Latest news with #Bosnian-Serb
DW
3 days ago
- DW
Bosnia-Herzegovina: 30 years after the Srebrenica massacre – DW – 07/21/2025
In July 1995, Bosnian-Serb troops murdered more than 8,000 inhabitants of the town of Srebrenica. The genocide was arguably the worst crime in Europe since 1945. Relatives of the victims are traumatized to this day.
Scotsman
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Remembering grave atrocity should strengthen resolve to uphold peace, human rights and justice
The Scottish delegation visits Srebrenica Memorial Centre with Bosnian mothers of genocide victims This month marks 30 years since the genocide at Srebrenica, where over 8000 Bosnian men and boys were murdered by Bosnian-Serb forces. It remains the gravest atrocity committed on European soil since the Second World War. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In February 2014, I led the first Scottish delegation to Srebrenica, supported by the UK charity Remembering Srebrenica. During our visit, we met survivors, religious leaders, police and the International Commission on Missing Persons in Sarajevo. The experience left a lasting impression and deepened our understanding of the importance of remembrance and justice. Shortly after the trip came the foundation of Remembering Srebrenica Scotland, an independent charity which has since led national efforts in education, commemoration and outreach. Across Scotland, schools, faith groups and local authorities take part in Srebrenica Memorial Week each July. The charity, now called Beyond Srebrenica, also runs a schools programme that helps young people learn about the consequences of hatred and division. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In May 2024, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated July 11 as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. The resolution underlines the global responsibility to remember and to challenge genocide denial and hate speech. Scotland's engagement reflects a strong commitment to those principles. Beyond Srebrenica Scotland has amplified the voices of survivors, encouraged critical discussion, and built solidarity with Bosnia's diaspora communities. Marking this anniversary is not only about remembering the past. It is also about strengthening our collective resolve to uphold peace, human rights and justice in the present and for the future. Indeed, as we observe devastating conflicts in the world today, genocide remains very real. Angus Robertson is SNP MSP for Edinburgh Central and Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Secretary
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bosnian-Serb leader sentenced to jail in landmark trial
A one-year prison sentence and a six-year ban on holding public office might seem like a heavy penalty for a politician. But the Bosnian-Serb leader Milorad Dodik made light of the verdict at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The president of the country's majority-Serb Republika Srpska region told supporters at a rally in the regional capital Banja Luka there was "no reason to worry". His conviction on charges of ignoring the rulings of the international High Representative was "nonsense", he said. Dodik said he had "learned to deal with more difficult things" and called on the crowd in Republika Srpska's de facto capital to "be cheerful". The verdict was the culmination of a long-running conflict between Dodik and the international High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt. Schmidt is still the supreme authority in Bosnia, 30 years on from the Dayton Agreement which ended the Bosnian War of the 1990s. The high representative has the power to impose or annul laws – and sack officials ranging from judges to political leaders. One former holder of the post, Paddy Ashdown, the former leader of the UK's Liberal Democrats, sacked almost 60 Bosnian-Serb officials in a single day in 2004, in a crackdown on their protection of war criminals. But the high representative's powers have been used much more sparingly in subsequent years, as Bosnia's international supporters stepped back in the hope that local leaders would work together to create a viable and prosperous country. The strategy has not been a success. Ethno-nationalist leaders remain entrenched in a country which is divided into two "entities" – the majority-Serb Republika Srpska and the Federation, where the population are mostly Bosniaks and Croats. The central government is weak – and there is little incentive for parties to cooperate. Instead, their guiding philosophy is simple and self-interested: divide, rule and profit. As a result, the country is struggling with low wages, a sluggish economy and a constant flow of emigration by talented people seeking a better future elsewhere. "Bosnians of all ethnicities are united by their disdain for their own leaders," says Toby Vogel, co-founder of the Democratisation Policy Council think tank. "They would love not to vote for these guys, but it's structurally almost impossible for cross-community politicians and parties to emerge." Instead, leaders like Dodik get elected, time after time. The leader of the SNSD party has previously served as the Serb representative of the three-person national presidency and first became prime minister of Republika Srpska in 1998. A constant theme of his leadership has been the threat to trigger the secession of the majority-Serb region. Dodik and his government have consistently worked to undermine Bosnia's national institutions, introducing a series of laws to withdraw Republika Srpska from the armed forces, judiciary and tax system. Such efforts eventually pushed the high representative to take action and annul the secessionist legislation. Christian Schmidt warned that a renewal of conflict was possible, but insisted that he would "not sit still while others seek to dismantle [decades] of peace, stability and progress". Dodik apparently viewed that as a challenge. He approved a law declaring that Republika Srpska would no longer recognise Schmidt's rulings. The high representative had already annulled the legislation – and made it a criminal offence to contradict his decisions. That led to the prosecution of the Bosnian-Serb leader – with prosecutors calling for a maximum five-year prison sentence and 10-year ban from holding elected office. Dodik warned he would take "radical measures" if found guilty. His conviction has not brought any fireworks so far. At this point, Dodik is insisting that he will not appeal. Instead, Republika Srpska's government is once again proposing legislation to withdraw from national institutions – including the court which passed the guilty verdict. But Dodik is facing problems beyond Bosnia's borders. The US and UK have imposed sanctions on him and his family for corruption - threatening the unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina - and connections with Russia. Toby Vogel believes that is more likely to threaten the Bosnian-Serb leader than the court conviction. "The conflict with the high representative will intensify," he says. "But Dodik might well be running out of road." "He is running out of cash to pay his bloated administration… and he can no longer raise money on international markets. So, he is in very deep trouble indeed." None of this will be much comfort to the long-suffering people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are still enduring the interminable wait for the prosperity promised by ethno-nationalists like Dodik. This latest court battle shows how distant that prospect remains.
