I did a search, and did not come across any diary on Serbia and/or Bosnia.
I had actually seen a couple of references to this story this morning in the European news media, but didn’t pay much attention because of a tight deadline at work. Then, checking my yahoo-account just a few minutes ago – I coincidentally noticed this headline on Yahoo-news:
Serbs shocked by video of Srebrenica killings
Obviously, I had to take another look – maybe Yahoo reported it differently, or more up-to-date than what I read this morning. And I was in for a positive surprise.
More below the fold:
The link leads to a great resource page with many links, including video (which I did not check, as I am on dial-up).
Check out this article by Reuters:
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Film of paramilitary soldiers slaughtering six young Bosnian Muslim captives in 1995 has opened another crack in the wall of Serbian war crimes denial and major arrests may follow, officials said on Friday.
(snip)
“This video will mark a turning point in the minds of our public and make it easier for the government to fulfil its commitments toward the (Hague war crimes) tribunal,” said Minister for Human Rights Rasim Ljajic, a Muslim.His words are code here for the arrest of General Ratko Mladic, former commander of the Bosnian Serb army. He is indicted for genocide in Europe’s worst atrocity since World War II, the July 1995 massacre at Srebrenica of 8,000 Muslim males.
“When normal people in Serbia see this video, I think their consciences will start to work and they will put an effort into bringing the criminals to justice,” said Zumra Sahomerovic of the Sarajevo-based association of Srebrenica mothers.
Not to mention that actual action is already happening, as reported by AFP:
BELGRADE (AFP) – Eleven former Serb paramilitary troops have been arrested in Serbia and Bosnia for allegedly taking part in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of some 8,000 Muslims, after a gruesome video tipped off prosecutors, officials said.
And Carla del Ponte has more to offer:
UN chief war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte has said her office has more video evidence on the 1995 massacre of Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica.
“It will be made public only when we provide it in the court,” Ms Del Ponte said in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.
I think this reporting suggests that an important process is starting. Most of the Serbs have been shielded from the terrible truth of the civil wars of the early ’90s (late ’90s – and even today – in Kosovo). The Serbs were not alone in committing atrocities – but by their mere size and access to resources, they were more ‘effective’ in performing them. Parts of the Serbian society tradition is also to regard itself as a victim. The wide publication of these videos will puncture some illusions. Maybe we will get a ‘truth-commission’?
I’ve been a bit down this week after the French and Dutch rejections of the EU-constitution (not that I feel strongly about it – Norway is, curiously, not a member – but I like the community-idea), but this was a great upper at the end of the week. I think it is a very important step in improving security in what has been a terribly troubled region of Europe for centuries.
Sure is quiet here tonight.
Just checked ‘recent comments’ and realized that in the last hour, there were only six.
We all deserve a break – have fun over at the ‘Frivolous Friday Open Thread’ or Carnacki’s ‘Chiller’ diaries.
All I have to say is that Bosnia/Serbia/Kosovo doesn’t get a lot of attention in the press because not many people die there… but that doesn’t mean a lot of important issues are not at stake or that a re-eruption of fighting isn’t close at hand.
There were many, many atrocities and war crimes committed during both the secessionist wars (i.e. Bosnia) as well as the illegal occupation of Kosovo, some of them frankly were done by NATO and American troops. Of course American troops are exempt from the same war crimes tribunal they’re so eager to sent Mladic to…
Let’s not forget here that while Kosovo is a tenth of the size of Iraq, it is still patrolled by international “peacekeepers” and it still has not had its “final status” determined yet. Neither Bosnia OR Kosovo is even run by a local as both have a UN-appointed overseer still calling the shots (especially in Bosnia).
Releasing these videos is just stirring up more hatred and anger. Save them for the trials, if any, and let the guilty parties be sentenced. Anything else is sensationalism and it does nothing to help anyone get along with their neighbors.
The only former YU country that can be deemed a “success” is Slovenia. Hell even Vojvodina has its troubles with all those Hungarians being de facto dual citizens.
I tell you what, “colonialism” is the gift that really keeps on giving, whether the Balkans or the Indian subcontinent or Africa or Indonesia…
Pax
I don’t know what nerve I just hit with you;
That’s way beyond the intentions of my diary. And I deliberately tried to avoid bringing in too much history. I simply wanted to focus on the fact that – acccording to the reporting I refer to – there are signs of introspective behavior. Which, IMHO is very promising.
