The Srebrenica Massacre occurred over the course of several days in July 1995 (during the Bosnian War), when over eight thousand defenseless [Muslim] Bosniaks, predominantly men and boys, were slaughtered by Serbian forces.
This photo essay is one man’s honest but inadequate effort to honor the memory of those murdered, to express solidarity with the survivors, and to illuminate the evil and folly of religious, ethnic, and nationalistic division that persists to this very day. I will allow the image to speak mostly for themselves.
Most of the drive from Sarajevo to Srebrenica feels like a relaxing jaunt through farmland nestled amidst the rolling hills and forests…
But these pastoral views are soon interrupted by the sight of so many white pillars, each marking the grave of a victim of the genocide.
Many of these cemeteries are the final resting place for the young and old of entire Muslim families…
Notice the dates on this particular pillar. By the way, the simple green marker in the background is for a soul whose remains were only recently recovered or identified. In fact, more victims, sometimes buried in mass graves, are still being discovered to this day.
On the way into Srebrenica, there’s a red stop light that serves no obvious purpose except to stop cars entering town long enough for a remote visual inspection using these surveillance cameras. Who exactly is watching and what are they looking for?
We visited several mass execution sites… quickly and without leaving the car.
Serbian nationalist sentiments are still quite strong here… and it would be imprudent to invite a confrontation… for many reasons.
So many sites are unmarked, but still remembered by the survivors.
which honors the suffering and preserves the memory of the 8372 confirmed victims of the 1995 genocide…
murdered in the sports halls, factories, forests, and fields.
“… I hope the very mention of the name “Srebrenica” will remind every child in the world that pride in our own religious and ethnic heritage does not require or permit us to dehumanize or kill those who are different…”
The Dutch Battalion (Dutchbat) barracks is a moment of horror frozen in time…
The walls in the battery factory in Potoćari, which housed several hundred UN “Peacekeepers”, are preserved exactly as they were at the time of the genocide.
Try to imagine how you would feel and what you would do as an eighteen year old Dutch soldier who was thrust into the insanity that occurred here…
Afterwards, Faruk and I sat down at a café, where he recounted more first-hand experiences and stories of intense confrontations that he witnessed even after the war was “over”.
I was particularly moved by the stories of remarkable strength and courage during the war and remarkable wisdom and restraint by the victims in the aftermath.
The most shocking lesson of my visit is that the genocide is not old news. The wounds are still raw, the bodies of victims are still being discovered and identified, and religious, ethnic, nationalistic divisions still persist.
And many perpetrators of the genocide still live in these areas. I wonder what is now in the their hearts and minds… Denial? Hatred? Shame? Fear of being exposed and punished?
It is chilling to realize that there are numerous Serb deniers of the massacre. And even among those who do not deny certain facts, there are sympathizers and even defenders of the massacre, claiming that they have done nothing wrong, that they are heroes and freedom fighters.
Strong nationalistic Serbian and anti-Muslim sentiments remain to this day… “Patko xeroj” (Cyrillic) means “Ratko Hero”, a reference to Ratko Mladic, the Serb commander who ordered the extermination of all the men and boys in Srebernica in 1995. And “CCCC” stands for Само слога Србина спасава (Cyrillic). In Roman letters SSSS (Samo sloga Srbina spasava) — “Only unity saves the Serb”.
As a symbol of conquest and disrespect, the Serbs built a Christian orthodox church on the land of a Muslim woman while she was in exile. That is her house partly hidden by the church. My understanding is that she has since returned, but that the disposition of the church is being litigated.
A short stop to view the luxurious house of a known war criminal. Rumor has it that he was soon to be arrested by NATO forces and tried for crimes against humanity.
Despite the horrific history and unfortunate bigotry to be found here, we left Srebrenica with an inspiring and encouraging symbol of courage and optimism: a strawberry farm owned by a Muslim Bosniak–a reason for hope, but also for vigilance and active peacemaking in each of our daily lives.
Keeping the stories of victims alive, honors their memory! Thank you for sharing these stories, Frank! They are difficult to read, and need to never be forgotten!
Just reading Theroux’ ‘Pillars of Hercules,’ so these images and insights are perfectly timed. Thank you! I also very much appreciated the way you gave room to both believers and nonbelievers in illustrating the potentials of interpersonal and international harmony. Thank you again!
Thanks for adding your thoughts and for the words of appreciation, Ana. I love the word “harmony” and try to do something everyday to contribute to such. Peace.
People have no idea what Croatia, and former Yugoslavia went through back then. I remember being so touched by that war here in England, I wrote a poem. and attached it to a donation to a Dr who was organising Medical Supplies and Aid out there at the time…
He was so touched by the poem he got in touch with our local News paper, where it got published..
Such a dreadful period. When all the world closed their eyes in front of such horrible and horrendous acts. It happened under the noses of a supposedly watchful Europe. A tragedy of human life.
Keeping the stories of victims alive, honors their memory! Thank you for sharing these stories, Frank! They are difficult to read, and need to never be forgotten!
Thanks so much, Anita, for adding your voice and for appreciating the significance of preserving such memories, no matter how painful.
Just reading Theroux’ ‘Pillars of Hercules,’ so these images and insights are perfectly timed. Thank you! I also very much appreciated the way you gave room to both believers and nonbelievers in illustrating the potentials of interpersonal and international harmony. Thank you again!
Thanks for adding your thoughts and for the words of appreciation, Ana. I love the word “harmony” and try to do something everyday to contribute to such. Peace.
It’s a wonderful word! I’ve lived it all my life ~ implying not identically but the optimal alignment of variety. 👌
People have no idea what Croatia, and former Yugoslavia went through back then. I remember being so touched by that war here in England, I wrote a poem. and attached it to a donation to a Dr who was organising Medical Supplies and Aid out there at the time…
He was so touched by the poem he got in touch with our local News paper, where it got published..
Here is a link to a post I did way back in 2007, which has the poem https://suedreamwalker.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/unite-for-peace-2/
Great post Frank, Justice for war crimes still on going there too. <3 🙏
Such a dreadful period. When all the world closed their eyes in front of such horrible and horrendous acts. It happened under the noses of a supposedly watchful Europe. A tragedy of human life.
Indeed, Michael. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. And the injustice continues as many of the perps are still in charge in many places.
Unfortunately we are living in very dangerous times with lots of trigger happy ‘leaders’.
A dreadful story, but also one of your most remarkable and necessary. Thanks, Frank.
Thank you for appreciating the significance, Gerald. Alas, I have many more such stories to share. Peace.