Uzroci i posljedice genocida nad Bošnjacima u istočnoj Bosni s naglaskom na zaštićenu zonu Srebrenica
Causes and Consequences of Genocide against Bosniaks in Eastern Bosnia with Emphasis on the Srebrenica Protected Zone

Author(s): Sakib Softić
Subject(s): Local History / Microhistory, Political history, Studies in violence and power, Victimology, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010), Geopolitics, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Institut za istraživanje zločina protiv čovječnosti i međunarodnog prava Univerziteta u Sarajevu
Keywords: aggression; genocide; peace plans; Bosniak enclaves; the consent of the international community;
Summary/Abstract: This article deals with the causes and outcomes of the genocide against Bosniaks in and around Srebrenica in July 1995. The author’s position is that during the entire period of aggression against the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 1992 – 1995. genocide against Bosniaks took place on the territory of the entire State. In its Judgement of 26 February 2007, the International Court of Justice ruled that acts of genocide (actus reus) had been committed against Bosniaks throughout the duration of the international armed conflict. The international armed conflict took place on its territory between the Yugoslav People’s Army on the one and the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina the other hand. But Bosnia and Herzegovina managed to prove the existence of genocidal intent (mens rea) only in and around Srebrenica in July 1995. In this paper, to the extent permitted by the nature and scope of the work, the author briefly explored and analyzed the historical context in which the genocide was committed, the geopolitical reasons for the Serbian aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the goals of the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the genocide of Bosniaks, situation on the battlefield 1995, peace plans and Bosniak enclaves in Eastern Bosnia, possible consent of the “international community” for the occupation of the enclaves by the Army of the Republika Srpska in order to simplify the maps as a precondition for concluding a peace agreement, the Bosnian Serbs’ historical hatred against Bosniaks and their historical experience of impunity for crimes committed against Bosniaks, as well as the belief that they were given a unique historical opportunity to realize their historical aspirations by genocide against Bosniaks: the elimination of non-Serbs and the annexation to the Serbian state of parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina territory vest of the Drina River. Following this discussion, the consequences of committing genocide in and around Srebrenica are briefly presented and analyzed. The opinion of the author is that each of the mentioned factors was a precondition for genocide to be committed and that all of them together, to a different extent, presented the cause of genocide. The consequence of committing genocide is the demographic collapse of Eastern Bosnia and Podrinje and a temporary change in the ethnic structure of the population in that area.

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