Now, explain and educate me as to why I am wrong (no sarcasm).
Really ask, I’ve got no beef with you.. I just continue to be nettled by the whole failure of the Clinton administration in the Serbian/Bosnian/Kosovo department.
I thought Clinton was a really good president and did many admirable things but I’ve got to call ’em like I see ’em and Kosovo especially was a horrific mistake. And I tend not to make any friends on sites like Boo or DKos by voicing this opinion.
I don’t see much “introspection” ongoing in the Albanian community or the Bosniak or Croatian community either. Mostly what I see is non-stop vilification of the Serbs, which while they committed many atrocities this overhypying over their evilness tends to have a reverse effect as you said, of making most Serbs feel like victims and thus whitewash their own crimes.
The best thing right now would be for the ethnic Serbs all over the world to get a spark of hope that one day things might turn out ok for them… because they’re growing desperate and cynical and that’s a bad combination. They keep getting bludgeoned with sanctions and denials or delays of EU membership and it’s all “stick” and almost no “carrot”.
As strange as this sounds, it really is the Russians who have kept some of the more violence-prone Serbian tendences in check and we owe them for this. Because a people who have nothing to life for don’t mind dying for a better life for their children… and Russia is Serbia’s last real “friend”.
I was about 100 miles from Belgrade this weekend and I sure wish I had a chance to go visit.. I’d love to see that city and assess what kind of mood the people are in these days without relying on propaganda media like B92…
Pax
Thank you, soj.
It is obvious that you have strong emotions and opinions on the issues of this region – maybe also attachment.
I do not profess to have particular insights to all the issues of the Balkans, but friends and acquaintances (many of them refugees) from various backgrounds/ethnicities of that region have provided me with sufficient background to form an opinion.
You seem to consider the release of the video material as a mistake, additional ‘harassment’ – if you will. It may have that effect on some, but IMO the net result is overwhelmingly positive. I’m encouraged to read today’s AP report:
Most Serbs were not fully aware of the crimes and atrocities committed by their leadership in the ’90s (sounds similar to something going on in a different nation today). It is necessary to come to terms with that past. That goes for the other sides in the simmering conflicts as well.
Thanks ask for writing such a courteous response.. yes the Srebenica massacres often rankle me precisely because they are often the only memory most westerners have of the Bosnian War.. and all the videotaped beheadings of Serbians are forgotten (p.s. these are available on the web).
I will admit that the videotape is awful and shocking and that I’m quite happy that the “Scorpions” involved were arrested. And I’m happy that some ordinary Serbs who were unaware of perhaps what their government did in their name are finally becoming enlightened.
However this case is a stinker in many senses:
I won’t be surprised in the least to see the U.S. State Department (Boucher) say on Monday that they praise Serbia’s “efforts” to come to grips with their past, etc.
Again, I’m glad Serbians are becoming aware of what many have denied in the past. Now let’s see some videotape from Kosovo of what the Albanians have been doing down there the past 6 years including the discovery of mass graves of Serbians, mass destruction of churches, monastaries and houses of worship, etc., and we’ll call the whole thing fair and square.
Pax
In the early to mid 90’s I still watched the Network News, and it was a non-stop vilification of Serbia, every night. They just kept pressing the outrage meter. Eventually I found myself wanting to intervene just so I wouldn’t have to watch the same damn thing on TV every night.
Why do you think we never received any good will for intervening on the side of Muslims in Yugoslavia, or for trying to give humanitarian relief to Muslims in Somalia?
As for me I can’t get out of my head the scene from Yugoslav TV on April 19 shown in MM’s Bowling for Columbine:
“22 NATO missiles fell on the village of…on the hit list were local hospital and primary school”
Bravo to PBS for showing Yugoslav TV in those days complete with translation.
Pax
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You must have enjoyed proposal US Embassy moves to ICC location?
PS DIARY RECOMMENDED!
I will follow-up with a comment to your diary which is excellent and of utmost importance to Serbs, to recognize war crimes, have those responsible tried in Serbia & Montenegro or The Hague, and set a next step to join the EU!
