Revision as of 02:43, 13 June 2015 editPeacemaker67 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators95,451 edits →Provocation, takeover, and massacre: added material from History Channel video re: Haviv← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 11:47, 20 November 2024 edit undoRangasyd (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers108,206 edits added Category:20th-century attacks on mosques using HotCat | ||
(292 intermediate revisions by 85 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Killing of civilians by Serb paramilitary groups in Bijeljina during Bosnian Civil War}}{{good article}} | |||
{{Merge from |Capture of Bijeljina|discuss=Talk:Bijeljina massacre#Merge of Capture of Bijeljina into this article|date=June 2015}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} | |||
{{good article}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2013}} | |||
{{Infobox civilian attack | {{Infobox civilian attack | ||
| title= Bijeljina massacre | | title= Bijeljina massacre | ||
| partof = the ] | | partof = the ] | ||
| image_size = |
| image_size = 300 | ||
| image = Ron Haviv - Massacre in Bijeljina.jpg | | image = Ron Haviv - Massacre in Bijeljina.jpg | ||
| alt = Dying woman kicked | | alt = Dying woman kicked | ||
| caption = ]'s image showing a member of the Serb Volunteer Guard kicking a dying Bosniak woman | | caption = ]'s image showing Srđan Golubović (a member of the ]) kicking Tifa Šabanović, a dying Bosniak woman | ||
| location = ], ] | | location = ], ] | ||
| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q3500162|display=inline,title}} | |||
| target = ] | | target = ] | ||
| date = 1–2 April 1992 | | date = 1–2 April 1992 | ||
| time = | | time = | ||
| timezone = | | timezone = | ||
| type = Mass |
| type = Mass killing | ||
| fatalities = 48–78 | | fatalities = 48–78 verified | ||
| injuries = | | injuries = | ||
| perps = ] |
| perps = ]<br />] | ||
| motive = Establishment of homogenous Serb territory{{sfn| |
| motive = Establishment of homogenous Serb territory{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|pp=2, 16, 33}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Bijeljina massacre''' was the killing of ] (Bosnian Muslims) in the town of ] on 1–2 April 1992 during the ]. The killings also included members of other ethnicities including Serbs deemed unloyal by the local Serb authorities. They were committed by a local paramilitary group known as Mirko's ] and the ] (SDG), a ]n paramilitary group under the command of the ] (JNA) that was subordinate to Serbian ] ]. | |||
The '''Bijeljina massacre''' involved the killing of civilians by ] paramilitary groups in ] on 1–2 April 1992 in the run-up to the ]. The majority of those killed were ] (Bosnian Muslims). Members of other ethnicities were also killed, such as Serbs deemed disloyal by the local authorities. The killings were committed by a local paramilitary group known as Mirko's ] and by the ] (SDG, also known as Arkan's Tigers), a ]-based paramilitary group led by ]. The SDG were under the command of the ] (JNA),{{sfn|Magaš|Žanić|2001|p=182}} which was controlled by ] ]. | |||
In September 1991, ] had claimed Bijeljina as part of a ] which they proclaimed, and in March 1992, the ] was passed with overwhelming support from Bosniaks and ]. A poorly organized local Bosniak ] had been established in response to the Bosnian Serb proclamation and on 31 March it was provoked into an armed conflict by local Serbs and the SDG. On 1–2 April, the SDG and the JNA overtook Bijeljina with little resistance; murders, rapes, house searches, and pillaging followed. On 3 April, Serb forces removed the bodies of those massacred in anticipation of the arrival of a Bosnian government delegation tasked with investigating what had transpired. A number of sources put the figure of civilians killed in the hundreds or even a thousand, but the ] (ICTY) was only able to verify a minimum of 48 deaths, and the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor's Office estimates that the takeover resulted in the deaths of 78 individuals. Post-war investigations have only been able to verify the deaths of a little over 250 civilian of all ethnicities in the Bijeljina municipality over the course of the war. After the massacre, a campaign of mass ] of non-Serbs was carried out, all mosques were demolished, and nine detention camps were established. | |||
In September 1991, ] had proclaimed a ] with Bijeljina as its capital. In March 1992, the ] was passed with overwhelming support from Bosniaks and ], although Bosnian Serbs either boycotted it or were prevented from voting by Bosnian Serb authorities.{{fact|date=April 2024}}<!--Applies to 'were prevented from voting by Bosnian Serb authorities'.--> A poorly organized, local Bosniak ] paramilitary group had been established in response to the Bosnian Serb proclamation. On 31 March, the Patriotic League in Bijeljina was provoked into fighting by local Serbs and the SDG.{{sfn|Gow|2003|p=128}}{{sfn|United Nations Security Council|1994}}{{sfn|Central Intelligence Agency|2002|p=135}}{{sfn|Toal|Dahlman|2011|p=113}}{{sfn|Calic|2012|p=125}} On 1–2 April, the SDG and the JNA took over Bijeljina with little resistance; murders, rapes, house searches, and pillaging followed. These actions were described as ] by the historian Professor Eric D. Weitz of the ]. Professor ] of the ] concluded that they were carried out to erase the cultural history of the Bosniak people of Bijeljina. | |||
{{As of|2013|October}}, local courts had not prosecuted anyone for the deaths, but a member of the SDG was under arrest at the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor's Office. Milošević was indicted by the ICTY and charged with carrying out a genocidal campaign that included Bijeljina and other locations, but he died while the trial was in progress.{{sfn|Armatta|2010|pp=285, 470}} A number of ] leaders were convicted for the deportations and forcible transfers in the ethnic cleansing that followed the massacre{{sfn|ICTY|Momčilo Krajišnik CIS|p=1}}{{sfn|ICTY|Biljana Plavšić CIS|p=1}} and ], former ], is currently on trial for the massacre and other crimes against humanity committed in Bijelina. In 2002, fewer than 2,700 Bosniaks still lived in the town from a pre-war population of 30,000. Local Serbs celebrate 1 April as the "liberation day of Bijeljina" and a street there has been named in honor of the SDG. | |||
Around 3 April, Serb forces removed the bodies of those massacred in anticipation of the arrival of a Bosnian government delegation tasked with investigating what had transpired. The ] (ICTY) and the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor's Office were able to verify between 48 and 78 deaths. Post-war investigations have documented the deaths of a little over 250 civilians of all ethnicities in the Bijeljina municipality during the course of the war. After the massacre, a campaign of mass ] of non-Serbs was carried out, all mosques were demolished, and nine detention camps were established. Many deaths in Bijeljina were not officially listed as civilian war victims and their death certificates claim they "died of natural causes." | |||
{{As of|2014|December}}, local courts had not prosecuted anyone for the killings, and no members of the SDG had been prosecuted for any crimes the unit carried out in Bijeljina or elsewhere in ] or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Milošević was indicted by the ICTY and charged with carrying out a genocidal campaign that included Bijeljina and other locations, but died during the trial. ] leaders ] and ] were convicted for the deportations and forcible transfers in the ethnic cleansing that followed the massacre. ], the former ], was convicted for the massacre and other crimes against humanity committed in Bijeljina. ] and ], Serbian intelligence officers, were also convicted. At the end of the war, fewer than 2,700 Bosniaks still lived in the municipality from a pre-war population of 30,000. The Serbs of Bijeljina celebrate 1 April as "City Defense Day", and a street in the city has been named after the SDG. | |||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
{{Location map | Bosnia and Herzegovina | {{Location map | Bosnia and Herzegovina | ||
| width |
| width = 250 | ||
| float |
| float = right | ||
| caption |
| caption = Location of the town of Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. | ||
| alt |
| alt = Map locating the town of Bijeljina | ||
| lat_deg = 44. |
| lat_deg = 44.7575 | ||
| lon_deg = 19. |
| lon_deg = 19.2175 | ||
}} | }} | ||
According to the 1991 census, the municipality of ] had |
According to the 1991 census, the municipality of ] had approximately 97,000 inhabitants. The demographic proportions were approximately 59% ], 31% ] and 10% belonged to other ethnicities.{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=11}} The town of Bijeljina itself had 36,414 inhabitants, 19,024 of whom were Bosniaks (or 52% of the town's population), while the ] were the second largest ethnic group in the town.{{sfn|Institute for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina|1993|p=17}} | ||
During 1990, a group of Serb ] (JNA) officers and experts from the JNA's Psychological Operations Department had developed the ]{{sfn|Allen|1996|p=56}} with the intent of organizing Serbs outside of ], consolidating control of the ] (SDS), and preparing arms and ammunition.{{sfn|Judah|2000|p=170}} In 1990 and 1991, Serbs in ] and ] had proclaimed a number of ] with the intent of later unifying them into a homogeneous Serb territory.{{sfn|Lukic|Lynch|1996|p=203}}{{sfn|Bugajski|1995|p=15}} As early as September or October 1990, the JNA began arming Bosnian Serbs and organizing them into militias.{{sfn|Ramet|2006|p=414}} That same year, the JNA disarmed the ] (TORBiH).{{sfn|Central Intelligence Agency|2002|p=135}} By March 1991, the JNA had distributed an estimated 51,900 firearms to Serb ] and 23,298 firearms to the SDS.{{sfn|Ramet|2006|p=414}} Throughout 1991 and early 1992, the SDS heavily ] the police force in order to increase Serb political control.{{sfn|Central Intelligence Agency|2002|p=135}} In September 1991, Bijeljina was established by the Bosnian Serbs as the capital of the ], later renamed in November as the Serbian Autonomous Oblast of ], renamed again in December as the "Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Semberija and ]".{{sfn|Thomas|2006|p=9}} In response, local Bosniaks established the paramilitary ], shortened to the Patriotic League.{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=12}} | |||
In January 1992, the SDS assembly proclaimed the |
In January 1992, the SDS assembly proclaimed the "Republic of the Serbian People of Bosnia and Herzegovina" and ], its soon-to-be president, announced that a "unified Bosnia and Herzegovina no longer exists".{{sfn|Toal|Dahlman|2011|p=110}} In March, the ] passed with overwhelming support from Bosniaks and ], having been boycotted by most Bosnian Serbs.{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=12}} The SDS, claiming that independence would result in the Serbs becoming "a national minority in an Islamic state",{{sfn|Toal|Dahlman|2011|p=110}} had used armed irregular units to block the delivery of ballot boxes, and dropped leaflets encouraging the boycott.{{sfn|Gow|2003|p=173}} Despite this, thousands of Serbs in larger cities did participate in the referendum and voted for independence,{{sfn|Velikonja|2003|p=238}} and several violent incidents were triggered across Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=12}} According to historian ] the "steps taken by Karadžić and his party – "Autonomous Regions", the arming of the Serb population, minor local incidents, non-stop propaganda, the request for federal army "protection" – matched exactly what had been done in Croatia. Few observers could doubt that a single plan was in operation."{{sfn|Lukic|Lynch|1996|p=204}} Bijeljina was strategically significant because of its location, which enabled the easy movement of military personnel, weaponry, and goods into ] and the ] where Serb forces were gathered.{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=15}} | ||
According to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Bijeljina was the "first municipality of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be taken over by the Bosnian Serbs in 1992".{{sfn|ICTY|27 September 2006|p=113}} It was strategically significant because of its location, which enabled the easy movement of military personnel, weaponry, and goods into ] and the ] where Serb forces were.{{sfn|HRW|May 2000|p=15}} | |||
