Today in Dublin, a heartfelt commemoration is taking place to honor the 30th anniversary of the genocide at Srebrenica, situated in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was here that over 8,000 men and boys lost their lives at the hands of Bosnian Serb forces, a tragedy that shook the very foundations of humanity.
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This horrific event unfolded in a region designated by the United Nations as a “safe haven.”
Paul Cunningham, who began his reporting journey amid the conflict in Bosnia in 1993, shares the poignant story of one survivor, Hajrudin Mesić, who lost four brothers amidst the chaos.
For Hajrudin, the moment he grasped the genocidal intent of the Bosnian Serb Army arrived late one night, as he lay hidden in the bushes, exhausted and starving. It was a desperate bid for survival.
He was among a group of men attempting to flee Srebrenica, which had just fallen to Bosnian Serb control, in hopes of reaching safer government-controlled territory approximately 70 kilometers away. The men, primarily Bosnian Muslims, identified as Bosniaks—individuals committed to a multi-ethnic state. Yet, they were relentlessly pursued through the forests by their enemies.
Reflecting on that harrowing experience, Hajrudin expressed, “I felt it was better to die trying to live than await execution.”
At times, Bosnian Serb forces donned United Nations uniforms to deceive those fleeing into revealing their positions. On other occasions, they impersonated government officers, calling out through loudhailers to coax individuals from their hiding spots.
As one member of Hajrudin’s group, worn down and weary, approached a Bosnian Serb militia, pleading for mercy, a soldier responded coldly: “We didn’t come here to negotiate with you—we came here to end things with you, once and for all.”
In that chilling moment, Hajrudin realized their fate was sealed. He recounted, “At about 2 am or 3 am, I decided to run. I felt it was better to die trying to live than await execution.”
His instinct proved correct. Back in Srebrenica, as UN peacekeepers retreated, the head of Bosnian Serb forces, General Ratko Mladić, was executing a brutal plan. While, for the cameras, women and children were given sweets and bread, thousands of Bosnian Muslim men and boys were methodically slaughtered over ten gruesome days.
General Mladić, driven by a deep-seated hatred for Bosnian Muslims, orchestrated a campaign of ethnic cleansing with the covert support of Serbian President Slobodan Milošević.
Hajrudin’s own journey to Srebrenica began when his village was shelled by Bosnian Serb forces, forcing his family to flee. He recalled, “On the worst day of bombardment, 76 people—almost a quarter of the population—were killed in one day.”
Footage from Srebrenica captured the moment the town fell, showcasing a triumphant Mladić dismissively referring to the local population as “Turks,” a term he used as an insult.
This derogatory reference highlighted the historical connection between many Bosnian Muslims and the Ottoman Empire that once ruled the region.
Srebrenica, a town strategically important due to its ancient silver mines, was initially held by Bosniaks loyal to the government in Sarajevo. However, it quickly became encircled by Bosnian Serb forces following the outbreak of war in 1992. Although the UN Security Council designated it as a “safe haven” in April 1993, the inadequately supplied Dutch peacekeepers were unable to halt the tightening siege.
By July 1995, after NATO’s forces returned to base without intervening, Mladić moved decisively to seize Srebrenica and secure his genocidal goal. The world stood idle, watching.
At just 21 years old, Hajrudin embarked on a perilous escape for survival. He recounted, “I reached a point where I didn’t trust anyone, and the paranoia was intense.” His experiences prior—a brother shot by a Bosnian Serb sniper and another killed by artillery—had taken their toll.
In the chaos of fleeing, Hajrudin became separated from his brother, who did not survive. His grief was compounded by the loss of four brothers to the relentless hostility.
Despite the darkness around him, he clung to optimism. “I was living from one minute to the next… I’m an optimist by nature and had faith that I would get through it,” he shared.
His grueling 17-day journey toward safety was fraught with danger and desperation. “We were exhausted and the pain from hunger was horrible. If I sat down, I would dream of food,” he recalled.
Hajrudin navigated perilous encounters, including one where he narrowly escaped after a firefight ensued during an ambush. As he grappled with the reality of his surroundings, he noted, “My parents treated my arrival like a gift from heaven.”
In 2003, after years of searching, Hajrudin learned the location of his fourth brother’s remains, buried in a minefield. The anguish of losing his siblings weighed heavily on him. He expressed, “Bosniaks placed great hopes on the international community for protection, yet they were ultimately betrayed.”
He emphasized that international actions inadvertently empowered the perpetrators. It was only after another massacre in Sarajevo that NATO-led airstrikes began, yet the delay stuck with him as an unanswered question: “Why did it take so long for intervention after the fall of Srebrenica?”
In time, Ratko Mladić was brought to justice, but for Hajrudin, such outcomes bring little solace. Despite the conviction, he remarked, “That is of little consolation for the victims of genocide,” especially remembering his brothers.
Hajrudin, as one of the rare survivors, feels a duty to speak out, sharing, “I guess someone had to survive and spread the truth.” For him, Srebrenica remains an open wound, a trauma that resurfaces every July during commemorative ceremonies.
His faith has played a significant role in his endurance through such horrors. “I must not lose optimism; that would be capitulation, which the perpetrators of genocide would be thrilled about,” he stated confidently.
Hajrudin also believes in honoring the memory of those lost, stating, “As one of the few survivors, I must support others who might lose hope.” Today, many survivors thrive in various professions, dedicating their lives to improving the world around them.
To some extent, Hajrudin has fulfilled his dream. He is now a teacher, residing in Sarajevo with his wife and children. However, the bitterness remains. “After Srebrenica, the world proclaimed, ‘never again.’ Yet, this promise seems to have been forgotten,” he lamented.
Hajrudin highlighted the ongoing crises in regions like Gaza as reminders of the world’s failures. “Society seems to be rushing toward moral collapse, turning a blind eye to the suffering in various places,” he pointed out.
Srebrenica continues to exist under the control of the Bosnian Serb entity, Republika Srpska, led by Milorad Dodik, who dismisses the genocide’s reality. Hajrudin condemned this, stating, “The peace agreement rewarded the aggressors while punishing the victims of genocide.”
In a significant step forward, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution designating July 11 as the “International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica,” an annual observance to ensure these memories are never forgotten.
However, the resolution faced opposition, particularly from Serbia’s President, who labeled it as “highly politicised.” Nevertheless, it passed, emphasizing the condemnation of any denial of the genocide.
This July, the Dáil will also commemorate the Srebrenica genocide, with members observing a minute of silence.
Indeed, today’s remembrance is a collective commitment to honor lost lives and to affirm that such atrocities must never be allowed to happen again.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
