On the 11th of July 1995 an estimated 8000 Bosnjaks were massacred in Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Serbian Army. The region of Srebrenica was assumed to be a safe area as it was under protection by the UN Forces. However, even in the presence of armed Dutch peacekeepers, the genocide continued right under the UN’s noses. Although those killed were predominantly men and teenage boys, the massacre also included instances where preteen children, women, and elderly were killed. They targeted for extinction the forty thousand Bosnian Muslims living in Srebrenica, a group which was emblematic of the Bosnian Muslims in general. They stripped all the male Muslim prisoners, military and civilian, elderly and young, of their personal belongings and identification, and deliberately and methodically killed them solely on the basis of their identity
Some questions that arose from this incident include “Can the UN be brought to court, and who has the power to do this?”
Some things to ponder
Taking the UN to court
Timeline: Siege of Srebrenica
Verdict
Thank you to the organisers of todays enlightening and thoroughly informative event.
u noe what i think i think its all a conspiracy (if u ask ham, this was my fav word during our entire trip to bosnia!)…UN is to a certain extent but most of it is a rubbish organisation, i haf very strong views against it, i think its just a profit making puppet of the superpowers, but theres another time n place to talk about that…good post btw !
Thanks Nadiah! And you’ll have to tell me your views one day, I need to be educated!
I think alot of people fall short of understanding the nature and mandate of the UN, its Peacekeepers and the difference with Peace Enforcers.
Troops often go in having agreed with the Rules of Engagement. That determines what they can and cannot do. On top of that, the State Government must consent to their presence. It is a complex matter, and half the time, yes, a paradox.
Which is why scholars are divided between go for, or against the doctrine of Humanitarian Intervention.
For an interesting insight, read We Did Nothing by Linda Polman.
Thanks Zain for the enlightening comment and the great recommendation!