==Provocation, takeover, and massacre== | ==Provocation, takeover, and massacre== | ||
] ("Arkan"), leader of the ] (SDG), spent a month in Bijeljina devising battle plans prior to the attack.{{sfn|United Nations Security Council|1994}} On 30 March 1992, ], Bosnian Serb chief-of-staff of the JNA, announced that the army was "ready to protect Serbs from open aggression".{{sfn|Goldstein|1999|p=242}} Fighting broke out in Bijeljina on 1 April, after local Serbs and SDG personnel threw grenades into shops,{{sfn|Gow|2003|p=128}} including a Bosniak-owned cafe,{{sfn|United Nations Security Council|1994}} provoking the poorly organized Patriotic League into an armed conflict.{{sfn|Central Intelligence Agency|2002|p=135}}{{sfn|Toal|Dahlman|2011|p=113}}{{sfn|Calic|2012|p=125}} About a thousand{{sfn|United Nations Security Council|1994}}{{sfn|Toal|Dahlman|2011|p=113}} SDG members and Mirko's ],{{sfn|International Crisis Group|2000|pp=10–13}} a paramilitary formation commanded by ], were involved and captured important structures in the town.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=113}} According to journalist and political analyst Miloš Vasić, Bijeljina was defended by 35 or 38 Bosnian policemen.{{sfn|Amanpour|1997}} According to the ] (ICTY), Bijeljina was the "first municipality of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be taken over by the Bosnian Serbs in 1992".{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=113}} Despite the pro-Serb activities of the JNA during the ], the Chairman of the ], ] apparently believed that the JNA would act differently in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and asked the JNA to defend Bijeljina against the SDG.{{sfn|Kumar|1999|p=40}} | |||
On 1–2 April 1992, the town was surrounded by JNA forces,{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=113}} ostensibly to keep the peace.{{sfn|Central Intelligence Agency|2002|p=135}} According to ] (HRW), Serb paramilitaries wearing balaclavas took up positions around the city, including sniper positions in windows on the top floor of buildings.{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|1992}} Meeting little resistance,{{sfn|Amnesty International|1994|p=5}} the SDG, under JNA command{{sfn|Magaš|Žanić|2001|p=182}}{{quotation needed|date=April 2024}} and reporting directly to Serbian President ],{{sfn|Ramet|2006|p=427}} swiftly captured Bijeljina.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=113}} Artillery units shelled the town in coordination with the street fighting.{{sfn|Gow|2003|p=129}} According to photojournalist ], Serb forces struck first, with several busloads of soldiers arriving in the city, seizing the radio station, and forcing local Serbs to reveal the identities of the city's non-Serb residents.{{sfn|Keane|2003}} A paramilitary group led by ], who was a founder of the SDS,{{sfn|BBC|2000}} also participated in the assault or arrived shortly after.{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|pp=11–12}} Together with the SDG, they began a campaign of violence against local Bosniaks and some of the Serb population, committing several rapes and murders, and searching residents' houses and pillaging their property.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=117}} Subsequently, Bosnian President Izetbegović tasked the JNA with occupying Bijeljina and stopping the violence.{{sfn|Magaš|Žanić|2001|p=182}} At Karadžić's trial, the former Mayor of Bijeljina Cvijetin Simić, testified that the only real fighting that took place in the town on 1–2 April happened around the city hospital, where the most fatalities occurred.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|Radovan Karadžić transcript|2013|p=35702}} | |||
] ("Arkan"), leader of the ] (SDG), spent a month in Bijeljina devising battle plans prior to the attack.{{sfn|UNSC|28 December 1994}} On 30 March 1992, ], Bosnian Serb chief-of-staff of the JNA, announced that the army was "ready to protect Serbs from open aggression".{{sfn|Goldstein|1999|p=242}} Fighting broke out in Bijeljina the following day after local Serbs and SDG personnel threw grenades into shops,{{sfn|Gow|2003|p=128}} including a Bosniak-owned cafe,{{sfn|UNSC|28 December 1994}} provoking the poorly organized Patriotic League into an armed conflict.{{sfn|OREA|2002|p=135}}{{sfn|Toal|Dahlman|2011|p=113}}{{sfn|Calic|2012|p=125}} About a thousand{{sfn|UNSC|28 December 1994}}{{sfn|Toal|Dahlman|2011|p=113}} SDG members and Mirko's ],{{sfn|ICG|2 November 2000|pp=10–13}} a paramilitary formation commanded by ], were involved and captured its important structures.{{sfn|ICTY|27 September 2006|p=113}} In an interview with ]'s ], Belgrade journalist and political analyst Milos Vasic stated that Bijeljina was defended by 35 or 38 Bosnian policemen,{{sfn|Amanpour|1 June 1997}} (although a territorial defense group & ]<ref>http://www.justice-report.com/en/articles/news-muslim-extremists-to-be-blamed-for-conflict</ref> militiamen were also known too be present). | |||
As the fighting progressed, the SDS and the Bosnian Serbs created the ] (MUP RS), an independent Serb police force.{{sfn|Central Intelligence Agency|2002|p=135}} According to HRW, a pattern of violence, fueled by "the strive to create a ]",{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|pp=2, 16, 33}} developed in Bijeljina that was later repeated in other municipalities in north-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina by similar paramilitary groups from ].{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=113}} This pattern was described by the ] Commission of Experts in the following terms:{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=16}} | |||
On 1 or 2 April 1992, the town was encircled by JNA soldiers, tanks, and other vehicles{{sfn|ICTY|27 September 2006|p=113}} to ostensibly keep the peace.{{sfn|OREA|2002|p=135}} Meeting little resistance,{{sfn|AI|21 December 1994|p=5}} the SDG, under JNA command,{{sfn|Magaš|Žanić|2001|p=182}} and reporting directly to Serbian President ],{{sfn|Ramet|2006|p=427}} swiftly captured Bijeljina.{{sfn|ICTY|27 September 2006|p=113}} According to photo journalist ], it was the Serbs that struck first in Bijeljina, with several busloads of soldiers arriving in the city, seizing the radio station, and forcing local Serbs to reveal the identities of the city's non-Serb residents.{{sfn|Keane|2003}} The ], a paramilitary group led by ] ("Mauzer"), also participated in the assault or arrived shortly after.{{sfn|HRW|May 2000|pp=11–12}} Together with the SDG, they began a campaign of violence against local Bosniaks and some of the Serb population, committing several rapes and murders, and searching residents' houses and pillaging their property.{{sfn|ICTY|27 September 2006|p=117}} Subsequently, Bosnian President ] tasked the JNA with occupying Bijeljina and stopping the violence.{{sfn|Magaš|Žanić|2001|p=182}} | |||
As the fighting progressed, the SDS and the Bosnian Serbs created the ], an independent Serb police force.{{sfn|OREA|2002|p=135}} According to Human Rights Watch, a pattern of violence, fueled by "the strive to create a Greater Serbia",{{sfn|HRW|May 2000|pp=2, 16, 33}} developed in Bijeljina that was later repeated in other municipalities in north-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina by similar paramilitary groups from ].{{sfn|ICTY|27 September 2006|p=113}} This pattern was described by the ] Commission of Experts in the following terms:{{sfn|HRW|May 2000|p=16}} | |||
{{quote|First, Bosnian Serb paramilitary forces, often with the assistance of the JNA, seize control of the area. In many cases, Serbian residents are told to leave the area before the violence begins. The homes of non-Serb residents are targeted for destruction and cultural and religious monuments, especially churches and mosques, are destroyed. Second, the area falls under the control of paramilitary forces who terrorize the non-Serb residents with random killings, rapes, and looting. Third, the seized area is administered by local Serb authorities, often in conjunction with paramilitary groups. During this phase, non-Serb residents are detained, beaten, and sometimes transferred to prison camps where further abuse, including mass killings, have occurred. Non-Serb residents are often fired from their jobs and their property is confiscated. Many have been forced to sign documents relinquishing their rights to their homes before being deported to other areas of the country.}} | {{quote|First, Bosnian Serb paramilitary forces, often with the assistance of the JNA, seize control of the area. In many cases, Serbian residents are told to leave the area before the violence begins. The homes of non-Serb residents are targeted for destruction and cultural and religious monuments, especially churches and mosques, are destroyed. Second, the area falls under the control of paramilitary forces who terrorize the non-Serb residents with random killings, rapes, and looting. Third, the seized area is administered by local Serb authorities, often in conjunction with paramilitary groups. During this phase, non-Serb residents are detained, beaten, and sometimes transferred to prison camps where further abuse, including mass killings, have occurred. Non-Serb residents are often fired from their jobs and their property is confiscated. Many have been forced to sign documents relinquishing their rights to their homes before being deported to other areas of the country.}} | ||
The exact number killed in the takeover is unknown.{{sfn| |
The exact number killed in the takeover is unknown.{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=14}} Several sources put the figure anywhere between several dozen and a thousand.{{sfn|Goldstein|1999|p=242}}{{sfn|Magaš|Žanić|2001|p=182}}{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=14}}{{sfn|Malcolm|1994|p=236}}{{sfn|Off|2010|p=69}}{{sfn|Karabegović|2012}} According to the ICTY, at least 48 civilians were killed of which 45 were non-Serbs. Around 3 April, a local policeman was ordered to guard a hearse which was picking up bodies from the streets and houses of the town.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=114}} The killings were ] with the aim of erasing cultural history{{sfn|Sells|1996|p=26}} and included "political leaders, businessmen, and other prominent Bosniaks",{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=14}} but also included women and children.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=114}} A number of Serbs who had attempted to stop the massacre were also killed.{{sfn|Weitz|2003|p=215}} An investigation by the ICTY later stated that the victims had been shot "in the chest, mouth, temple, or back of the head, some at close range" and that none had been wearing military uniforms.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=114}} According to the historian Professor Eric D. Weitz of the ], the killing of Bosniaks in Bijeljina was a genocidal act.{{sfn|Weitz|2003|p=215}} The acts against civilians in Bijeljina and those carried out by the JNA and special forces that followed were an attempt to intimidate and sidetrack the Bosnian government and general public from pursuing independence.{{sfn|Bećirević|2014|pp=88–89}} | ||
Haviv, who had been invited by Arkan to take photographs, witnessed the killings and one of his pictures, which depicted an SDG member kicking a dying Bosniak woman, was later published in the international media |
Haviv, who had been invited by Arkan to take photographs, witnessed the killings and one of his pictures, which depicted an SDG member kicking a dying Bosniak woman, was later published in the international media prompting Arkan to put out a death warrant for Haviv.{{sfn|BBC|2001}}{{sfn|Kifner|2001}} Meanwhile, the Serbian state-owned ] network reported that Bijeljina had been "liberated" with the help of "members of the Serbian National Guard of Semberija and Majevica, in cooperation with Serbian volunteers, Arkan's men, and the Serbian 'radicals'".{{sfn|United Nations Security Council|1994}} | ||
==Bosnian delegation investigation and response== | ==Bosnian delegation investigation and response== | ||
