The Bosnian Genocide
Background |
|
After Yugoslavia’s creation post World War I, the nation was mainly composed of Christian Slavs, with a noticeable ethnic Muslim minority. Following the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers in 1943, the country came under control of Josip Tito who established an authoritarian style leadership in the country. In the 1980’s, the Yugoslavian economy began to suffer from numerous hardships. This fact coupled with the emergence of nationalism within ethnic groups made a breakup of the country in the near future imminent. Following the Slovenian and Croatian declarations of independence, a divide developed in Bosnia on the issue of whether to stay with Yugoslavia (mainly supported by the Serbs) or to separate (supported by the Bosnians and Croatians). Following this, the Serb members of the parliament, split and formed the Assembly of the Serb People of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A declaration of independence was then submitted on October 15th, 1991, and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was admitted into the United Nations on May 22nd, 1992. Tensions began to quickly escalate between the Bosnians and the Serbs, and Serb forces began attacking non-Serb civilians in Eastern Bosnia. The Bosnian War had now officially begun
After Yugoslavia’s creation post World War I, the nation was mainly composed of Christian Slavs, with a noticeable ethnic Muslim minority. Following the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers in 1943, the country came under control of Josip Tito who established an authoritarian style leadership in the country. In the 1980’s, the Yugoslavian economy began to suffer from numerous hardships. This fact coupled with the emergence of nationalism within ethnic groups made a breakup of the country in the near future imminent. Following the Slovenian and Croatian declarations of independence, a divide developed in Bosnia on the issue of whether to stay with Yugoslavia (mainly supported by the Serbs) or to separate (supported by the Bosnians and Croatians). Following this, the Serb members of the parliament, split and formed the Assembly of the Serb People of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A declaration of independence was then submitted on October 15th, 1991, and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was admitted into the United Nations on May 22nd, 1992. Tensions began to quickly escalate between the Bosnians and the Serbs, and Serb forces began attacking non-Serb civilians in Eastern Bosnia. The Bosnian War had now officially begun
People
Slobodan Milosevic
A Serbian nationalist, the policies and actions of Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic are often recognized as one of the greatest contributes to the breakup of the country. Milosevic joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia when he was 18 years old eventually entering politics full time in 1984. Milosevic quickly rose to the head of The League of Communists of Serbia, and introduced a new political style to Serbia in an attempt to revive the failing Yugoslav economy. In 1991, Milosevic faced opposition from Croatian and Slovenian leaders who wanted Yugoslavia to transform into a confederation. Following the Slovenian, Croatian, and Macedonian declarations of independence, the Bosniaks and Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina also voted to succeed. Milosevic then backed Serbian militia groups who fought to united Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia into one. The fighting continued for three years until the Croatian Army drove out the Serbians, leading to a peace accord in 1995, ending the fighting in Bosnia. Milosevic was eventually tried under international law for charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes with the trial set to begin in February of 2002. The trial was set back numerous times due to the poor health of Milosevic, and on March 11th, 2006, Milosevic was found dead in his prison cell.
Ratko Mladic
Widely believed to have perpetrated the Srebrenica Massacre, Ratko Mladic was a Bosnian Serb military leader who commanded the Bosnian Serb army during the Yugoslav Civil War. In May of 1992, Mladic was assigned to take command of the Second Military District for Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital. In the span of a few short days, the assembly of the Bosnian Serb Republic appointed him commander of the Bosnian Serb Army. During the Siege of Sarajevo, Mladic played a large role in the artillery, rifle, and sniper fire which rained on the city for three and half years. Following the order of Bosnian Serb president Radovan Karadzic to "create an unbearable situation of total insecurity", Mladic was present at the Srebrenica Massacre, overseeing the atrocities that occurred there. After the conflict, Mladic was tried by the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia) for genocide and crimes against humanity. Following the extradition of Milosevic to the Hague in 2001, Mladic disappeared. Mladic was not seen again until May of 2011, in which Serbian agents located him in Lazarevo, a small village north of Belgrade. Mladic was extradited to the Hague and went on trial for war crimes in May of 2012.
Radovan Karadzic
The leader of a self proclaimed Serbian republic within Bosnia, Radovan Karadzic was one of the key supporters of the removal of non-Serb people from Bosnia. After becoming president of the Bosnian Serb republic, Karadzic began to take control of parts of Bosnia and started his campaign to purge all non-Serb peoples. Supported by Milosevic, Mladic, and the Serbian Press, Karadzic pursued brutal military policies within Bosnia. In 1995, Karadzic was indicted him for crimes that included rape, murder, and genocide. As the leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Karadzic was held responsible for the ethnic cleansing that occurred over this time period. Furthermore, Karadzic ordered the massacre at Srebrenica, eventually carried out by Ratko Mladic. Post-war, Karadzic went into hiding, eventually being arrested near Belgrade in 2008. Despite his status as a war criminal, Karadzic successfully published a book, and was able to garner support from Serbian nationalists. Karadzic was tried in 2009, with the prosecution reaching an eventual decision in 2012, with the only charge being that of genocide.
Timeline
1992: The Muslims and Croats of Bosnia vote for independence which is boycotted by the Bosnian Serbs
1992: Bosnia's independence is recognized by the European Union, which leads to the breakout of war
1993: Peace efforts fail, and war breaks out between previously allied Muslims and Croats
1994: Agreement is created which ends Muslim-Croat war and creates a Muslim-Croat federation
1995: Radovan Karadzic orders that Srebrenica and Zepa be entirely cut off
1995: Karadzic issues a command to conquer Srebrenica
1995: Bosnian Serbs under Ratko Mladic capture Srebrenica, killing about 8000 Muslim males the following week
1996: West forced Karadzic to quit as Bosnian Serb president
1996: Nationalist parties win Bosnia's first election, confirming Bosnia's ethnic division
1992: Bosnia's independence is recognized by the European Union, which leads to the breakout of war
1993: Peace efforts fail, and war breaks out between previously allied Muslims and Croats
1994: Agreement is created which ends Muslim-Croat war and creates a Muslim-Croat federation
1995: Radovan Karadzic orders that Srebrenica and Zepa be entirely cut off
1995: Karadzic issues a command to conquer Srebrenica
1995: Bosnian Serbs under Ratko Mladic capture Srebrenica, killing about 8000 Muslim males the following week
1996: West forced Karadzic to quit as Bosnian Serb president
1996: Nationalist parties win Bosnia's first election, confirming Bosnia's ethnic division
Srebrenica Massacre
The worst massacre in European history since World War II, the Srebrenica Massacre was the killing of around 7000 Bosniak men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces in Srebrenica. As well, over 20,000 citizens were forced to leave the area in an ethnic cleansing process ordered by Radovan Karadzic. The massacre eventually led to a greater Western involvement in the Yugoslav War, however it created many obstacles for political reconciliation for Bosnia in the future.