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MILIVOJE IVANISEVIC’S DISTURBED MIND OF GENOCIDE DENIAL

October 30, 2007 1 comment

FACT: BELGRADE ‘RESEARCHER’ MILIVOJE IVANISEVIC USES DISTORTIONS (UPDATED!)

Updated Version! Expanded on November 1st, 2007 with references to the International Criminal Tribunal’s statements on Milivoje Ivanisevic’s denials of Srebrenica genocide, as well as more information about Munira Subasic’s sons whom Ivanisevic mentioned in his propaganda statements…

Photo Caption: One of many Srebrenica mass graves, most recent
one being Zeleni Jadar, where the victims were shot to death and
they included children who were between 7 and 11 years old.

Editor’s note: We are responding to recent allegations made by the Belgrade based Srebrenica genocide denier Milivoje Ivanisevic against the Srebrenica massacre survivor Munira Subasic. Ivanisevic claimed that Munira Subasic’s son was “well” and “alive” in the United States living “under different name.” Nothing could be further from the truth, as we personally contacted the Association of Srebrenica Women and spoke directly to their president, Hajra Catic.

Milivoje Ivanisevic’s allegations are factually inaccurate

The story started circulating in Serbian media in a planned, timely maner – just a day before the 12 former U.N. Dutch peacekeepers visited Srebrenica Genocide Memorial to pay their respect to over 8,000 men, children, and elderly who perished in the genocide.

A Bosnian Serb War Veterans’ organisation – comprised of Chetniks who participated in the Srebrenica genocide – has recently claimed it had a ‘proof’ that at least one thousand victims listed as being killed in Srebrenica were alive or died before the July 1995 massacre. The so called “proof” came from the radical Serbian nationalist (aka: Belgrade researcher) and disgraced Srebrenica genocide denier, Milivoje Ivanisevic. As a side note: Ivanisevic also runs a website that features such articles as “Was ‘Srebrenica genocide’ a hoax?” and other propaganda material – perfectly suitable to be filed under categories of Science Fiction and Conspiracy.

The list of missing in question appears to be very report published by the Bosnian Serb government – as an admittance of guilt – in connection with the Srebrenica massacre (the Republika Srpska Srebrenica Commission’s June 2004 report). The president of the Srebrenica Commission Milan Bogdanic (Serb), said they “were not determining the number of the dead, but the number of missing” and “came up with the final list of all the missing after comparing the data from various data-bases which together contained over 150 thousand of different names.” When Bogdanic asked Bosnian Serb War Veteran’s organization for their “proof” to be submitted to him, they refused to give it to him.

Little does Milivoje Ivanisevic realize, but the updated/revised report has been published by the Federal Commission for Missing Persons which removed technical errors and duplicates from previous compilations. The list contains the victims’ names, parents’ names, dates of birth, and unique citizen’s registration numbers of 8,106 individuals who have been reliably established, from multiple independent sources, to have gone missing and/or been killed in and around Srebrenica in the summer of 1995. Another detailed report has been evaluated by the Demographic Unit research team of the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague and recently published by the Research and Documentation Center / RDC bringing the minimum number of victims to 8,460. The RDC was funded by the Norwegian government, the Swedish Helsinki Committee, the U.S. government, the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Dutch government, the United Nations Development Program, and the non-governmental Heinrich Boell Foundation.

Further more, as an example of – what he calls – ‘manipulations’ with Srebrenica, Milivoje Ivanisevic points fingers to Munira Subasic, president of Mothers of Srebrenica Association. He claims that Subasic reported her son as killed in Srebrenica, “while he was alive and well in the United States, only living under a different name.” But this was just another distortionist claim produced by Ivanisevic himself.

We contacted the Associaton of Srebrenica Women (Tuzla) and spoke to Hajra Catic who told us that Munira Subasic is in Sarajevo and has been actively involved with the Mothers of Srebrenica Association in Sarajevo. We learned from Hajra Catic that Munira Subasic’s older son Vahidin Subasic managed to reach government controlled territory in deadly moments of 1995 and has been living with her in Sarajevo ever since; and contrary to Milivoje Ivanisevic’s claims, her son has never changed his name and has not been listed as killed. Hajra also told us that Munira Subasic’s younger son Nermin and her husband Hilmo Subasic died in the massacre when Srebrenica fell to Serbs. Both of them are listed as missing. Sadly, Hajra Catic’s son Nino Nihad Catic and her husband Junuz Catic are also missing since 12 July 1995. Our heart goes to both women – Munira and Hajra – and to all the victims and survivors of the massacre.

In his latest media circus, Milivoje Ivanisevic did not want to lose opportunity to repeat one of his favorite conspiracy theories, quote: “Already next year, at the Bosnian Muslim elections held in 1996, more than 700 Bosnian Muslims from Srebrenica whose names were on the list of those killed in July 1995 showed up to cast their votes.”