Serb forces ordered the removal of the bodies of those killed, in anticipation of a delegation of high-ranking Bosnian officials due to arrive on 4 April. The delegation included ], a Serb representative of the ]; ], a Bosniak representative; the Croat Minister of Defense, ]; and the chief-of-staff of the JNA 2nd Military District, General ].{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=115}} They were sent by Izetbegović for the purpose of investigating the alleged atrocities.{{sfn|Silber|Little|1997|p=225}} On the same day, the JNA moved into Bijeljina, but the violence continued.{{sfn|Kumar|1999|p=40}} On 4 April, the SDG established themselves in the local headquarters of the SDS. Local police, who were engaged in arresting the town's ] (SDA) presidency, joined them for several days, as did members of the ] paramilitary group and local ] (TO) members.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=114}} Serb flags were mounted on two mosques in Bijeljina,{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|pp=113–114}} and checkpoints and roadblocks were established, preventing journalists and European monitors from entering. The delegation visited the crisis staff and a military barracks where they were made aware of the situation.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=114}} | |||
During the visit Plavšić requested that Arkan transfer control of Bijeljina to the JNA |
During the visit, Plavšić requested that Arkan transfer control of Bijeljina to the JNA. Arkan refused, citing unfinished business, and said he would target ] next. Plavšić consequently withdrew her request and commended Arkan for "protecting" Bijeljina's Serbs from the Bosniaks.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=115}} She called him a "Serb hero ... who was prepared to give his life for his people", adding that "we need such people".{{sfn|Velikonja|2003|p=247}} She then thanked and kissed Arkan in public to which the local members of the SDS responded with "shouts of approval".{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=115}} In a conversation with ], a ] (UNPROFOR) representative, she described Bijeljina as a "liberated" town.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=115}} Abdić was initially turned back at gunpoint,{{sfn|Malcolm|1994|p=236}} but was later able to enter.{{sfn|Silber|Little|1997|p=225}} He was then kept in custody by Arkan until Plavšić arrived to release him.{{sfn|Ramet|2006|pp=427–428}} "Bijeljina was practically empty," he recalled. "I met with the local authorities, they told me what had happened, but there wasn't a single Muslim there, so we couldn't discuss the problem as a whole. Muslims didn't answer our appeal. They were too scared to come out, and specially scared to talk about it at all."{{sfn|Silber|Little|1997|p=225}} General ], commander of the JNA's 17th Corps, reported that:{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|pp=329–330}} | ||
{{quote|A big influence of the SDS and Arkan's propaganda is felt in the 38th and the 17th , because of which some have left their units with arms. ... The situation in the territory is extremely complex. The town of Bijeljina is controlled by the SDS and Arkan's men, who do not even allow our anti-tank unit to reach certain positions in the town. There are about 3,000 refugees in the barracks and the Cooperative Hall area in ]. A team from the BH Presidency led by Fikret Abdić, Biljana Plavšić, the chief |
{{quote|A big influence of the SDS and Arkan's propaganda is felt in the 38th and the 17th , because of which some have left their units with arms. ... The situation in the territory is extremely complex. The town of Bijeljina is controlled by the SDS and Arkan's men, who do not even allow our anti-tank unit to reach certain positions in the town. There are about 3,000 refugees in the barracks and the Cooperative Hall area in ]. A team from the BH Presidency led by Fikret Abdić, Biljana Plavšić, the chief-of-staff of the 2nd Military District and the commander of the 17th Corps, has been in Bijeljina barracks since 1200 hours.}} | ||
"In the following days," he predicted, "further deterioration of the entire security and political situation is expected. There is a threat that interethnic conflicts in Posavina and Semberija might spread to other parts of the zone of responsibility ... Direct armed provocations by SDA, HDZ <nowiki>]<nowiki>]</nowiki>, and SDS paramilitary units against commands and units are also possible, as well as attacks by them on military warehouses and isolated facilities."{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|pp=329–330}} On the same day, Bosnian Defense Minister ] and Croat members of the coalition government urged Izetbegović to mobilize the TORBiH{{sfn|Kumar|1999|p=40}} due to the inability of the JNA to stop the violence.{{sfn|Central Intelligence Agency|2002|p=135}} Izetbegović described the images coming out of Bijeljina as "unbelievable". "I thought it was a photomontage," he explained. "I couldn't believe my eyes. I couldn't believe it was possible."{{sfn|Silber|Little|1997|p=224}} He described the takeover as "criminal", and said he considered the JNA responsible for Bijeljina's fall because it "passively stood by and watched what was happening".{{sfn|Sudetic|1992}} Izetbegović mobilized the Territorial Defense later that day so as to "enable people to defend themselves ... from future Bijeljinas". The Serb members of the Bosnian Presidency, Plavšić and ], denounced the mobilization as illegal and resigned.{{sfn|Central Intelligence Agency|2002|p=135}} On 8 April, Izetbegović announced a "state of imminent war danger".{{sfn|Calic|2012|p=125}} The JNA rejected requests from the Bosnian Presidency to return the TORBiH's weapons that they had confiscated in 1990.{{sfn|Central Intelligence Agency|2002|p=135}} Karadžić and the Bosnian Serb leadership used Izetbegović's mobilization order as a pretext to independence and mobilized their Municipal Crisis Headquarters, reserve police units, and TO forces.{{sfn|Central Intelligence Agency|2002|p=136}} | |||
==Ethnic cleansing, mosque destruction, and detainment== | |||
{{quote|This is simply an attempt by criminals. It came to the murdering of civilians, unarmed men and women. We consider the army responsible for this event. There are indications that it passively stood by and watched what was happening. This unit has been glorified in Serbia and enjoyed the Serbian government's support.}} | |||
The SDG stayed in Bijeljina until at least May 1992.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|p=115}} General ], chief-of-staff of the ] (VRS), commented on Arkan's activities in Bijeljina and ] in April and May 1992: "The return of Serb voluntary units from the Republika Srpska and ] was characterized by long formations consisting of both personnel carriers and tanks and a great number of trucks. This was a clear sign of looting."{{sfn|Bećirević|2014|p=90}} The ICTY concluded that Serb forces killed a minimum of 52 people, mostly Bosniaks, between April and September 1992 in the Bijeljina municipality.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|pp=117–118}} In April, an "organized campaign" had begun to remove the Bosniak population of Bijeljina.{{sfn|Sudetic|1994a}} The SDS in Bijeljina put forth a plan and proposed that a Bosniak family be killed "on each side of town to create an atmosphere of fear".{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|pp=117–118}} On 23 September 1992, the SDG and Mirko's Chetniks handed over control of Bijeljina to the SDS{{sfn|United Nations Security Council|1994}} and the plan was carried out by Duško Malović's special police unit.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|pp=117–118}} On 24 and 25 September, in the village of ], 22 people including seven children were removed from their homes and taken to the village of ] where they were killed and thrown into the ] river.{{sfn|Musli|2011}} It is suspected that they were killed by members of the Special Unit of the MUP RS under the supervision of local police and the ].{{sfn|Musli|2012b}}{{sfn|Karabegović|2012}} All were under the direct command of ] the then Minister of MUP RS.{{sfn|Musli|2012b}} Mass ] was committed and nine detention camps were established following the massacre.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006|pp=117–118}} All seven mosques in Bijeljina were destroyed.{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=4}} They were systematically destroyed using explosives under the supervision of police and experts, and after their collapse the remains were removed with military construction equipment.{{sfn|Musli|2013a}} Trees were planted where they once stood.{{sfn|United Nations Security Council|1994}} | |||
A "State Commission for the Free transfer of the Civilian Population"{{sfn|Totten|Bartrop|2008|p=410}} or "Commission for the Exchange of Population" was created and headed by Vojkan Đurković, a ] in the SDG,{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=28}} and included Mauzer's Panthers.{{sfn|Amnesty International|1994|pp=6–7}} Its purpose was to completely expel all non-Serbs from Bijeljina.{{sfn|Totten|Bartrop|2008|p=410}} Đurković claimed that the Bosniaks had left voluntarily and said Bijeljina was "sacred Serbian land".{{sfn|United Nations Security Council|1994}} According to him "after a time, the People's Deputies, Milan Teslić and Vojo Kuprešanin, expanded the Commission in the name of the Deputies Club, and later the Commission was approved by the Parliament of the Serbian Republic ."{{sfn|Cigar|Williams|2002|p=53}} He explained that "travel was undertaken in the following manner: the State Commission for the Free Transfer of the Civilian Population had as its duty to inform the State Security Service of the Serbian Republic (Republika Srpska) of that travel. The latter, by fax, would then pass that on to that ministry in the Republic of Serbia which has jurisdiction. The transit ]] would occur in broad daylight, at noon."{{sfn|Cigar|Williams|2002|p=133}} Expulsions continued into 1994,<ref>{{harvs|txt |last=Sudetic |year=1994a |year2=1994b |year3=1994c |year4=1994d |year5=1994e}}.</ref> and in July a "systematic program" was implemented with the goal of "expelling the remaining Bosniaks and extorting property and money from them".{{sfn|Amnesty International|1994|p=3}} Đurković was promoted by Arkan to ] in 1995.{{sfn|Cigar|Williams|2002|p=53}} Mauzer's Panthers later became a special unit of the VRS.{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=34}} Mauzer was killed in 2000.{{sfn|BBC|2000}} | |||
On 4 April, Izetbegović mobilized the Territorial Defense Force so as to "enable people to defend themselves ... from future Bijeljinas". Serb members of the Bosnian Presidency, Plavšić and ], denounced the mobilization as illegal and resigned.{{sfn|OREA|2002|p=135}} On 8 April, Izetbegović announced a "state of imminent war danger".{{sfn|Calic|2012|p=125}} The JNA rejected requests from the Bosnian Presidency to return the TORBiH's weapons that they had confiscated in 1990.{{sfn|OREA|2002|p=135}} Karadžić and the Bosnian Serb leadership used Izetbegović's mobilization order as a pretext to independence and mobilized their Municipal Crisis Headquarters, reserve police units, and TO forces.{{sfn|OREA|2002|p=136}} | |||
==Ethnic cleansing, religious building destruction, and detainment== | |||
The SDG stayed in Bijeljina until at least May 1992.{{sfn|ICTY|27 September 2006|p=115}} The ICTY concluded that Serb forces killed a minimum of 52 people, mostly Bosniaks, between April and September 1992 in the Bijeljina municipality.{{sfn|ICTY|27 September 2006|pp=117–118}} In April, an "organized campaign" had begun to remove the Bosniak population of Bijeljina.{{sfn|Sudetic|18 July 1994}} The SDS in Bijeljina put forth a plan and proposed that a Bosniak family be killed "on each side of town to create an atmosphere of fear".{{sfn|ICTY|27 September 2006|pp=117–118}} On 23 September 1992, the SDG and Mirko's Chetniks handed over control of Bijeljina to the SDS{{sfn|UNSC|28 December 1994}} and the plan was carried out by Duško Malović's special police unit.{{sfn|ICTY|27 September 2006|pp=117–118}} On 24 and 25 September, in the village of ], 22 people including seven children were removed from their homes and taken to the village of ] where they were killed and thrown into the ] river.{{sfn|Musli|24 September 2011}} Mass ethnic cleansing was committed and nine detention camps were established following the massacre.{{sfn|ICTY|27 September 2006|pp=117–118}} All seven mosques in Bijeljina were destroyed.{{sfn|HRW|May 2000|p=4}} They were mined systematically under the supervision of police and experts and after their collapse the remains were removed with military construction equipment.{{sfn|Musli|13 March 2013}} Trees were planted where they once stood.{{sfn|UNSC|28 December 1994}} A "Commission for the Exchange of Population" was also created, headed by Vojkan Đurković, a major in the SDG,{{sfn|HRW|May 2000|p=28}} and included Mauzer's Panthers.{{sfn|AI|21 December 1994|pp=6–7}} Đurković claimed that the Bosniaks had left voluntarily and said Bijeljina was "sacred Serbian land".{{sfn|UNSC|28 December 1994}} Expulsions continued into 1994,<ref>{{Harvnb|Sudetic|18 July 1994}}; {{Harvnb|Sudetic|3 September 1994}}; {{Harvnb|Sudetic|5 September 1994}}; {{Harvnb|Sudetic|20 September 1994}}; {{Harvnb|Sudetic|30 August 1994}}</ref> and in July a "systematic program" was implemented with the goal of "expelling the remaining Bosniaks and extorting property and money from them".{{sfn|AI|21 December 1994|p=3}} | |||
