There is no room for interpretation regarding what happened in Srebrenica in 1995 and those who deny that it was genocide are destabilizing peace in the region and “history will not judge them kindly,” a statement by the Principals of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) said on Sunday, the 26th anniversary of the crime.
Families buried on Sunday 19 victims of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide at a commemoration ceremony attended by thousands of those who came to pay respect to more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys killed in Europe’s worst atrocity since WWII.
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The IRMCT, the successor to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), also commemorated the anniversary of the genocide.
“While time passes, the suffering of the victims does not and the memories of lost loved ones remain vivid,” the statement said.
“On this day we, the Principals of the Mechanism, join those affected in remembering the horrors of the genocide in July 1995 and the agony of its aftermath. We commend the remarkable courage displayed by survivors and bereft families. We stand with them as they continue to pursue accountability and the truth.”
It said that ICTY and IRMCT judges and staff “have worked tirelessly to bring perpetrators of the Srebrenica genocide to justice” and that investigations in the months after the genocide led to a first indictment, confirmed on 16 November 1995.
“The first ICTY trial judgement to find that genocide was committed in Srebrenica was rendered almost 20 years ago, on 2 August 2001. Since then, this conclusion has been consistently confirmed by both the ICTY and the Mechanism, including most recently in the Appeal Judgement against Ratko Mladic, delivered last month,” it said, referring to the former Bosnian Serb commander who was sentenced to life for numerous war crimes, including genocide.
“The careful investigation and adjudication of the Srebrenica crimes leaves no room for interpretation. Those who dare to deny the genocide attempt to destabilize peace in the region. They are remnants of the then-prevailing atmosphere of impunity that resulted in the tragic events in Srebrenica. History will not judge them kindly,” it said.
The statement also noted that the IRMCT has concluded its last case regarding the Srebrenica crimes but also that “the journey towards justice for the victims is not over.”
“It will be for the domestic judiciaries in the region of the former Yugoslavia to adjudicate the remaining war crimes cases, including those relating to Srebrenica,” it said, adding that IRMCT will continue to offer support to ensure that all perpetrators are held to account
“The events of July 1995 should serve as a stark warning to us all and must never be forgotten. Please join us today in commemorating the Srebrenica genocide,” the statement concluded.
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