To back up this claim, Milivoje Ivanisevic used incomplete and out of date list of missing which was compiled by the Red Cross immediately after the massacre, 1995. The list he refered to was revised numerous times, and other – highly accurate – lists of killed and missing were produced with the support of the United Nations and other non-partisan sources. It would be interesting to see how Ivanisevic came up with more than 700 alleged voters from the list and what methodology he used. Considering his background, extremist leanings, radical nationalist activism, and open denial of Srebrenica genocide – it is reasonable to conclude that he has zero credibility to be even considered a “researcher”. He is more accurately categorized as conspiracy theorist, and we recognize him as such.

Milivoje Ivanisevic’s claims are nothing new; he is one of the most frequently quoted ‘sources’ in Srebrenica genocide denial literature which is readily available over the internet. For quite some time, Ivanisevic’s claims have been discredited on numerous occassions by the International Criminal Tribunal, the Research and Documentation Center, and Serbia’s Human Rights Watch. As an alternative to Milivoje Ivanisevic’s discredited make-belief allegations, you can also read our Questions and Answers about Srebrenica Genocide.

As recently as March 14 2007, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at the Hague released the following statement, quote:

I would like to start by commenting on the special supplement titled “Licna karta Srebrenice” in the Monday issue of the Belgrade-based Glas Javnosti newspaper, written by Milivoje Ivanisevic. The introductory part of the supplement states that Mister Ivanisevic’s “investigative review” takes side with the view which denies genocide, and that it can serve as a contribution to the possible debate on the genocide committed in Srebrenica. Without going to details of the article, I would like to state that the piece in question represents shameful denial and relativisation of the facts that this court has established beyond reasonable doubt about the genocide committed in Srebrenica. International Court of Justice confirmed that genocide was committed in Srebrenica, but the facts about the genocide were established first in the judgements by the Tribunal’s Trial and Appeals Chambers in the case against Radislav Krstc. The ICTY wishes to condemn this as well as other recent attempts to deny the genocide committed in Srebrenica, in which more than 7000 men and boys were executed. I strongly recommend that anyone wishing to debate about the events in Srebrenica starts by reading the judgements of this court, which established facts after careful weighing of evidence produced by years of investigations, thousands of exhibits, testimonies of both survivors and perpetrators, all fully tested and confirmed by a neutral international court. [source: ICTY]

In 2005, the International Criminal Tribunal concluded that Milivoje Ivanisevic’s published lists and reports about Serb victims around Srebrenica “simply do not meet reality.” In other words, Ivanisevic might have committed forgery. [source link]

Milivoje Ivanisevic has continued to ignore the mountain of evidence with respect to genocide in Srebrenica. He has purposely used misleading and out of date reports to cast doubt on the credibility of over 8,000 victims of the worst massacre in Europe since the World War II. Ivanisevic’s ignorance of judicial rulings, DNA evidence, numerous mass grave excavations, hundreds of thousands of pages of eye-witness testimony, and mountain of evidence presented in front of the international courts is no different than Ed Herman’s attempt to make disappear from history the roughly 8000 victims of Srebrenica massacre. Both Herman and Ivanisevic failed miserably when confronted with facts. Andras Riedlmayer has published great analysis of Edward Herman’s fallacies in the following article titled: Edward Herman on The Lists of Missing at Srebrenica.

Photo Caption: Little Muslim girl standing next to a grave of relative
at Srebrenica Genocide Memorial in Potocari. Photo courtesy:
Stichting Vluchteling,
Netherlands Refugee Foundation.

DUTCH PEACEKEEPERS REVISIT SREBRENICA

October 29, 2007 5 comments

FORMER U.N. DUTCH PEACEKEEPERS VISIT SREBRENICA, WHILE SERBS CONTINUE SREBRENICA GENOCIDE DENIAL

Photo Caption: Bosniak woman Nedziba Salihovic, right, holds a photograph of her late child, Kiram, during a meeting with a group of Dutch soldiers in a former United Nations base, in Potocari, near Srebrenica on Oct. 17, 2007. Twelve years after the Srebrenica massacre of over 8,000 men and boys, on October 17 2007, their widows and mothers met with ex-Dutch soldiers who served as peacekeepers in the Bosniak enclave during the Bosnian war.

Full article continues bellow…

Short Background: During the 1992-95 Bosnian war, the United Nations declared Srebrenica — which had been besieged by Serb forces — a U.N.-protected safe area for civilians. The U.N. Dutch peacekeeping forces on duty in Srebrenica stood by helplessly and even assisted in separating women from the men when Bosnian Serb forces stormed the region in July 1995. As a result, over 8,000 men and children were systematically slaughtered while thousands of women were forcibly expelled (many of them brutally raped and maltreated). The United Nations and Dutch peacekeepers are now facing trial for complicity in Srebrenica genocide. Some of the eye-witness testimonies were too graphic to report, so I will publish only few excerpts from Analysis of Shameful Failures:

Quote: … the Serbs began to “march girls and young women away from the group of refugees. They were raped.” ….A Dutch soldier stood by and watched as the women were raped, even listening to music on his Walkman…. A Serb, says Subasic, “told the mother to make the child stop crying. But when the baby continued to cry, he took it from the mother and slit its throat. Then he laughed. A Dutch soldier also witnessed the murder of the baby, she says, and yet he “didn’t react at all”… The Muslim men, some as young as 12, were almost all murdered. The scenes that transpired in the camp are indescribable. The Serbs would pick out girls from groups. “I saw the Bosnian women begging the Dutchbat soldiers to bring the girls back,” Kadira Gabeljic, one of the plaintiffs, recalls. But they only responded: “no, no, no.” Ramiza Gurdic, another plaintiff, witnessed an incident that she is unlikely to ever forget. She describes a scene in which a 10-year-old boy was placed in his mother’s lap and literally slaughtered. “His little head was chopped off, and the body remained in the mother’s lap.” End Quote