==War crimes prosecution== | ==War crimes prosecution== | ||
{{Quote box|width=246px|align=right|quote="We live with the former war criminals, we see them every day in the streets."|source=Branko Todorović, President of the ] in Bijeljina{{sfn|Little| |
{{Quote box|width=246px|align=right|quote="We live with the former war criminals, we see them every day in the streets."|source=Branko Todorović, President of the ] in Bijeljina{{sfn|Little|2008}}}} | ||
Bosnian courts have not filed any war crimes indictments for the massacre. In 2008, ], the President of the ] in Bijeljina, criticized the "lethargic" and "unacceptable behavior" of the Republika Srpska judiciary.{{sfn|Husejnovic|2008}} However, since 2003, the prosecution of war crimes has mostly been under the jurisdiction of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{sfn|OSCE}} In 2000, the ] named three individuals from Bijeljina as "potentially indictable for war crimes": | |||
* Mirko Blagojević |
* Mirko Blagojević: who is alleged to have led Mirko's Chetniks, which took part in the attack and in the ethnic cleansing of Bijeljina.{{sfn|International Crisis Group|2000|pp=10–13}} He served as the head of the ] (SRS) in Bijeljina{{sfn|Little|2008}} and is now a lawyer.{{sfn|Musli|2012a}} | ||
* Vojkan Đurković |
* Vojkan Đurković: who is suspected of forcing Bosniak civilians "to hand over all their money, valuables and documents, and to sign away their property". He is also reported to have worked with the Panthers and other groups in the "forcible expulsion of the civilian population".{{sfn|International Crisis Group|2000|pp=10–13}} He was arrested in November 2005, but released from police custody less than a month later.{{sfn|B92|2011}} | ||
* Jovan Aćimović |
* Jovan Aćimović: who is alleged to have played a major role in the last initiative to remove Bosniaks from Bijeljina shortly prior to the signing of the ] in November 1995.{{sfn|International Crisis Group|2000|pp=10–13}} He reportedly continued to evict Bosniaks from their houses during peace time. He later became a member of the police in ].{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|p=36}} | ||
In 1997, the ICTY secretly indicted Arkan for war crimes carried out in ] in 1995, but not for those in Bijeljina.{{sfn| |
In 1997, the ICTY secretly indicted Arkan for war crimes carried out in ] in 1995, but not for those in Bijeljina.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|23 September 1997}} In January 2000, he was killed in a Belgrade hotel lobby by masked gunmen, and did not face trial.{{sfn|Erlanger|2000}} In 1999, Milošević was indicted for carrying out a ] campaign that included Bijeljina and other locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, among other charges, but he died mid-trial in March 2006.{{sfn|Armatta|2010|pp=285, 470}} In February 2000, Plavšić and ], the speaker of the ], were indicted for the same genocidal campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina, among other charges.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|Momčilo Krajišnik CIS|p=1}}{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|Biljana Plavšić CIS|p=1}} On 2 October 2002, Plavšić pleaded guilty to persecuting the non-Serb populations in 37 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Bijeljina. This plea was entered under an agreement that involved the prosecution moving to dismiss the remaining charges. She was subsequently sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|Biljana Plavšić CIS|p=1}} On 27 September 2006, Krajišnik was found guilty on a five counts of ], including the same count as Plavšić regarding the persecution of non-Serb populations in municipalities including Bijeljina, but he was found not guilty of genocide. In 2009, he was handed a twenty-year prison sentence.{{sfn|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|Momčilo Krajišnik CIS|p=1}} After serving two-thirds of her sentence, Plavšić was released in October 2009.{{sfn|Traynor|2009}} Krajišnik was released in August 2013, having served two-thirds of his sentence (including time spent in custody).{{sfn|Fox News|2013}} | ||
In 2010, the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor's Office investigated ], a former SDG member and a member of the ]. The investigation was ultimately dropped due to lack of evidence.{{sfn|Ristic|2012}} In 2012, former SDG member Srđan Golubović was arrested in ] at the request of the Prosecutor's Office. Golubović was charged with an indictment listing the names of 78 victims. ], the lead prosecutor, said that other members of the SDG could not be identified because their faces had been covered with masks.{{sfn|Ristic|2012}} Radovan Karadžić, the former ], was sentenced to a life in prison.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bosnia-Herzegovina: Karadžić life sentence sends powerful message to the world |publisher=Amnesty International |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/03/bosnia-herzegovina-karadzic-life-sentence-sends-powerful-message-to-the-world/ |date=20 March 2019 |access-date=10 April 2019 |archive-date=16 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816130924/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/03/bosnia-herzegovina-karadzic-life-sentence-sends-powerful-message-to-the-world/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, the follow-up ] sentenced Serbian State Security officers ] and ] for ] the crime of murder, as a violation of the laws or customs of war and a crime against humanity, and the crimes of deportation, forcible transfer, and persecution, as crimes against humanity in Bijeljina, included them in a ], and sentenced them each to 15 years in prison.<ref>{{cite news |title=UN commends Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, as final judgement is delivered |work=UN News |date=31 May 2023 |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1137222 |access-date=17 August 2023 |archive-date=17 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817104148/https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1137222 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=STANIŠIĆ and SIMATOVIĆ (MICT-15-96-A) |url=https://www.irmct.org/en/cases/mict-15-96 |publisher=International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals |location=The Hague |date=31 May 2023 |access-date=17 August 2023 |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820221246/https://www.irmct.org/en/cases/mict-15-96 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Tribunal concluded: | |||
{{quote| shared the intent to further the common criminal plan to forcibly and permanently remove the majority of non-Serbs from large areas of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/31/court-widens-war-convictions-of-former-serbian-security-officers |author=Peter Beaumont |title=Court widens war crimes convictions of former Serbian security officers |newspaper=The Guardian |date=31 March 2023 |access-date=18 August 2023 |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818121910/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/31/court-widens-war-convictions-of-former-serbian-security-officers |url-status=live }}</ref>}} | |||
{{As of|2014|December}} no member of the SDG has been prosecuted for the murders, rapes, or looting committed in Bijeljina,{{sfn|Al Jazeera|2014}} or any of the crimes allegedly committed by the unit elsewhere in Croatia or Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{sfn|Dzidic|Ristic|Domanovic|Collaku|2014}} | |||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
The ] has recorded a total of 1,078 fatalities in the Bijeljina municipality during the war, including |
The ] has recorded a total of 1,078 fatalities in the Bijeljina municipality during the war, including approximately 250 civilians of all ethnicities.{{sfn|Prometej|2013}} Many deaths in Bijeljina were not officially listed as civilian war victims and their death certificates claim they "died of natural causes."{{sfn|Musli|2013b}} After the war ended, less than 2,700 people of the pre-war Bosniak population of over 30,000 still lived in the municipality of Bijeljina (the town itself had 19,000 Bosniak inhabitants{{sfn|Institute for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina|1993|p=17}}). Many faced difficulties in returning to their homes including discrimination from the police, being unable to receive an identification card, or reconnect their phone lines. Local authorities prevented the Islamic community from reconstructing a mosque and, for a while, did not allow them to have their own local meeting place. Meaningful Bosniak participation in the politics and administration of the municipality was also blocked.{{sfn|Human Rights Watch|2000|pp=3, 37}} As of 2012, 5,000 Bosniaks have returned to Bijeljina.{{sfn|Karabegović|2012}} | ||
In 2007, the Bijeljina ] was created with a four-year mandate. It held two public hearings in 2008, but by March 2009, although it was not formally disbanded, the commission was effectively dissolved when the majority of its members resigned. A number of factors have been cited as contributing to its failure, such as the inclusion of the commander of the ] in its delegation, its limited legal standing, disputes over the commission's scope, and poor funding.{{sfn| |
In 2007, the Bijeljina ] was created with a four-year mandate. It held two public hearings in 2008, but by March 2009, although it was not formally disbanded, the commission was effectively dissolved when the majority of its members resigned. A number of factors have been cited as contributing to its failure, such as the inclusion of the commander of the ] in its delegation, its limited legal standing, disputes over the commission's scope, and poor funding.{{sfn|International Center for Transitional Justice|8 September 2009|p=3}} | ||
Local Serbs celebrate 1 April as |
Local Serbs celebrate 1 April as "City Defense Day",{{sfn|Dnevni Avaz|2012}}{{dead link|date=January 2016}}{{sfn|InfoBijeljina|2015}} and a street in the town is presently named after the Serbian Volunteer Guard.{{sfn|Pazarac|2010}}{{sfn|Karabegović|2012}} In 2012, the Bijeljina municipal veterans organization, municipal officials, and city leaders marked the occasion stating that "on this day the Serbian people of Semberija were organized to defend against and prevent a new ] and notorious ]."{{sfn|Musli|2012a}} | ||
== |
== See also == | ||
* ] | |||
{{reflist|4}} | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
==Footnotes== | |||
{{reflist|20em}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
===Books and journals=== | |||
{{Refbegin| |
{{Refbegin|35em}} | ||
* {{cite book |last=Allen |first=Beverly |title=Rape Warfare: The Hidden Genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Ithaca |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-8014-4158-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0GS9e-iq73kC }} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
* {{cite book |last=Armatta |first=Judith |title=Twilight of Impunity: The War Crimes Trial of Slobodan Milosevic |publisher=Duke University Press |location=Durham |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-8223-9179-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pXygFoqg-G0C }} | |||
| last = Allen | |||
* {{cite book |author=] |title=Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990–1995 |publisher=Office of Russian and European Analysis, Central Intelligence Agency |volume=1 |location=Washington, D.C. |year=2002}} | |||
| first = Beverly | |||
* {{cite book |last=Bećirević |first=Edina |year=2014 |title=Genocide on the Drina River |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven and London |isbn=978-0-300-19258-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N0X4AwAAQBAJ }} | |||