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
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Constantine
The Bush Crusade
PS
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
I don’t clearly understand what you are trying to demonstrate. Does it mean you agree with S. Huntington’s civilisations war?
Besides, your sources are really questionable ones: for the Battle of Poitiers, you link to a paranoid text explaining France is an antisemitic country and will be punished by God for being friend with the enemies of Israel (and the quiz is ludicrous).
And what does mean the link you provide to an extremist islamic site? do you approve what follows?
What is the Khilafah?
Dar al-Islam is the land where Islamic Law is implemented in all matters of life and ruling and whose security is maintained in the name of Islam even if its citizens are non-Muslims.
2. What is Dar al-Kufr?
Dar al-Kufr is the land where Kufr laws are implemented in matters of life and whose security is maintained in the name of Kufr even if all its citizens are Muslims. This is because the criterion of a region being Dar al-Islam or Dar al-Kufr are the laws that are implemented there, and the security by which it is protected, the criterion is not the religion of its citizens.
4. What is The Muslims Duty towards His Country?
Islam makes it a duty upon all Muslims to work to change their countries from Dar al-Kufr to Dar al-Islam, and this can be achieved by establishing the Islamic State i.e. the Khilafah, and by electing a Khaleefah and taking a bay’ah on him that he will rule by the Word of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’Ala) i.e. he will implement Islamic laws in the country where the Khilafah has been established. Then the Muslims should work with the Khilafah to combine the rest of the Islamic countries with it, hence the countries will become Dar al-Islam and they will then carry Islam to the world through invitation and jihad.
5. What is the Khilafah
The Khilafah is the global leadership for all the Muslims in the world. Its role is to establish the laws of the Islamic Shari`ah and to carry the da`wah of Islam to the world.
18. Is the Republican system an Islamic System?
The Republican system is not an Islamic system and Islam does not approve of it whether it is Presidential in nature as in the US or it is Parliamentary, as found in Germany, because the Republican system in both these forms is based on the democratic system which gives the sovereignty to the people, whilst the system of Khilafah is based on the system of Islam that gives sovereignty to the Shara’.
Emphasis is mine.
Could you explain?
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Reply to your comment
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
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No approval, just by chance came across the website, had worthwhile news on Uzbekistan and the Islamic view of the battle. That is why I warned: FWIW.
The one item in poll caught my attention – a brief lull in 800 years of war and unrest. I tried to recall and point to crucial moments in history for great change and where civilizations clashed. Moment and place of utmost importance, building a foundation of society for the next century.
No need to search for a deeper meaning, it was not intended so and no theory is being advocated. I do appreciate your insight in content.
The links to websites is very arbitrary, alternately from a Western and an Islamic view. I did not study the website in detail, just tried to find some historic INFO for the dates I searched.
Poitiers is recognized as the turning point, where the Muslim movement was stopped moving north. Saladin must be mentioned in combination with the Crusades. The year 1492 was the defeat at Grenada, Cordoba was mentioned by me because of the magnificent Mosque and the recent agreement between the Catholic and Muslim community. The Balkans has seen clashes for centuries, where East and West meet and settle their differences through war and by battle. Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand would visit Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, and was assassinated in 1914.
Bush, by choice, has established a new theater of war in Iraq. An event, that will be remembered for decades, and has become a part of our history. It wasn’t in 2001, but now has evolved into a clash of civilizations.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
I understand you intention to put today’s events in a broader historical perspective, but you should select your sources more carefully: the first link leads to the site of a strange group named “Sabbatarian network” and looks like a sect…
And chosing certain events rather than others gives, even unintentionnally, a certain sense.
You could as well have pointed to:
313: Edict of Milan: Christianism becomes relgion of the State.
640-680: Conquest of North Africa by the Arabs (the Christian Berbers resisted a long time)
711: Conquest of Spain (Al-Andalous) by the Muslim Berbers
1088-91: Capture of Sicilia and Malta by tne Normans
1095-98: First crusade preached by Urban II and capture of Jerusalem
….
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No comparison in historical knowledge ◊ thank you for exquisite contribution!
A lesson taught is knowledge earned. History is indeed a profession.
If only we could ...edit or delete an entry.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
To include the northern side of mediterranean, I should have added:
1520-29: Conquest of central Europe by the Turks and siege of Vienna
All this explains many factors that still weigh on today’s situations…