On October 16 2007, a group of Dutch soldiers revisited place of the worst massacre since the World War II. Kirk Mulder, the director of the Memorial Centre at Camp Westerbork, organised this trip between October 17-19, explained that a number of Dutch soldiers had wanted to go to the place where 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed by the Bosnian Serbs who had full logistical support of Serbia, as concluded by the International Court of Justice.

“Why did you betray our children under the U.N. flag?” one woman shouted at the visitors. “Why did you come only now?”

Photo Caption: Former Dutch peacekeeper Henry Van Der Belt (R) cries as he meets survivors and relatives of victims of the Srebrenica massacre in a former U.N base in Potocari October 17, 2007.

“Today I feel the same helplessness I felt in those days,” Monique Bergman told Reuters. Bergman was just 20 when she served as a peacekeeper at Srebrenica in the summer of 1995.

“Not being able to do anything is a horrible feeling, which haunted me for years. For years I have been mentally ill because of what happened here,” she said through tears. “I am trying to understand the pain and anger of the survivors and to show respect to the women and victims.”

Photo Caption: Former Dutch peacekeeper Boudewijn Kok visits his old army base near Srebrenica October 16, 2007. Dutch peacekeepers are looking at the graffiti. Some of these Dutch graffiti were especially offensive, as reported in this article.

“I was here when all this happened, and now I am here again to pay respects to the victims and their families,” said Boudewijn Kok, a 21-year-old at the time of the massacre.

The twelve visiting soldiers had a stormy meeting with the families of Srebrenica victims on Wednesday, but the meeting was disrupted after they failed to give clear answers to the families’ questions on why they didn’t prevent the massacre.

“They allowed them to slaughter us. I have nobody any more because of them,” said Aisa Omerovic, 57, who lost her husband, two brothers and many other male relatives in the atrocity.

There came a turning point in the tense encounter when a Dutch soldier recognised one of Suhra Malic’s four sons in a picture as the child who used to sell souvenirs in the U.N. camp. “He recognised my son,” she cried.

One former sergeant named Rob said he managed to save a few men when the Serb troops began their separation process.

“Even though 12 years have passed, we have not forgotten that genocide happened here. Our arrival is the proof that we have been thinking about it since,” he told the waiting women.

By blindly pursuing a policy of non-intervention despite repeated offensives by the heavily armed Serbs, the U.N. had given no order to UNPROFOR to fight off Serb forces, even if the 850-strong Dutch unit had possessed the military capability.

Photo Description: Former Dutch peacekeeper Henry Van Der Belt (L) is comforted by a friend as he visits a memorial for Srebrenica victims in Potocari October 16, 2007.

The association of Srebrenica mothers, has sued the Dutch government for a billion dollars in damages for failing to protect Srebrenica’s Muslim population. It has asked the Dutch soldiers to testify against their government.

The Dutch government resigned in April 2002 in a scandal over its role in Srebrenica, but refused to apologize for its actions. Instead, the Dutch government commissioned shameful NIOD Report (“Nederlands Instituut voor Oorlogsdocumentatie”). NIOD Report was the Netherlands’s attempt to wash their hands of direct involvement in the Srebrenica massacre.

The Dutch report was extremely biased
and amounted to moral equivalism, depending on the ources or references used. As survivor of Srebrenica genocide, Hasan Nuhanovic, reported at our blog: “The NIOD Report has not determined the level of responsibility and guilt of the Dutch troops and officials for Genocide in Srebrenica.” For example, Part II – Chapter 2 talks about “The history preceding the conflict in Eastern Bosnia up until the establishment of the Safe Area“. By reading this part of the report, one can easily get the totally inacurate impression that the Bosniaks constantly attacked Serb villages while Serbs were constantly defending themselves from Bosniaks. Of course, clueless Dutch researches failed to mention the International Criminal Tribunal’s findings that Serb villages were heavily armed and that Serbs never demilitarized around Srebrenica. But since this report was Netherland’s attempt to shift blame by virtues of ‘moral equivalency’, no wonder they came up with such grotesque claims. A more detailed U.N. Report 53/35 concluded:

Quote: Even though this accusation is often repeated by international sources, there is no credible evidence to support it. Dutchbat personnel on the ground at the time assessed that the few “raids” the Bosniaks mounted out of Srebrenica were of little or no military significance. These raids were often organized in order to gather food, as the Serbs had refused access for humanitarian convoys into the enclave. Even Serb sources approached in the context of this report acknowledged that the Bosniak forces in Srebrenica posed no significant military threat to them. End Quote

For Bosnian Serbs, the Dutch visit to Srebrenica was an opportunity to continue with Srebrenica genocide denial by repeating discredited claims carefully prepared and delivered directly from Belgrade.