| title = Rape Warfare: The Hidden Genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia | |||
* {{cite book |last=Bugajski |first=Janusz |author-link=Janusz Bugajski |title=Ethnic Politics in Eastern Europe: A Guide to Nationality Policies, Organizations and Parties |publisher=M. E. Sharpe |location=Armonk |year=1995 |isbn=978-1-56324-283-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m_AcqFSfvzAC |access-date=27 September 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402121001/https://books.google.com/books?id=m_AcqFSfvzAC |url-status=live }} | |||
| publisher = University of Minnesota Press | |||
* {{cite book |last=Calic |first=Marie–Janine |chapter=Ethnic Cleansing and War Crimes, 1991–1995 |year=2012 |title=Confronting the Yugoslav Controversies: A Scholars' Initiative |edition=2nd |editor1-last=Ingrao |editor1-first=Charles |editor2-last=Emmert |editor2-first=Thomas A. |pages=109–127 |publisher=Purdue University Press |location=West Lafayette |isbn=978-1-55753-617-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IDMhDgCJCe0C |access-date=27 September 2016 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208124131/https://books.google.com/books?id=IDMhDgCJCe0C |url-status=live }} | |||
| location = Ithaca | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Cigar |first1=Norman L. |last2=Williams |first2=Paul |title=Indictment at the Hague: The Milosevic Regime and Crimes of the Balkan Wars |year=2002 |publisher=New York University Press |isbn=978-0-8147-1626-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vIMUCgAAQBAJ |access-date=9 December 2015 |archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402121109/https://books.google.com/books?id=vIMUCgAAQBAJ |url-status=live }} | |||
| year = 1996 | |||
* {{cite book |last=Goldstein |first=Ivo |author-link=Ivo Goldstein |title=Croatia: A History |publisher=C. Hurst & Co. |location=London |year=1999 |isbn=978-1-85065-525-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSxJdE4MYo4C |access-date=27 September 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402121003/https://books.google.com/books?id=pSxJdE4MYo4C |url-status=live }} | |||
| isbn = 978-0-8014-4158-5 | |||
* {{cite book |last=Gow |first=James |year=2003 |title=The Serbian Project and its Adversaries: A Strategy of War Crimes |publisher=C. Hurst & Co. |location=London |isbn=978-1-85065-646-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FTw3lEqi2-oC |access-date=27 September 2016 |archive-date=12 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112111634/https://books.google.com/books?id=FTw3lEqi2-oC |url-status=live }} | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=0GS9e-iq73kC&printsec=frontcover | |||
* {{cite book |last=Judah |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Judah |year=2000 |title=The Serbs: History, Myth and the Destruction of Yugoslavia |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven |isbn=978-0-300-08507-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B4YbP0fPcMYC |access-date=27 September 2016 |archive-date=27 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927203637/https://books.google.com/books?id=B4YbP0fPcMYC |url-status=live }} | |||
| ref = harv | |||
* {{cite book |last=Kumar |first=Radha |author-link=Radha Kumar |year=1999 |title=Divide and Fall?: Bosnia in the Annals of Partition |publisher=Verso |location=London and New York |isbn=978-1-85984-183-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wHEXb81jRMcC |access-date=27 September 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402120957/https://books.google.com/books?id=wHEXb81jRMcC |url-status=live }} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Lukic |first1=Rénéo |last2=Lynch |first2=Allen |title=Europe From the Balkans to the Urals: The Disintegration of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union |year=1996 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-829200-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WPhhLfp8huIC |access-date=27 September 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402121103/https://books.google.com/books?id=WPhhLfp8huIC |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Magaš |first1=Branka |last2=Žanić |first2=Ivo |year=2001 |title=The War in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina 1991–1995 |publisher=Frank Cass |location=London |isbn=978-0-7146-8201-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9NljlSh2vpIC |access-date=27 September 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402121111/https://books.google.com/books?id=9NljlSh2vpIC |url-status=live }} | |||
| last = Armatta | |||
* {{cite book |last=Malcolm |first=Noel |author-link=Noel Malcolm |year=1994 |title=Bosnia: A Short History |publisher=New York University Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-8147-5520-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cvk6oMf9R7AC }} | |||
| first = Judith | |||
* {{cite book |last=Off |first=Carol |year=2010 |title=The Ghosts of Medak Pocket: The Story of Canada's Secret War |publisher=Random House |location=New York |isbn=978-0-307-37078-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NYGxSqwgUccC }} | |||
| title = Twilight of Impunity: The War Crimes Trial of Slobodan Milosevic | |||
* {{cite book |last=Ramet |first=Sabrina P. |year=2006 |title=The Three Yugoslavias: State-Building and Legitimation, 1918–2005 |publisher=Indiana University Press |location=Bloomington |isbn=978-0-253-34656-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FTw3lEqi2-oC |access-date=27 September 2016 |archive-date=12 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112111634/https://books.google.com/books?id=FTw3lEqi2-oC |url-status=live }} | |||
| publisher = Duke University Press | |||
* {{cite book |last=Sells |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Sells |chapter=Religion, History, and Genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina |year=1996 |title=Religion and Justice in the War Over Bosnia |editor1-last=Davis |editor1-first=G. Scott |pages=23–44 |publisher=Psychology Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-415-91520-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EPFM7fChJ4EC }} | |||
| location = Durham | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Silber |first1=Laura |author-link1=Laura Silber |last2=Little |first2=Allan |author-link2=Allan Little |year=1997 |title=Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation |publisher=Penguin Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-14-026263-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/yugoslaviadeatho00silb }} | |||
| year = 2010 | |||
* {{cite journal |last=Subotić |first=Jelena |title=The Cruelty of False Remorse: Biljana Plavšić at the Hague |journal=Southeastern Europe |publisher=BRILL |year=2012 |volume=36 |number=1 |pages=39–59 |url=https://www.academia.edu/2578509 |doi=10.1163/187633312X617011 |issn=0094-4467 |access-date=4 December 2017 |archive-date=19 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419163310/https://www.academia.edu/2578509 |url-status=live }} | |||
| isbn = 978-0-8223-9179-1 | |||
* {{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Nigel |year=2006 |title=The Yugoslav Wars (2): Bosnia, Kosovo, and Macedonia, 1992–2001 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=New York |isbn=978-1-84176-964-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a7cOQ9Nch2AC }} | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=pXygFoqg-G0C&printsec=frontcover | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Toal |first1=Gerard |last2=Dahlman |first2=Carl T. |title=Bosnia Remade: Ethnic Cleansing and Its Reversal |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-19-973036-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q1TrvGxJeasC }} | |||
| ref = harv | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Totten |first1=Samuel |last2=Bartrop |first2=Paul R. |title=Dictionary of Genocide |year=2008 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |volume=II |isbn=978-0-313-34642-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7c2LHlpdMfAC }} | |||
}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Velikonja |first=Mitja |year=2003 |title=Religious Separation and Political Intolerance in Bosnia-Herzegovina |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |location=College Station |isbn=978-1-58544-226-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rf8P-7ExoKYC }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
* {{cite book |last=Weitz |first=Eric D. |year=2003 |title=A Century of Genocide: Utopias of Race and Nation |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=Princeton |isbn=978-0-691-00913-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=af3gJaNj3ZEC |access-date=27 September 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402121541/https://books.google.com/books?id=af3gJaNj3ZEC |url-status=live }} | |||
| title = Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990–1995 | |||
| publisher = Office of Russian and European Analysis, Central Intelligence Agency | |||
| volume = 1 | |||
| location = Washington | |||
| year = 2002 | |||
| ref = {{harvid|OREA|2002}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last = Bugajski | |||
| first = Janusz | |||
| author-link = Janusz Bugajski | |||
| title = Ethnic Politics in Eastern Europe: A Guide to Nationality Policies, Organizations and Parties | |||
| publisher = M. E. Sharpe | |||
| location = Armonk | |||
| year = 1995 | |||
| isbn = 978-1-56324-283-0 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=m_AcqFSfvzAC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last = Calic | |||
| first = Marie–Janine | |||
| chapter = Ethnic Cleansing and War Crimes, 1991–1995 | |||
| year = 2012 | |||
| title = Confronting the Yugoslav Controversies: A Scholars' Initiative | |||
| edition = 2nd | |||
| editor1-last = Ingrao | |||
| editor1-first = Charles | |||
| editor2-last = Emmert | |||
| editor2-first = Thomas A. | |||
| pages = 109–127 | |||
| publisher = Purdue University Press | |||
| location = West Lafayette | |||
| isbn = 978-1-55753-617-4 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=IDMhDgCJCe0C&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last = Goldstein | |||
| first = Ivo | |||
| author-link = Ivo Goldstein | |||
| title = Croatia: A History | |||
| publisher = C. Hurst & Co. | |||
| location = London | |||
| year = 1999 | |||
| isbn = 978-1-85065-525-1 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=pSxJdE4MYo4C&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last = Gow | |||
| first = James | |||
| year = 2003 | |||
| title = The Serbian Project and its Adversaries: A Strategy of War Crimes | |||
| publisher = C. Hurst & Co. | |||
| location = London | |||
| isbn = 978-1-85065-646-3 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=FTw3lEqi2-oC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last = Judah | |||
| first = Tim | |||
| authorlink = Tim Judah | |||
| year = 2000 | |||
| title = The Serbs: History, Myth and the Destruction of Yugoslavia | |||
| publisher = Yale University Press | |||
| location = New Haven | |||
| isbn = 978-0-300-08507-5 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=B4YbP0fPcMYC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last = Kumar | |||
| first = Radha | |||
| authorlink = Radha Kumar | |||
| year = 1999 | |||
| title = Divide and Fall?: Bosnia in the Annals of Partition | |||
| publisher = Verso | |||
| location = London and New York | |||
| isbn = 978-1-85984-183-9 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=wHEXb81jRMcC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last1 = Lukic | |||
| first1 = Rénéo | |||
| last2 = Lynch | |||
| first2 = Allen | |||
| title = Europe From the Balkans to the Urals: The Disintegration of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union | |||
| year = 1996 | |||
| publisher = Oxford University Press | |||
| isbn = 978-0-19-829200-5 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=WPhhLfp8huIC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last1 = Magaš | |||
| first1 = Branka | |||
| last2 = Žanić | |||
| first2 = Ivo | |||
| year = 2001 | |||
| title = The War in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina 1991–1995 | |||
| publisher = Frank Cass | |||
| location = London | |||
| isbn = 978-0-7146-8201-3 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=9NljlSh2vpIC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last = Malcolm | |||
| first = Noel | |||
