The mixed legacy of Srebrenica

The 1995 atrocity galvanised international opinion

By South-East Europe analyst Gabriel Partos

As Bosnian Muslim survivors of the Srebrenica killings prepare to mark the sixth anniversary of their enclave's fall to Serbian forces, an extensive security operation is being organised to provide protection for those returning to the area, which is within the Bosnian Serb republic.

Although a few Bosnian Muslims have returned to reconstruct their pre-war homes in the area, Srebrenica is now an overwhelmingly Serb town

The Srebrenica massacre is generally regarded as the worst single atrocity in Europe since the end of World War II.

Over 7,000 Muslims - predominantly men and boys - were killed after the government-held enclave fell to Bosnian Serb forces on 11 July 1995.

Although Srebrenica was a United Nations-designated "safe area", its small Dutch contingent was not in a position to defend the town.

And the UN failed to authorise anything more than a couple of pin-prick Nato air strikes against the Bosnian Serb forces moving in on Srebrenica - allegedly because UN commanders had secretly agreed not to use force in exchange for the earlier release of several hundred UN personnel who had been held hostage by the Bosnian Serbs.

Spur to action

Srebrenica showed up - more than any other event - the UN peacekeepers' failure to deter attacks on largely civilian targets in Bosnia.

A Muslim examines the remains of his home

And it galvanised the main Western powers to take tougher action - primarily in the form of Nato air strikes two months later which helped force the Bosnian Serbs to the negotiating table.

The result was the Dayton agreement - finally signed in 1995 - which brought peace to Bosnia.

But in spite of over five years of peace, the legacy of Srebrenica continues to weigh heavily on Bosnia.

Leaders at liberty

The Bosnian Serbs' wartime leader, Radovan Karadzic, and his military commander, General Ratko Mladic, continue to remain at liberty - even though they were both indicted by the International War Crimes Tribunal for a second time, specifically on charges relating to Serbrenica, at the end of 1995.

3.500 victims remains are kept at Tuzla's Missing People Institute

According to Tribunal sources, General Mladic is probably holed up at a Bosnian Serb military base at Han Pijesak - not far from Srebrenica.

Pressure is now mounting on both the Bosnian Serbs - and on the Nato-led peacekeeping force, S-For - to apprehend the leading war crimes suspects who are still in hiding.

However, the Hague tribunal's pleas for arrests have not been entirely in vain.

General Radislav Krstic, who, according to the prosecution, was second in command to General Mladic at Srebrenica, was detained by S-For two years ago, and he has been put on trial in The Hague on charges including genocide.

General Krstic's trial has been perhaps the most significant held so far in The Hague, and a verdict in his case is expected before the end of July.

That might go some way towards assuaging those who are still demanding justice over Srebrenica.

Safety concerns

Meanwhile, ethnic hostilities remain strong in some parts of Bosnia, and that means that Dayton's promise of the return of refugees is still an unfulfilled dream for many.

S-For will be part of security efforts at Potocari

Although a few Bosnian Muslims have returned to reconstruct their pre-war homes in the area, Srebrenica is now an overwhelmingly Serb town.

And there is concern about the safety of those 6,000 or so relatives of the victims who are planning to mark Wednesday's anniversary by laying the foundation stone for a memorial at Potocari - the village on the outskirts of Srebrenica from where most of the Muslim men were taken away.

Back in May Bosnian Serb hardliners rioted in Banja Luka and Trebinje to prevent the laying of foundation stones for mosques that were razed in those two towns during the war.

The riots led to resignations by senior Bosnian Serb security force officials, and since then a second ceremony for starting the rebuilding of the 16th century Ferhadija mosque in Banja Luka has gone ahead. The peace process and inter-ethnic reconciliation in Bosnia are moving ahead, albeit at a very slow pace.

The Srebrenica tragedy has played an important role in the progress that has been made.

But there are still fears that violence in Srebrenica could set back that process.