A Bosnian Serb War Veterans’ organisation, comprised of Chetniks who participated in Srebrenica genocide, said this week it had a proof that at least one thousand victims listed as being killed in Srebrenica were alive or died before the July 1995 massacre. The so called “proof” came from (guess who?) radical Serbian nationalist and Belgrade researcher, shamed Srebrenica genocide denier, Milivoje Ivanisevic. His claims have been discredited on numerous occassions by both the International Criminal Tribunal and the Research and Documentation Center, for more you can read Questions and Answers about Srebrenica Genocide.

Photo Caption: Former Dutch soldiers who served as peacekeepers with the UN peacekeeping force in Srebrenica during 1992-95 with family members and friends looking at the memorial wall with the names of 8,000 men, elderly and children who perished in the Srebrenica genocide.

Editor’s Note: Srebrenica Genocide Blog would like to thank 12 former Dutch peacekeepers for visiting Srebrenica and paying respect to the victims of Srebrenica massacre – the single worst act of massacre in Europe since the World War II. At least we have 12 people who had courage and will to visit Srebrenica Genocide Memorial and pay their respect to over 8,000 victims of Srebrenica Genocide – victims ranging from children to the elderly. Not surprisingly, the former Dutch commander, Colonel Tom Karremans was not among 12 courageous Dutch peacekeepers who came to pay their respect in Srebrenica. In fact, Colonel Thomas Karremans does not belong in this group, because he lost his manhood and humanity went he went on to drink a toast with Serb general Ratko Mladic (click here to see photo), while the Srebrenica massacre was taking place. Following negotiations between UN and Bosnian Serbs, on Friday, July 21st, 1995, Colonel Karremans and Dutch UN soldiers were allowed to leave Srebrenica. On the farewell, Colonel Karremans accepted gifts from General Mladic who committed genocide in Srebrenica, smiled, shook his hand and departed. As one of Srebrenica massacre survivors confided to us: “Thomas Karremans is an embarrasment of human existence.”

Photo Caption: A Bosnian Muslim woman looks on in disbelief during a meeting with a group of Dutch soldiers in a former United Nations base, in Potocari, near Srebrenica on Oct 17, 2007.

SUPPORT THE SREBRENICA MEMORIAL QUILT

October 19, 2007 2 comments

CLICK HERE TO DONATE $40 VIA GOOGLE CHECKOUT AND
DIRECTLY FROM THE ADVOCACY PROJECT WEB SITE

Any Questions? Contact us at srebrenicagenocide@live.com and we will gladly help you with the process. Each panel costs only $40 and you will be acknowledged in literature for your contribution. Please spread the word, and ask your friends and family to get involved!

“… The larger the quilt, the larger its impact will be on the international community in remembering those who were lost in 1995 and the strength of those who survived it.” – Ting Ting Wu, Advocacy Project

CLICK HERE TO DONATE $40 VIA GOOGLE CHECKOUT AND
DIRECTLY FROM THE ADVOCACY PROJECT WEB SITE


BOSFAM has launched the Memorial Quilt Project as a memorial to over 8,000 men,
children (boys), and elderly who died during Srebrenica genocide. (see detailed list of the victims with their DOB, Yugoslav ID #s, and other personal information)

The quilt project was conceived by the Bosnian Family (Bosfam), a women’s organization based in Tuzla and Srebrenica, which represents women from Eastern Bosnia who were displaced by the conflict. Many of Bosfam’s members lost relatives in the Srebrenica massacre. Bosfam is being supported in the United States by the Association of Srebrenica Survivors, the Bosnian Media Group and the Advocacy Project, in Washington DC. Women socialize and work together, regardless of age, religion, ethnic background, or education.

In turning the panels into a single quilt, the weavers are hoping to create a living memorial to those who were killed. They hope that others who lost relatives in the massacre will commission panels, and that the quilt will help them to connect to others who also suffered. Relatives can commission a hand-woven panel for $40 by contacting BOSFAM (email) directly, or via The Advocacy Project (att: Mendi email). See the How to Commission a Panel page and BOSFAM’s FAQ page for more information. All money raised will cover the cost of weaving.

In addition, the organization seeks to promote ethnic reconciliation by opening its doors, and its looms, to both Serb and Croat women who suffered during the war.

The quilt currently comprises 20 panels, each commemorating a victim of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. Families who lost relatives are being invited to commission new panels. As new panels are added to the quilt, the quilt will grow in size, keep the memory of the massacre alive and used to make the case for more material and emotional support for Srebrenica survivors.

The current panels for the quilt were woven by members of Bosfam, who lost relatives in the massacre. Bosfam weavers will willingly weave new panels for other families. They see this weaving project as a way to stay in touch with other survivors. For a profile of the weavers, you can visit this page.

The quilt is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Srebrenica genocide, which occurred in July 1995 under the ‘protection’ of the United Nations. For a map of the names click here. As the quilt attracts new panels, it could also move around the world and be used at events which commemorate the destructiveness of the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, and the resilience of survivors. The weavers hope that as the quilt grows in size it will keep the memory of the Srebrenica massacre alive.