| authorlink = Noel Malcolm | |||
| year = 1994 | |||
| title = Bosnia: A Short History | |||
| publisher = New York University Press | |||
| location = New York | |||
| isbn = 978-0-8147-5520-4 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Cvk6oMf9R7AC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last = Ramet | |||
| first = Sabrina P. | |||
| year = 2006 | |||
| title = The Three Yugoslavias: State-Building and Legitimation, 1918–2005 | |||
| publisher = Indiana University Press | |||
| location = Bloomington | |||
| isbn = 978-0-253-34656-8 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=FTw3lEqi2-oC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last1 = Silber | |||
| first1 = Laura | |||
| authorlink1 = Laura Silber | |||
| last2 = Little | |||
| first2 = Allan | |||
| authorlink2 = Allan Little | |||
| year = 1997 | |||
| title = Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation | |||
| publisher = Penguin Books | |||
| location = New York | |||
| isbn = 978-0-14-026263-6 | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite journal | |||
| last = Subotić | |||
| first = Jelena | |||
| title = The Cruelty of False Remorse: Biljana Plavšić at the Hague | |||
| journal = Southeastern Europe | |||
| publisher = BRILL | |||
| year = 2012 | |||
| volume = 36 | |||
| number = 1 | |||
| pages = 39–59 | |||
| url = http://www.academia.edu/2578509/The_Cruelty_of_False_Remorse_Biljana_Plavsic_at_The_Hague | |||
| doi = 10.1163/187633312X617011 | |||
| issn = 0094-4467 | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last = Thomas | |||
| first = Nigel | |||
| year = 2006 | |||
| title = The Yugoslav Wars (2): Bosnia, Kosovo, and Macedonia, 1992–2001 | |||
| publisher = Osprey Publishing | |||
| location = New York | |||
| isbn = 978-1-84176-964-6 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=a7cOQ9Nch2AC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last1 = Toal | |||
| first1 = Gerard | |||
| last2 = Dahlman | |||
| first2 = Carl T. | |||
| title = Bosnia Remade: Ethnic Cleansing and Its Reversal | |||
| publisher = Oxford University Press | |||
| location = New York | |||
| year = 2011 | |||
| isbn = 978-0-19-973036-0 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Q1TrvGxJeasC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{Cite book | |||
| last = Velikonja | |||
| first = Mitja | |||
| year = 2003 | |||
| title = Religious Separation and Political Intolerance in Bosnia-Herzegovina | |||
| publisher = Texas A&M University Press | |||
| location = College Station | |||
| isbn = 978-1-58544-226-3 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Rf8P-7ExoKYC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite book | |||
| last = Weitz | |||
| first = Eric D. | |||
| year = 2003 | |||
| title = A Century of Genocide: Utopias of Race and Nation | |||
| publisher = Princeton University Press | |||
| location = Princeton | |||
| isbn = 978-0-691-00913-1 | |||
| url=http://books.google.com/books?id=af3gJaNj3ZEC&printsec=frontcover | |||
| ref = harv | |||
}} | |||
{{Refend}} | {{Refend}} | ||
===News articles=== | |||
{{Refbegin| |
{{Refbegin|35em}} | ||
* {{cite AV media |last=Amanpour |first=Christiane |date=1 June 1997 |title=Arkan: Part 2 – From Bijeljina to Infamy |medium=Documentary |publisher=] |quote=I mean, to take Bijeljina was nothing actually. Bijeljina was defended by something like 35 or 38 Bosnian police officers. Bijeljina was an undefended city. |url=http://www2.scc.rutgers.edu/serbiandigest/296/t296-8.htm |access-date=13 June 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041538/http://www2.scc.rutgers.edu/serbiandigest/296/t296-8.htm |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite AV media | |||
* {{cite news |title=Arkan's Balkan 'Tigers' escape accountability |newspaper=Al Jazeera |date=9 December 2014 |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/humanrights/2014/12/arkan-balkan-tigers-escape-accountability-2014127122222470909.html |ref={{harvid|Al Jazeera|2014}} |access-date=12 December 2015 |archive-date=5 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805234054/https://www.aljazeera.com/humanrights/2014/12/arkan-balkan-tigers-escape-accountability-2014127122222470909.html |url-status=live }} | |||
| last = Amanpour | |||
* {{cite news |title=Biljana Plavsic: Serbian Iron Lady |newspaper=BBC |date=27 February 2003 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1108604.stm |ref={{harvid|BBC|2003}} |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=10 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910214636/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1108604.stm |url-status=live }} | |||
| first = Christiane | |||
* {{cite news |title=Bosnian Serbs welcome released war criminal Momcilo Krajisnik home as a hero |publisher=Fox News |date=30 August 2013 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/bosnian-serbs-welcome-released-war-criminal-momcilo-krajisnik-home-as-a-hero/ |ref={{harvid|Fox News|2013}} |access-date=17 June 2014 |archive-date=1 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901224515/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/08/30/bosnian-serbs-welcome-released-war-criminal-momcilo-krajisnik-home-as-hero/ |url-status=live }} | |||
| date = 1 June 1997 | |||
* {{cite news |last1=Dzidic |first1=Denis |last2=Ristic |first2=Marija |last3=Domanovic |first3=Milka |last4=Collaku |first4=Petrit |last5=Milekic |first5=Sven |title=Arkan's Paramilitaries: Tigers Who Escaped Justice |newspaper=Balkan Insight |date=8 December 2014 |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/arkan-s-paramilitaries-tigers-who-escaped-justice |access-date=12 December 2015 |archive-date=13 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813084052/https://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/arkan-s-paramilitaries-tigers-who-escaped-justice |url-status=live }} | |||
| title = Arkan: Part 2 - From Bijeljina to Infamy | |||
* {{cite news |last=Erlanger |first=Steve |title=Suspect in Serbian War Crimes Murdered by Masked Gunmen |newspaper=The New York Times |date=16 January 2000 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/16/world/suspect-in-serbian-war-crimes-murdered-by-masked-gunmen.html?ref=zeljkoraznatovic |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720000605/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/16/world/suspect-in-serbian-war-crimes-murdered-by-masked-gunmen.html?ref=zeljkoraznatovic |url-status=live }} | |||
| medium = Documentary | |||
* {{cite news |title=Former Bosnian Serb Commander Killed |newspaper=BBC |date=8 June 2000 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/782457.stm |ref={{harvid|BBC|2000}} |access-date=12 December 2015 |archive-date=16 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116072018/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/782457.stm |url-status=live }} | |||
| location = http://www2.scc.rutgers.edu/serbiandigest/296/t296-8.htm | |||
* {{cite news |last=Husejnovic |first=Merima |title=Bijeljina's Strange Silence Over War Crimes |newspaper=Balkan Investigative Reporting Network |date=8 November 2008 |url=http://www.bosnia.org.uk/news/news_body.cfm?newsid=2511 |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083537/http://www.bosnia.org.uk/news/news_body.cfm?newsid=2511 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} | |||
| publisher = ] | |||
* {{cite news |last=Irwin |first=Rachel |title=Karadzic Witness Pressed on Serb "Tigers" |date=22 March 2013 |newspaper=Institute for War & Peace Reporting |url=https://iwpr.net/global-voices/karadzic-witness-pressed-serb-tigers |access-date=18 April 2021 |archive-date=17 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817024408/https://iwpr.net/global-voices/karadzic-witness-pressed-serb-tigers |url-status=live }} | |||
| quote = I mean, to take Bijeljina was nothing actually. Bijeljina was defended by something like 35 or 38 Bosnian police officers. Bijeljina was an undefended city. | |||
* {{cite news |last=Karabegović |first=Dženana |title=Sjećanje na zločine u Bijeljini |trans-title=Remembering the Crimes Committed in Bijeljina |newspaper=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty |language=sh |date=4 April 2012 |url=http://www.slobodnaevropa.org/content/sjecanje_na_zlocine_u_bijeljini/24537462.html |access-date=13 December 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192506/http://www.slobodnaevropa.org/content/sjecanje_na_zlocine_u_bijeljini/24537462.html |url-status=live }} | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Amanpour|1 June 1997}} | |||
* {{cite AV media |last=Keane |first=David |year=2003 |title=Arkan: Baby-faced Psycho |medium=Documentary |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-7670-6417-0}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Kifner |first=John |author-link=John Kifner |date=24 January 2001 |title=A Pictorial Guide to Hell; Stark Images Trace the Balkans' Descent and a Photographer's Determination |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/24/books/pictorial-guide-hell-stark-images-trace-balkans-descent-photographer-s.html |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720000725/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/24/books/pictorial-guide-hell-stark-images-trace-balkans-descent-photographer-s.html |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite AV media | |||
* {{cite news |title=Ko uzima deo Cecine kuće? |trans-title=Who's Taking a Piece of Ceca's House? |date=27 October 2011 |newspaper=B92 |language=sh |url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2011&mm=10&dd=27&nav_category=16&nav_id=552854 |ref={{harvid|B92|2011}} |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028122458/https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2011&mm=10&dd=27&nav_category=16&nav_id=552854 |url-status=live }} | |||
| last = Keane | |||
* {{cite news |last=Little |first=Allan |title=Karadzic's broken Bosnia remains |newspaper=BBC |date=17 September 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7621649.stm |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109183008/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7621649.stm |url-status=live }} | |||
| first = David | |||
* {{cite news |last=Musli |first=Emir |title=Zločin bez kazne |trans-title=Crime Without Punishment |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=sh |date=24 September 2011 |url=http://www.dw.de/zlo%C4%8Din-bez-kazne/a-15413852-0 |access-date=6 October 2013 |archive-date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211213506/http://www.dw.de/zlo%C4%8Din-bez-kazne/a-15413852-0 |url-status=live }} | |||
| year = 2003 | |||
* {{cite news |last=Musli |first=Emir |title=Odbrana ili zločin? |trans-title=Defense or Crime? |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=sh |date=2 April 2012a |url=http://www.dw.de/odbrana-ili-zlo%C4%8Din/a-15853579 |access-date=6 October 2013 |archive-date=29 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129134642/http://www.dw.de/odbrana-ili-zlo%C4%8Din/a-15853579 |url-status=live }} | |||
| title = Arkan: Baby-faced Psycho | |||
* {{cite news |last=Musli |first=Emir |title=Nekažnjeni zločin u Bijeljini |trans-title=Unpunished Crimes in Bijeljina |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=sh |date=26 September 2012b |url=http://www.dw.com/bs/neka%C5%BEnjeni-zlo%C4%8Din-u-bijeljini/a-16262532 |access-date=12 December 2015 |archive-date=4 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104004747/http://www.dw.com/bs/neka%C5%BEnjeni-zlo%C4%8Din-u-bijeljini/a-16262532 |url-status=live }} | |||
| medium = Documentary | |||
* {{cite news |last=Musli |first=Emir |title=Dvadeset godina od rušenja bijeljinskih džamija |trans-title=Twenty Years Since the Destruction of Bijeljina's Mosques |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=sh |date=13 March 2013a |url=http://www.dw.de/dvadeset-godina-od-ru%C5%A1enja-bijeljinskih-d%C5%BEamija/a-16667134 |access-date=6 October 2013 |archive-date=21 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321080046/http://www.dw.de/dvadeset-godina-od-ru%C5%A1enja-bijeljinskih-d%C5%BEamija/a-16667134 |url-status=live }} | |||
| location = | |||
* {{cite news |last=Musli |first=Emir |title=Ubijeni prirodnom smrću |trans-title=The Dead of Natural Causes |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=sh |date=16 September 2013b |url=http://www.dw.com/bs/ubijeni-prirodnom-smr%C4%87u/a-17090522 |access-date=12 December 2015 |archive-date=23 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323005248/http://www.dw.com/bs/ubijeni-prirodnom-smr%C4%87u/a-17090522 |url-status=live }} | |||
