Thousands Commemorate 1995 Srebrenica Genocide in Bosnia amid Lingering Ethnic Tensions

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In memory of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, recognized as Europe’s sole acknowledged genocide since World War II, a solemn peace march commenced on Saturday through the forests of eastern Bosnia.

This annual march, covering a distance of 100 kilometers (60 miles), retraces the path taken by thousands of men and boys from the Bosniak ethnic group, predominantly consisting of Muslims. Tragically, they were mercilessly slaughtered while attempting to escape Srebrenica after it fell under the control of Bosnian Serb forces in the final years of the 1992-1995 war.

The march serves as a precursor to several commemorative events scheduled for July 11, the actual date of the massacre.

In this year’s march, nearly 4,000 participants joined, as reported by organizers. However, the event takes place amidst ongoing ethnic tensions, with Bosnian Serbs persistently advocating for increased independence and openly calling for separation.

Resid Dervisevic, who had previously traversed this route in 1995, expressed, “I come here to honor the memory of my brother, friends, and fellow warriors who perished in this place. It is our duty, my duty, to preserve and safeguard these memories.”

Osman Salkic, another survivor of the Srebrenica massacre, shared his mixed emotions, saying, “When you arrive here, in this place, and remember how people lay here lifeless in 1995, the contrast with the present situation creates a range of feelings.”

The Bosnian War erupted in 1992 following the dissolution of Yugoslavia, with Bosnian Serbs initiating a rebellion and land seizures to establish their own state and unite with Serbia. The war claimed the lives of over 100,000 individuals before ending in 1995 through a peace agreement brokered by the United States.

In July 1995, over 8,000 Bosniak males were forcibly separated from their wives, mothers, and sisters by Serb troops, pursued through the surrounding woods of Srebrenica, and brutally killed. The bodies of the victims were dumped in various mass graves scattered throughout the eastern town in an attempt to conceal the evidence of the heinous crime.

Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the carnage in Bosnia was regarded as the worst in Europe since World War II. Concerns have been raised that the separatist policies of pro-Russian Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik could exacerbate instability as the conflict continues in Ukraine.

Despite the rulings of two United Nations courts, Dodik vehemently denies that genocide occurred in Srebrenica, even as the remains of newly identified victims are regularly discovered from mass graves. Each year, on July 11, the day the killings began in 1995, these remains are reburied.

Radovan Karadzic, the wartime Bosnian Serb political leader, and Ratko Mladic, the former military commander, have both been sentenced to life in prison by the U.N. war crimes court in The Hague, Netherlands, for orchestrating the genocide.

To date, more than 6,600 individuals have been found and laid to rest at an extensive memorial cemetery located outside Srebrenica. On Tuesday, an additional 30 victims’ remains will be interred there.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Srebrenica genocide

More about Srebrenica genocide

• Srebrenica massacre – Wikipedia
• Bosnian War – Wikipedia
• Srebrenica Genocide Memorial
• United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina – United Nations
• Bosnian Serb Leader Milorad Dodik – BBC News