BOSFAM was founded in 1994 by Munira Beba Hadzic, a former primary schoolteacher in Srebrenica. Prior to this, Beba had started a knitting project in 1993 with Oxfam for women displaced during the war. For more on the history of BOSFAM, see their history page.

According to Ting Ting Wu of the Advocacy Project:

The memorial quilt I mentioned is currently comprised of 40 panels, each panel commemorating a victim of the 1995 Srebrenica Massacre. It was launched in St. Louis and will be displayed at a national quilting convention in Houston next month. After that, we will be exhibiting it in Boston, Washington DC to lawmakers, and any other place in the states where we can gather there is a local community of support for this project. Currently, we are searching for those who may have lost someone during the massacre and would like to commemorate a quilt panel to his/her memory. We are also seeing if there are people who are willing to sponsor a quilt panel for someone else.

Srebrenica Genocide Blog, and people behind it, strongly endorse this project. To sponsor a weaver, order their products, or for further information on the Srebrenica memorial quilt, please visit BOSFAM or Advocacy Project! Also, we encourage you to sign petition to Arrest Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.

DISSECTING MILOSEVIC PROPAGANDA

October 15, 2007 Comments off

Today we examine one of Slobodan Milosevic’s carefully authored propaganda materials titled:

“Memorandum on War Crimes and Crimes of Genocide in Eastern Bosnia (communes of Bratunac, Skelani and Srebrenica) committed against the Serbian population from April 1992 to April 1993.”

Srebrenica genocide denial web sites have been circulating above document as “official U.N. conclusions” about alleged “Moslem terror” against Serb civilians around Srebrenica. The problem is that these allegations are NOT official U.N. conclusions – as deniers tirelesly portray them. The allegations contained in the above document have been discredited by the United Nations War Crimes Court, Serbia’s Human Rights Watch, as well as internationally backed Research and Documentation Center (tip: if you click on the actual links, you can get more information).

Slobodan Milosevic was in no way naive or stupid; he knew what he was doing. In a bizarre way, he was a clever mass murderer; but his attempts to shift blame on the victims failed miserably. However, war-time Milosevic Government’s propaganda is well and alive even today.

Here is the latest comment coming from an individual who runs two extremist blogs (which do not deserve to be ‘featured’ at Srebrenica Genocide Blog), quote:

“You’re leaving out the fact that Bosnian Muslims massacred Serbs between April 1992 and April 1993 in the communities of Bratunac, Skelani, and Srebrenica, as though there have been no crimes committed by Muslims… If you wish, I can post on this blog the UN id number of the documents relating to the post above. Genocide is difficult to hide, even for the UN Caliphate.”

OUR RESPONSE: No, you don’t need to post any UN id numbers – we will do it for you; we already know which document you are refering to. Be careful what you call “facts”; first get your story straight. The document you are refering to is: UN id # A/46/171 and S/25635, titled: “Memorandum on War Crimes and Crimes of Genocide in Eastern Bosnia (communes of Bratunac, Skelani and Srebrenica) committed against the Serbian population from April 1992 to April 1993.”

The copy of this document can be found on most Srebrenica Genocide denial websites, one of them being “Emperor’s Clothes” (web site run by Jared Israel, long-time Milosevic’s apologist and disgraced Srebrenica Genocide denier). This individual has reduced his existence to Srebrenica genocide denial claims and celebration of a mass killer – Slobodan Milosevic.

In fact, the document “A/46/171 and S/25635”, does NOT contain any official U.N. conclusions (aka: facts). This document had been carefully drafted by Slobodan Milosevic‘s “Yugoslav State Commission for War Crimes and Genocide” and submitted to the U.N. on June 2 1993 by a right-wing Serbian ambassador Dragomir Djokic.

Milosevic’s ambassador, Dragomir Djokic, kept close ties with then Bosnian Serb “Iron Lady” Biljana Plavsic, discredited professor of biology whose ‘scientific research’ included such genetic discoveries as her theory that “Muslims are genetically deformed”. This supposedly respected biologist, with her enviable reputation as a university professor and expert, has been tireless in propagating these ‘scientific discoveries’ of hers. It was her conception of the biological supremacy of the Serb race and nation which led Biljana Plavsic (and people associated to her) to encourage ethnic cleansing and on that basis commit mass crimes in Bosnia. From the very beginning of the war Plavsic was already invoking Dragoljub-Draza Mihailovic, leader during World War II of the Serbian nationalists better known as Chetniks and a proven collaborator of the German occupiers: “He fought for the unification of all Serbs within a single Serb state… Uncle Draza intended to cleanse the future united Serb lands of all enemies of Serbdom and Orthodoxy, as well as of anti-national elements.” [sources] This is the kind of person Dragomir Djokic closely worked with.

In order to justify wide scale ethnnic cleansing and mass killings of Bosniaks, Serbian ambassadors submitted various (later discredited) statements and propaganda allegations to the U.N. including the one we are discussing right now: “Memorandum on War Crimes and Crimes of Genocide in Eastern Bosnia (communes of Bratunac, Skelani and Srebrenica) committed against the Serbian population from April 1992 to April 1993.