| publisher = ] | |||
* {{cite news |last=Pazarac |first=Sadik |title=Kako su se mijenjali nazivi ulica u Bijeljini |trans-title=How the Names of Streets Have Changed in Bijeljina |newspaper=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty |language=sh |date=8 August 2010 |url=http://www.slobodnaevropa.org/content/kako_su_se_mijenjali_nazivi_ulica_u_bijeljini/2137582.html |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114334/http://www.slobodnaevropa.org/content/kako_su_se_mijenjali_nazivi_ulica_u_bijeljini/2137582.html |url-status=live }} | |||
| isbn = 978-0-7670-6417-0 | |||
* {{cite news |newspaper=Prometej |title=Pojedinačan popis broja ratnih žrtava u svim općinama BiH |trans-title=Detailed Census of War Fatalities in All Municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina |language=sh |date=27 February 2013 |url=http://www.prometej.ba/clanak/drustvo-i-znanost/pojedinacan-popis-broja-ratnih-zrtava-u-svim-opcinama-bih-997 |ref={{harvid|Prometej|2013}} |access-date=15 April 2015 |archive-date=11 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011015248/http://www.prometej.ba/clanak/drustvo-i-znanost/pojedinacan-popis-broja-ratnih-zrtava-u-svim-opcinama-bih-997 |url-status=live }} | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Keane|2003}} | |||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.infobijeljina.com/2980_Proslava-dana-odbrane-grada.html |title=Proslava dana odbrane grada |language=sh |trans-title=Celebration of the City Defense Day |date=31 March 2015 |website=InfoBijeljina |access-date=6 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126041952/http://www.infobijeljina.com/2980_Proslava-dana-odbrane-grada.html |archive-date=26 January 2016 |url-status=dead |ref={{sfnref|InfoBijeljina|2015}} }} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Ristic |first=Marija |title=Belgrade DJ Investigated For War Crimes |newspaper=Balkan Insight |date=2 October 2012 |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/belgrade-dj-investigated-for-war-crimes |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=16 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816061235/http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/belgrade-dj-investigated-for-war-crimes |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
* {{cite news |title=Sjećanje na početak aprila 1992. godine: Bijeljina slavi zločine |trans-title=Remembering the Beginning of April 1992: Bijeljina Celebrates Crimes |publisher=Dnevni Avaz |language=sh |date=2 April 2012 |ref={{harvid|Dnevni Avaz|2012}} |url=http://www.avaz.ba/vijesti/teme/88069-sjecanje-na-pocetak-aprila-1992-godine-bijeljina-slavi-zlocine.html }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} | |||
| title = Biljana Plavsic: Serbian Iron Lady | |||
* {{cite news |last=Sudetic |first=Chuck |author-link=Chuck Sudetic |title=Bosnia Calls Up Guard and Reserve |newspaper=The New York Times |date=5 April 1992 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/05/world/bosnia-calls-up-guard-and-reserve.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720000801/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/05/world/bosnia-calls-up-guard-and-reserve.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }} | |||
| newspaper = BBC | |||
* {{cite news |last=Sudetic |first=Chuck |title=More 'Ethnic Cleansing' by Serbs Is Reported in Bosnia |newspaper=The New York Times |date=18 July 1994a |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/18/world/more-ethnic-cleansing-by-serbs-is-reported-in-bosnia.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720000830/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/18/world/more-ethnic-cleansing-by-serbs-is-reported-in-bosnia.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }} | |||
| date = 27 February 2003 | |||
* {{cite news |last=Sudetic |first=Chuck |title=Serb Gang Expels 566 Muslims From Their Homes in Bosnia |newspaper=The New York Times |date=3 September 1994b |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/03/world/serb-gang-expels-566-muslims-from-their-homes-in-bosnia.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720000905/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/03/world/serb-gang-expels-566-muslims-from-their-homes-in-bosnia.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }} | |||
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1108604.stm | |||
* {{cite news |last=Sudetic |first=Chuck |title=Serbs Drive 800 More Muslims From Homes |newspaper=The New York Times |date=5 September 1994c |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/05/world/serbs-drive-800-more-muslims-from-homes.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720033802/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/05/world/serbs-drive-800-more-muslims-from-homes.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }} | |||
| ref = {{harvid|BBC|27 February 2003}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Sudetic |first=Chuck |title=Serbs Step Up Violence Against Bosnian Muslim Civilians |newspaper=The New York Times |date=20 September 1994d |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/20/world/serbs-step-up-violence-against-bosnian-muslim-civilians.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720033850/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/20/world/serbs-step-up-violence-against-bosnian-muslim-civilians.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Sudetic |first=Chuck |title=Bosnian Serbs Force More Than 2,000 Muslims to Leave Their Homes |newspaper=The New York Times |date=30 August 1994e |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/30/world/bosnian-serbs-force-more-than-2000-muslims-to-leave-their-homes.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720033953/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/30/world/bosnian-serbs-force-more-than-2000-muslims-to-leave-their-homes.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
* {{cite news |last=Traynor |first=Ian |title=Leading Bosnian Serb war criminal released from Swedish prison |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 October 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/27/bosnian-serb-war-criminal-freed |access-date=14 December 2016 |archive-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429084945/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/27/bosnian-serb-war-criminal-freed |url-status=live }} | |||
| last = Erlanger | |||
* {{cite news |title=Witness to Balkans bloodshed |date=24 May 2001 |newspaper=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1347218.stm |ref={{harvid|BBC|2001}} |access-date=24 May 2010 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023005200/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1347218.stm |url-status=live }} | |||
| first = Steve | |||
| title = Suspect in Serbian War Crimes Murdered by Masked Gunmen | |||
| newspaper = The New York Times | |||
| date = 16 January 2000 | |||
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/16/world/suspect-in-serbian-war-crimes-murdered-by-masked-gunmen.html?ref=zeljkoraznatovic | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Erlanger|16 January 2000}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| title = Bosnian Serbs welcome released war criminal Momcilo Krajisnik home as a hero | |||
| publisher = Fox News | |||
| date = 30 August 2013 | |||
| url = http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/08/30/bosnian-serbs-welcome-released-war-criminal-momcilo-krajisnik-home-as-hero/ | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Fox News30 August 2013}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Husejnovic | |||
| first = Merima | |||
| title = Bijeljina's Strange Silence Over War Crimes | |||
| newspaper = Balkan Investigative Reporting Network | |||
| date = 8 November 2008 | |||
| url = http://www.bosnia.org.uk/news/news_body.cfm?newsid=2511 | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Husejnovic|8 November 2008}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Rachel | |||
| first = Irwin | |||
| title = Karadzic Witness Pressed on Serb "Tigers" | |||
| date = 22 March 2013 | |||
| newspaper = Institute for War & Peace Reporting | |||
| url = http://iwpr.net/report-news/karadzic-witness-pressed-serb-tigers | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Irwin|22 March 2013}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Kifner | |||
| first = John | |||
| authorlink = John Kifner | |||
| date = 24 January 2001 | |||
| title = A Pictorial Guide to Hell; Stark Images Trace the Balkans' Descent and a Photographer's Determination | |||
| newspaper = The New York Times | |||
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/24/books/pictorial-guide-hell-stark-images-trace-balkans-descent-photographer-s.html | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Kifner|24 January 2001}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| title = Ko uzima deo Cecine kuće? | |||
| trans_title = Who's Taking a Piece of Ceca's House? | |||
| date = 27 October 2011 | |||
| newspaper = B92 | |||
| language = Serbo-Croatian | |||
| url = http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2011&mm=10&dd=27&nav_category=16&nav_id=552854 | |||
| ref = {{harvid|B92|27 October 2011}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Little | |||
| first = Allan | |||
| title = Karadzic's broken Bosnia remains | |||
| newspaper = BBC | |||
| date = 17 September 2008 | |||
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7621649.stm | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Little|17 September 2008}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Musli | |||
| first = Emir | |||
| title = Zločin bez kazne | |||
| trans_title = Crime Without Punishment | |||
| newspaper = Deutsche Welle | |||
| language = Serbo-Croatian | |||
| date = 24 September 2011 | |||
| url = http://www.dw.de/zlo%C4%8Din-bez-kazne/a-15413852-0 | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Musli|24 September 2011}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Musli | |||
| first = Emir | |||
| title = Odbrana ili zločin? | |||
| trans_title = Defense or Crime? | |||
| newspaper = Deutsche Welle | |||
| language = Serbo-Croatian | |||
| date = 2 April 2012 | |||
| url = http://www.dw.de/odbrana-ili-zločin/a-15853579 | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Musli|2 April 2012}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Musli | |||
| first = Emir | |||
| title = Dvadeset godina od rušenja bijeljinskih džamija | |||
| trans_title = Twenty Years Since the Destruction of Bijeljina's Mosques | |||
| newspaper = Deutsche Welle | |||
| language = Serbo-Croatian | |||
| date = 13 March 2013 | |||
| url = http://www.dw.de/dvadeset-godina-od-rušenja-bijeljinskih-džamija/a-16667134 | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Musli|13 March 2013}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Pazarac | |||
| first = Sadik | |||
| title = Kako su se mijenjali nazivi ulica u Bijeljini | |||
| trans_title = How the Names of Streets Have Changed in Bijeljina | |||
| newspaper = Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty | |||
| language = Serbo-Croatian | |||
| date = 8 August 2010 | |||
| url = http://www.slobodnaevropa.org/content/kako_su_se_mijenjali_nazivi_ulica_u_bijeljini/2137582.html | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Pazarac|8 August 2010}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| newspaper = Prometej | |||
| title = Pojedinačan popis broja ratnih žrtava u svim općinama BiH | |||
| trans_title = Detailed Census of War Fatalities in All Municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||
| language = Serbo-Croatian | |||
| date = 27 February 2013 | |||
| url = http://www.prometej.ba/clanak/drustvo-i-znanost/pojedinacan-popis-broja-ratnih-zrtava-u-svim-opcinama-bih-997 | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Prometej|27 February 2013}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Ristic | |||
| first = Marija | |||
| title = Belgrade DJ Investigated For War Crimes | |||
| newspaper = Balkan Insight | |||
| date = 2 October 2012 | |||
| url = http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/belgrade-dj-investigated-for-war-crimes | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Ristic|2 October 2012}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| title = Sjećanje na početak aprila 1992. godine: Bijeljina slavi zločine | |||
