02.07.2023

Balkans Monitor 1/7/2023

Last Tuesday, marked the 28^th anniversary ceremony of the Srebrenica massacre, where tens of thousands of people from around Bosnia and around gathered, including state officials, foreign dignitaries, and Bosnians. Before the event, an annual 110-kilometer peace march was held, consisting of a three day hike with over 6,000 participants, who retraced a route taken by thousands of men and boys from the Bosniak ethnic group, made up primarily of Muslims, who were slaughtered as they attempted to escape Srebrenica after it was taken by Bosnian Serb forces towards the end of the 1992-95 Bosnian war.

During the ceremony, 30 victims – 27 men and 3 boys, were laid to rest after DNA analysis recently identified them. Remains from their bodies were carried to Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center in Potocari, where at least 6,700 of the estimated 8,000 victims have been buried. Commonplace is the burial of only part of the victims remains as typically there are found scattered over several different mass graves.

Vanessa Tinker