In his submission, Milosevic’s ambassador Djokic asked the U.N. to circulate document as “Official U.N. Document”, so he could ensure that Serbia’s propaganda claims are strenghtened within diplomatic circles (pay attention to his words), quote:

“I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under item 115 (c) of the preliminary list and of the Security Council.”

When Djokic submitted these allegations about “Moslem terror” against “Serb civilians” to the U.N. in 1993, he conveniently avoided mentioning that Bosnian Serb forces, with full logistical support of his Government, killed about 15,000 Bosniaks in various parts of Eastern Bosnia and ethnically cleansed over 90% of predominantly Bosniak territory of Podrinje. He conveniently left that part out, because Djokic was nothing more than disposable hand of Slobodan Milosevic’s propaganda machine of the 90’s.

Any ambassador can submit any document to the U.N.; it’s part of a fairness process. But to claim that this document reflects ‘official U.N. conclusions’ is nothing more, but a bold faced propaganda. The document is nothing more than an official submittion of Yugoslav Ambassador to the General Council, but the allegations contained in this document are NOT official U.N. conclusions. This is just a submittion (allegation) by Yugoslav side, NOT an Official U.N. conclusion as Srebrenica Genocide deniers and pro-Milosevic apologists want you to believe. And it is absolutely crucial to keep this distinction in mind, not only for the purpose of fairness – but also for the purpose of the truth.

During Srebrenica Genocide trials, the International Criminal Tribunal at the Hague, as well as Human Rights Watch, and the Research and Documentation Center have completely discredited allegations contained in this document – as we reported on numerous occassions, especially in the following article: Falsification of Serb Victims Around Srebrenica: What does the International Criminal Tribunal says?

As an alternative to Serbia’s long-time discredited allegations, one should read official U.N. conclusions. So where do you find them?

For official U.N. conclusions that have nothing to do with (pro)-Milosevic’s discredited propaganda, one might consider reading Official U.N. Report A/54/549 titled: “The Fall of Srebrenica” (1999). You can read bits and pieces of this report at Srebrenica Genocide Blog in a section: Role of Bosniak Forces on the Ground (must read) and our evolving article mega-article Questions and Answers About Srebrenica Genocide.

RADOVAN KARADZIC AND SREBRENICA GENOCIDE

October 12, 2007 2 comments

Radovan Karadzic, quote:

“THESE PEOPLE WILL DISAPPEAR FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH”

Photo caption: Remains of Srebrenica genocide victim, with hand tied, and burnt book of Qur’an. Republished from New York basedBosniak-American magazine Bosnjaci.net – Photo republished for fair use only.

In 2000, Radovan Karadzic has been ordered by a U.S. jury to pay $4.5 billion in damages for atrocities committed by his soldiers. The only problem – he was on the run. The U.S. Government placed $5 million bounty on his head.

Radovan Karadzic — former Bosnian Serb leader, long-time fugitive from international justice, and mastermind of Srebrenica genocide — made his genocidal intentions public long before he executed them [source].

On October 12th 1991 he stated: “They [Bosniaks] will disappear, these people will disappear from the face of the earth

A mere day later, on 13 October 1991, Karadzic, talking to Momcilo Mandic, said: “Within a few days there will be no Sarajevo, and there will be over 500,000 dead; within a month the Muslims of Bosnia-Herzegovina will be destroyed!

Again, on 15 October 1991, Karadzic foresees the extermination of the Muslims in the event of war. Talking to Miodrag Davidovic and his own brother Luka, Karadzic said: “In the first instance, none of their leaders will remain alive, they will be killed within 3 or 4 hours. They will have no chance of surviving.

Although Radovan Karadzic failed to exterminate “Muslims of Bosnia”, he succeeded in committing genocide in Srebrenica. As a side note and in response to questions about Bosnian Genocide, it is important to note that European Court of Human Rights recently upheld 1997 Bosnian Genocide judgment against Nikola Jorgic, as we reported in this article.

Miroslav Deronjic, a former Bosnian Serb politician who has pleaded guilty to war crimes, said he met Radovan Karadzic in early July 1995, shortly before Serbs attacked the United Nations-declared ”safe area” of Srebrenica in eastern Bosnia.

”At one moment, he said the following sentence to me, “Miroslav, all of them need to be killed — whatever you can lay your hands on, ” Mr.Deronjic told a pre-appeal hearing for a former Bosnian Serb general, Radislav Krstic.

At the end of the war, Karadzic realized that his attempts to make “Muslims of Bosnia” disappear failed, so he focused on Srebrenica – lightly protected United Nations’ enclave in eastern Bosnia. In March 1995, Radovan Karadzic, then President of Republika Srpska, issued a directive to the Bosnian Serb Army – known as “Directive 7” – which specified that the Bosnian Serb Army was to:

Complete the physical separation of Srebrenica from Zepa as soon as possible, preventing even communication between individuals in the two enclaves. By planned and well-thought out combat operations, create an unbearable situation of total insecurity with no hope of further survival or life for the inhabitants of Srebrenica.

And yet, in light of Radovan Karadzic’s own words and intentions – there are still those who defend Radovan Karadzic’s actions and exercise denial of Srebrenica genocide under the cover of free speech.

