IS NABOUR CONUTY
IF MUSLIM SAYS HE IS TERROR ACCHE DIN WHA WHA /.
Hope all have gone through below news about shouting slogan in favor of pakistan by Sri Sri ravi shankar ... why you people have not commented on that ....
Pakistan Zindabad....india belong to muslim they ruled for 1000 years, we will take back glory soon.
Mohan; Sharvan, Preethi, Meghana...
Please open your mind and dont fall trap over & over on cheddi media... if You try to accept whatever said in the media again & again even after knowing their LIES ... What should we call U guys...
Dont just make Howdu basava howdu ... for everything which is said in the media ...Use your God given intellectual and stop supporting the aggressor ... cos a day will come when the one who gave this life will account for our deeds done in this LIFE... So stop supporting the aggressor without true knowledge which U might regret later ... as many regretted after becoming voilence with a false statement from the cheddi leaders
Yes these students does not know about what they are talking.
They should be kept behind the bar.
By the way what happened to SRI SRI art of living Swamy who said Pakistan Zindabad??? is he arrested.??
Indians can support any country in any game but when any match is having indian team they should support only india.
@ MEHHNA , PREETHI ,SHARAVAN, MOHAN, KARTHIK ,,
YES WE NEED TO PUNISH THEM HARD , SEND THEM TO PAKISTAN.. EVERYTHING WE WILL DO WT U SAID
SRI SRI SRI RAVI SHANKER SHOULD GO TOGETHER WITH THEM, WE WIL BOOK 3 SEATS IN FLIGHT L
Constitution did not tell citizens to support only Indian team. There is no law saying that, then why on the hell police arrested those innocent people and under which law. In a democracy you have right to chose or support any one you want. Its not a big deal. Pakistan is not our enemy at all, Modiji without informing anyone met Nawaz Sharief, Pakistani PM. It happened because of our friendliness with that country.
I am a good supporter of our Indian team but it does not mean that I impose same on other fellow Indians too.
Grow up guys.
When SRI SRI Shankar said Pakistan Zindabad no action, no arrest,
when a muslim said he is arrested.
INCRIDIBLE INDIA ! WHERE SRI SRI CAN CALL PUBLIC MEETS ! STUDENT JUST TYPED IN WHATSAPP THEY ARE ARRESTED !!
WHEN IS SRI SRI ARREST ! ??????????????/////
if they raised slogans in favor of our arch rival, than take strict action against them. But Please don't touch Desh Bhakt like Ravi shanker !
Send Sri Ravishanker along with Two students from puttur to Pakisthan...Law should be equal for all.Do not bring religion in between.
there is no muslim commentors now ... these two terrorists must be kicked out of india along with their families ... soole maklige they want all benefits here and loyalty to pakistan ... no mercy for these animals .muslims here give big lecturer about religion , but they dont teach manners and basics for their community members .
Yes Mohan should send them pakistan with Ravi sankar...
DEAR PRO-CHADDIS.....
WILL YOU SEND ME SOUTH AFRICA AND ENGLAND IF I SUPPORT HASHIM AMLA AND MOEEN ALI?????
WHEN YOU WILL SEND SRI SRI RAVISHANKAR PAKISTAN FOR CHANTING PAKISTAN ZINDABAD???? WHY NO ACTION ON HIM????
serious action must be taken against them. india the country of peace loving and this type of people misunderstood us for being soft, one thing always should be on head that how much soft we are double to that we could be hard rock.
Pakistan zindabad is slogan of owaisi chaddis. not Bharath matha ki Jai
Now a days its common, need to give proper punishment next time they have to think hundred times before calling this.
both student must be sent to the pakistan, the two dogs of pakistan
me before india started batting: hahahaha we got this wtf pakistAN ZINDABAD
me now: we are brothers and sisters we both win in 1947.....
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