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Milorad Dodik: Bosnian-Serb leader sentenced to jail in landmark trial
A one-year prison sentence and a six-year ban on holding public office might seem like a heavy penalty for a politician. But the Bosnian-Serb leader Milorad Dodik made light of the verdict at the Court of Bosnia and president of the country's majority-Serb Republika Srpska region told supporters at a rally in the regional capital Banja Luka there was "no reason to worry".His conviction on charges of ignoring the rulings of the international High Representative was "nonsense", he said. Dodik said he had "learned to deal with more difficult things" and called on the crowd in Republika Srpska's de facto capital to "be cheerful".The verdict was the culmination of a long-running conflict between Dodik and the international High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian is still the supreme authority in Bosnia, 30 years on from the Dayton Agreement which ended the Bosnian War of the 1990s. The high representative has the power to impose or annul laws – and sack officials ranging from judges to political former holder of the post, Paddy Ashdown, the former leader of the UK's Liberal Democrats, sacked almost 60 Bosnian-Serb officials in a single day in 2004, in a crackdown on their protection of war the high representative's powers have been used much more sparingly in subsequent years, as Bosnia's international supporters stepped back in the hope that local leaders would work together to create a viable and prosperous strategy has not been a success. Ethno-nationalist leaders remain entrenched in a country which is divided into two "entities" – the majority-Serb Republika Srpska and the Federation, where the population are mostly Bosniaks and central government is weak – and there is little incentive for parties to cooperate. Instead, their guiding philosophy is simple and self-interested: divide, rule and a result, the country is struggling with low wages, a sluggish economy and a constant flow of emigration by talented people seeking a better future elsewhere."Bosnians of all ethnicities are united by their disdain for their own leaders," says Toby Vogel, co-founder of the Democratisation Policy Council think tank."They would love not to vote for these guys, but it's structurally almost impossible for cross-community politicians and parties to emerge." Instead, leaders like Dodik get elected, time after time. The leader of the SNSD party has previously served as the Serb representative of the three-person national presidency and first became prime minister of Republika Srpska in 1998.A constant theme of his leadership has been the threat to trigger the secession of the majority-Serb region. Dodik and his government have consistently worked to undermine Bosnia's national institutions, introducing a series of laws to withdraw Republika Srpska from the armed forces, judiciary and tax efforts eventually pushed the high representative to take action and annul the secessionist legislation. Christian Schmidt warned that a renewal of conflict was possible, but insisted that he would "not sit still while others seek to dismantle [decades] of peace, stability and progress".Dodik apparently viewed that as a challenge. He approved a law declaring that Republika Srpska would no longer recognise Schmidt's rulings. The high representative had already annulled the legislation – and made it a criminal offence to contradict his led to the prosecution of the Bosnian-Serb leader – with prosecutors calling for a maximum five-year prison sentence and 10-year ban from holding elected office. Dodik warned he would take "radical measures" if found conviction has not brought any fireworks so far. At this point, Dodik is insisting that he will not appeal. Instead, Republika Srpska's government is once again proposing legislation to withdraw from national institutions – including the court which passed the guilty Dodik is facing problems beyond Bosnia's borders. The US and UK have imposed sanctions on him and his family for corruption - threatening the unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina - and connections with Russia. Toby Vogel believes that is more likely to threaten the Bosnian-Serb leader than the court conviction."The conflict with the high representative will intensify," he says. "But Dodik might well be running out of road.""He is running out of cash to pay his bloated administration… and he can no longer raise money on international markets. So, he is in very deep trouble indeed."None of this will be much comfort to the long-suffering people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are still enduring the interminable wait for the prosperity promised by ethno-nationalists like Dodik. This latest court battle shows how distant that prospect remains.