As a matter of the fact, Srebrenica genocide is one of the most extensively documented genocides in the history and comprises of millions of pieces of evidence (including court documents, eye witness and survivor testimonies, physical remains of victims, DNA evidence, numerous mass graves etc). Of course we have all heard of those who reduced themselves to Srebrenica Genocide denial.

The denial of Srebrenica genocide — the systematic slaughter of over 8,000 men, elderly, and children in the U.N. enclave of Srebrenica — is about as plausible as denying the sphericity of the Earth.

Those who have reduced themselves to Srebrenica genocide denial are trully nothing more than conspiracy theorists hiding under the cover of free speech.

In order to justify Srebrenica genocide, Serbian propaganda – under the leadership of right-wing nationalist Milivoje Ivanisevic – claimed that over 3,000 Serb civilians were murdered around Srebrenica. This was a complete falsification of facts – as concluded by the International Criminal Tribunal, Human Rights Watch, and Research and Documentation Center, read related article.

As Florence Hartmann, Spokesperson for the Office of the Prosecutor, stated:

…the Serb authorities claimed previously that about 1400 people were killed due to attacks committed by the BH Army forces for the period of May 1992 to March 1995, when Srebrenica was under the control of Naser Oric. Now the figure has become 3,500 Serbs killed….these figures just does not reflect the reality. [Source: Office of the Chief U.N. War Crimes Prosecutor]

Although denying the Srebrenica genocide has not yet won respectability, it has managed to win an audience. Instead of being instantly dismissed as disgusting nonsense, denying the Srebrenica genocide is increasingly accorded the status of a “different perspective,” a “dissenting point of view,” “another opinion.”

It is important to keep in mind that Srebrenica genocide denial is not simply just “another perspective” or expression of a “different opinion.” It is more accurately described as engagement in the kind of ideological contrarianism that corrupts the very nature of facts and logic in order to promulgate historical falsehood.

Invoking the principles of free speech, many decent people fail to see anything wrong with a platform of Srebrenica genocide denial. But this liberal sentiment plays directly into the hands of deniers.

The methodologies of Srebrenica genocide deniers have remained the same and are based on predetermined conclusions that ignore extensive judicial and historical evidence to the contrary. They not only misrepresent facts with out-of-context outtakes, but they distort and fabricate history and then broadcast their conspiracy theories to a wider public in hopes of winning public opinion.

What they fail to grasp is that Srebrenica genocide is not a matter of public (or anybody’s) opinion; it’s a judicial fact recognized first by the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia and subsequently at the International Court of Justice at the Hague.

MASS GRAVE: CHILDREN SHOT IN HEAD

October 5, 2007 8 comments

Photo Caption: A forensic expert searches for remains of Bosnian Muslims in a mass grave in Zeleni Jadar, near Srebrenica September 25, 2007. Almost twelve years after the war ended in Bosnia, experts have discovered another mass grave with remains of victims of the 1995 massacre of over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys by the Bosnian Serb forces in Srebrenica. Reuters/Damir Sagolj. (Photo republished for fair use only)

OVER 200 VICTIMS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, IN TWO MASS GRAVES

On September 22 2007, the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) said it discovered a mass grave of bodies of 44 Bosniaks who were killed during Srebrenica’s massacre in 1995.

And just as recently as October 4th 2007, the remains of more than 120 Bosniak civilian victims of the Srebrenica massacre have been exhumed from a mass grave in eastern Bosnia located outside the village of Zeleni Jadar, about 15 kilometres (10 miles) south of Srebrenica. This mass grave is thought to contain the remains of at least another 50 people, bringing total number of victims in only two locations to over 200.

ICMP said that the victims were shot to death and they included children who were between 7 and 11 years old.

This graveyard is one of many others in Srebrenica and leaders of Bosnian Serb forces did their best to hide their crimes.

Some personal documents had also been uncovered from the burial site, which was discovered in September. The remains were crushed and compressed, proving they had been re-buried with bulldozers.

Most of the victims’ remains were buried in a large mass grave before being moved by Serbs in an attempt to cover up the crime. Thousands have been uncovered from about 60 mass graves around the eastern town.

Bosnian Serb forces killed about 8,000 Bosniak men and boys in the Srebrenica genocide – the single worst atrocity in Europe since World War II.

The main culprits for the crime – wartime Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic and his army chief Ratko Mladic – remain at large.

The Srebrenica massacre has been recognized by the UN war crimes tribunal and the International Court of Justice to have constituted genocide.

In July 11 of 1995, Bosnian Serb forces with logistical help of Serbia, attacked Srebrenica enclave who received assurances from nearby UN forces that they will not be attacked on the basis of a Security-Council resolution that put the region under international protection.

Based in Sarajevo, ICMP was founded in 1996 to address the issue of persons missing as a result of conflicts relevant to Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia from during 1991-1995. It also handles relevant issues in Macedonia and Kosovo.

Related readings:
1. Srebrenica massacre grave yields over 1,000 body parts
2. Two cowards on trial for crimes against women and children

LIST OF SUSPECTS: GETTING AWAY WITH GENOCIDE

October 3, 2007 1 comment

THE U.S. COURTS CHARGE SREBRENICA GENOCIDE SUSPECTS FOR IMMIGRATION FRAUD, BUT FAIL TO PROSECUTE THEM FOR WAR CRIMES

An Akron man was convicted Tuesday of lying about his service in a notorious Bosnian Serb army unit that massacred thousands of people during the war in the former Yugoslavia more than a decade ago.

Ratko Maslenjak and his family settled in Akron in 2000, but the man had a secret, federal prosecutors said: He served in the Bosnian Serb army and did not tell immigration officers when he applied for refugee status and later for a green card. Maslenjak thus kept officials from scrutinizing his past and possibly barring him from the United States, Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Tripi said.

Ratko Maslenjak, 48, belonged to a brigade connected to the Srebrenica massacre of 1995, prosecutors said. An estimated 8,000 Bosniaks were executed and thousands more driven from the United Nations-designated safe haven.

Duty rosters presented by prosecutors during a five-day trial revealed that Maslenjak served that year as a company commander. International investigators uncovered the rosters in Bosnia and Herzegovina during a war crimes probe.

Jurors heard little about the Srebrenica genocide or about Maslenjak’s specific duties. U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. repeatedly told jurors that Maslenjak was on trial for immigration violations, not war crimes.

Defense lawyers argued that the Bosnian Serb army, also known as the VRS, drafted Maslenjak during the war between Bosnian Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats. The fighting ravaged the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Maslenjak’s lawyers claimed that he failed to disclose his VRS duty because of alleged flaws in translation. Maslenjak does not speak or read English.

Maslenjak remained stoic Tuesday as he listened to the verdict through an interpreter. His wife Divna and pastor, the Rev. Dragomir Tuba, covered their faces in distress when a clerk announced the decision.

Maslenjak will be sentenced next year on the criminal charges and remains free on bond. He is also facing deportation.

Here is an incomplete list of Srebrenica genocide suspects who were (so far) arrested in the United States and charged only with immigration fraud, even though there was clear evidence of their involvement in the Srebrenica genocide – as confirmed by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement:

Sekula Bilic, indicted on one count of immigration fraud and one count of making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Zdravko Kordic, indicted on one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Branko Popic, indicted on one count of immigration fraud and one count of making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Ostoja Saric, indicted on one count of immigration fraud and one count of making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Strahinja Krsmanovic, indicted on one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Boro Stojanovic, indicted on one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Jadranko Gostic, indicted on one count of unlawful procurement of citizenship and one count of making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Zoran Radic, indicted on one count of immigration fraud and making false statements. Radic remains at large (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Dusan Bosnjak, (remains at large) indicted on one count of immigration fraud and making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Bogdan Panic, (remains at large) indicted on one count of naturalization fraud and making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Nedjo Ikonic, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Milivoje Jankovic, indicted on two counts of immigration fraud and two counts of making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Veselin Vidacak, indicted on two counts of immigration fraud and two counts of making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Milisav Vukovic, charged with one count of false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Nedjo Lojpur, indicted on two counts of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Ratko Maslenjak, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Dalibor Butina, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Radovan Jankovic, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Vlado Kecojevic, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Branislav Cancar, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Mladen Blagojevic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Nenad Dragic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Milenko Gujic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Mitra Gujic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Rajko Hercegovac, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Risto Hercegovac, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Momcilo Krstic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Rajko Ninkovic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Radenko Spiric, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Vitomir Spiric, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Nikola Stankovic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Savo Tojcic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Cvijan Vidakovic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Marko Boskic, charged with two counds of immigration document fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Ugljesa Pantic, one count of possessing a green card obtained by making a false statement (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Zdravko Bozic, one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Radenko Ubiparipovic, one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Dragon Ubiparipovic, one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Goran Bencun, one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Milenko Stjepanovic, one count of immigration visa fraud charge (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Mirka Stjepanovic, one count of immigration visa fraud charge (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Ranko Nastic, one count of immigration visa fraud charge (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).

Branko Ristic, one count of immigration visa fraud charge (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).


Sources and related readings:
1. Sixteen charged with concealing Bosnian Serb military when entering U.S. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (December 15, 2006)
2. Former member of brutal Bosnian Serb military unit sentenced to jail for concealing his military past – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (November 20, 2006)
3. ICE probe leads to indictement of four former members of Bosnian Serb military for immigration fraud – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (June 8 2006)
4. Thirteen past members of Serbian military indicted for immigration fraud – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (September 14, 2005)
5. Four Serb suspects arrested in Chicago
6. Four Serbs on trial for Srebrenica genocide; Two of them deported from the U.S.
7. Butchers of Srebrenica hiding in the U.S.
8. The United States deports two Serbs wanted for Srebrenica massacre
9. Bosnian Serb immigrants failed to disclose their past service in Genocidal military
10. Marko Boskic – Srebrenica murderer
11. Butcher of Srebrenica wants his own admission kept silent
12. Srebrenica massacre gunmen will not face torture charges
13. Elusive Justice: a man who gunned down 1,200 Srebrenica Bosniaks
14. Phoenix, Arizona: Mecca for Serb suspects of Srebrenica genocide