| trans_title = Remembering the Beginning of April 1992: Bijeljina Celebrates Crimes | |||
| publisher = Dnevni Avaz | |||
| language = Serbo-Croatian | |||
| date = 2 April 2012 | |||
| url = http://www.avaz.ba/vijesti/teme/88069-sjecanje-na-pocetak-aprila-1992-godine-bijeljina-slavi-zlocine.html | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Dnevni Avaz|2 April 2012}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Sudetic | |||
| first = Chuck | |||
| authorlink = Chuck Sudetic | |||
| title = Bosnia Calls Up Guard and Reserve | |||
| newspaper = The New York Times | |||
| date = 5 April 1992 | |||
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/05/world/bosnia-calls-up-guard-and-reserve.html?pagewanted=all | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Sudetic|5 April 1992}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Sudetic | |||
| first = Chuck | |||
| title = More 'Ethnic Cleansing' by Serbs Is Reported in Bosnia | |||
| newspaper = The New York Times | |||
| date = 18 July 1994 | |||
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/18/world/more-ethnic-cleansing-by-serbs-is-reported-in-bosnia.html?pagewanted=all | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Sudetic|18 July 1994}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Sudetic | |||
| first = Chuck | |||
| title = Serb Gang Expels 566 Muslims From Their Homes in Bosnia | |||
| newspaper = The New York Times | |||
| date = 3 September 1994 | |||
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/03/world/serb-gang-expels-566-muslims-from-their-homes-in-bosnia.html?pagewanted=all | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Sudetic|3 September 1994}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Sudetic | |||
| first = Chuck | |||
| title = Serbs Drive 800 More Muslims From Homes | |||
| newspaper = The New York Times | |||
| date = 5 September 1994 | |||
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/05/world/serbs-drive-800-more-muslims-from-homes.html?pagewanted=all | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Sudetic|5 September 1994}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Sudetic | |||
| first = Chuck | |||
| title = Serbs Step Up Violence Against Bosnian Muslim Civilians | |||
| newspaper = The New York Times | |||
| date = 20 September 1994 | |||
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/20/world/serbs-step-up-violence-against-bosnian-muslim-civilians.html?pagewanted=all | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Sudetic|20 September 1994}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Sudetic | |||
| first = Chuck | |||
| title = Bosnian Serbs Force More Than 2,000 Muslims to Leave Their Homes | |||
| newspaper = The New York Times | |||
| date = 30 August 1994 | |||
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/30/world/bosnian-serbs-force-more-than-2000-muslims-to-leave-their-homes.html?pagewanted=all | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Sudetic|30 August 1994}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| last = Traynor | |||
| first = Ian | |||
| title = Leading Bosnian Serb war criminal released from Swedish prison | |||
| newspaper = The Guardian | |||
| date = 27 October 2009 | |||
| url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/27/bosnian-serb-war-criminal-freed | |||
| ref = {{harvid|Traynor27 October 2009}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite news | |||
| title = Witness to Balkans bloodshed | |||
| date = 24 May 2001 | |||
| newspaper = BBC | |||
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1347218.stm | |||
| ref = {{harvid|BBC|24 May 2001}} | |||
}} | |||
{{Refend}} | {{Refend}} | ||
===International, governmental, and NGO sources=== | |||
{{Refbegin| |
{{Refbegin|35em}} | ||
* {{cite web |url=http://www.oscebih.org/Default.aspx?id=70&lang=EN |title=Accountability for War Crimes |publisher=Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina |access-date=12 January 2016 |ref={{sfnref|OSCE}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325145714/http://oscebih.org/Default.aspx?id=70&lang=EN |archive-date=25 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} | |||
* {{cite web | |||
* {{cite web |title=Biljana Plavšić – Case Information Sheet |id=IT-00-39 & 40/1 |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/plavsic/cis/en/cis_plavsic.pdf |ref={{harvid|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|Biljana Plavšić CIS}} |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051235/http://www.icty.org/x/cases/plavsic/cis/en/cis_plavsic.pdf |url-status=live }} | |||
| title = Biljana Plavšić – Case Information Sheet | |||
* {{cite report |title=Bosnia-Herzegovina: Living for the Day – Forced Expulsions from Bijeljina and Janja |id=EUR 63/022/1994 |publisher=Amnesty International |date=21 December 1994 |url=https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/184000/eur630221994en.pdf |ref={{harvid|Amnesty International|1994}} |access-date=13 June 2015 |archive-date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323170423/https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/184000/eur630221994en.pdf |url-status=live }} | |||
| id = IT-00-39 & 40/1 | |||
* {{cite report |title=Bosnia and Herzegovina: Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council |publisher=International Center for Transitional Justice |date=8 September 2009 |url=http://ictj.org/sites/default/files/ICTJ-FormerYugoslavia-Bosnia-Review-2009-English.pdf |ref={{harvid|International Center for Transitional Justice|8 September 2009}} |access-date=8 October 2013 |archive-date=6 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906023409/https://www.ictj.org/sites/default/files/ICTJ-FormerYugoslavia-Bosnia-Review-2009-English.pdf |url-status=live }} | |||
| publisher = International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia | |||
* {{cite report |title=Final Report of the United Nations Commission of Experts Established Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 780 (1992) |id=S/1994/674/Add.2 |url=http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/comexpert/anx/III-A.htm#IV.A.3 |publisher=United Nations Security Council |date=28 December 1994 |ref={{harvid|United Nations Security Council|1994}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430024215/http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/comexpert/anx/III-A.htm#IV.A.3 |archive-date=30 April 2011 }} | |||
| url = http://www.icty.org/x/cases/plavsic/cis/en/cis_plavsic.pdf | |||
* {{cite web |title=Momčilo Krajišnik – Case Information Sheet |id=IT-00-39 |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/krajisnik/cis/en/cis_krajisnik_en.pdf |ref={{harvid|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|Momčilo Krajišnik CIS}} |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225181530/https://www.icty.org/x/cases/krajisnik/cis/en/cis_krajisnik_en.pdf |url-status=live }} | |||
| ref = {{harvid|ICTY|Biljana Plavšić CIS}} | |||
* {{cite report |title=Popis stanovništva u Bosni i Hercegovini 1991: Etnički sastav stanovništva |trans-title=Population Census in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1991: Ethnic Composition of the Population |publisher=Institute for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina |url=http://www.fzs.ba/Dem/Popis/nacionalni%20sastav%20stanovnistva%20po%20naseljenim%20mjestima%20bilten%20234.pdf#page=17 |date=1993 |language=sh |ref={{sfnref|Institute for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina|1993}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305040829/http://www.fzs.ba/Dem/Popis/nacionalni%20sastav%20stanovnistva%20po%20naseljenim%20mjestima%20bilten%20234.pdf#page=17 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite web |title=Prosecutor v. Momčilo Krajišnik (Trial Judgment) |id=IT-00-39-T |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) |date=27 September 2006 |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/krajisnik/tjug/en/kra-jud060927e.pdf |ref={{harvid|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|2006}} |access-date=13 June 2010 |archive-date=18 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518033410/http://www.icty.org/x/cases/krajisnik/tjug/en/kra-jud060927e.pdf |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite report | |||
* {{cite web |title=Prosecutor v. Željko Ražnatović (Initial Indictment) |id=IT-97-27 |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |date=23 September 1997 |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/zeljko_raznjatovic/ind/en/ark-ii970930e.pdf |ref={{harvid|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|23 September 1997}} |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=21 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121232312/https://www.icty.org/x/cases/zeljko_raznjatovic/ind/en/ark-ii970930e.pdf |url-status=live }} | |||
| title = Bosnia-Herzegovina: Living for the Day – Forced Expulsions from Bijeljina and Janja | |||
* {{cite web |title=Radovan Karadžić – Case Information Sheet |id=IT-95-5/18 |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/karadzic/cis/en/cis_karadzic_en.pdf |ref={{harvid|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|Radovan Karadžić CIS}} |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=4 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204094800/http://www.icty.org/x/cases/karadzic/cis/en/cis_karadzic_en.pdf |url-status=live }} | |||
| id = EUR 63/022/1994 | |||
* {{cite web |title=The Cases |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |url=http://www.icty.org/action/cases/4 |access-date=4 May 2015 |ref={{harvid|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|Cases summary}} |archive-date=3 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503193934/http://www.icty.org/action/cases/4 |url-status=live }} | |||
| publisher = Amnesty International | |||
* {{cite web |title=Trial of Radovan Karadžić – Transcript |date=20 March 2013 |id=130320IT |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |url=http://icty.org/x/cases/karadzic/trans/en/130320IT.htm |ref={{harvid|International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|Radovan Karadžić transcript|2013}} |access-date=13 June 2015 |archive-date=13 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013014036/https://www.icty.org/x/cases/karadzic/trans/en/130320IT.htm |url-status=live }} | |||
| date = 21 December 1994 | |||
* {{cite report |title=Unfinished Business: Return of Displaced Persons and Other Human Rights Issues in Bijeljina |publisher=Human Rights Watch |date=May 2000 |volume=12 |issue=7 |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/bosnia/BOSN005.pdf |ref={{harvid|Human Rights Watch|2000}} |access-date=4 December 2016 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028104311/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/bosnia/BOSN005.pdf |url-status=live }} | |||
| url = http://www.amnesty.org/pt-br/library/asset/EUR63/022/1994/es/7583486d-f8c0-11dd-b40d-7b25bb27e189/eur630221994en.pdf | |||
* {{cite report |title=War Crimes in Bosnia-Hercegovina |publisher=Human Rights Watch |date=August 1992 |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/bosnia/BOSN005.pdf |ref={{harvid|Human Rights Watch|1992}} |access-date=4 December 2016 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028104311/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/bosnia/BOSN005.pdf |url-status=live }} | |||
| ref = {{harvid|AI|21 December 1994}} | |||
* {{cite report |title=War Criminals in Bosnia's Republika Srpska: Who Are the People in Your Neighbourhood? |number=103 |publisher=International Crisis Group |date=2 November 2000 |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/europe/Bosnia%2039.pdf |ref={{harvid|International Crisis Group|2000}} |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626031444/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/europe/Bosnia%2039.pdf |archive-date=26 June 2014 |url-status=dead }} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite report | |||
| title = Bosnia and Herzegovina: Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council | |||
| publisher = International Center for Transitional Justice | |||
| date = 8 September 2009 | |||
| url = http://ictj.org/sites/default/files/ICTJ-FormerYugoslavia-Bosnia-Review-2009-English.pdf | |||
| ref = {{harvid|ICTJ|8 September 2009}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite report | |||
| title = Final Report of the United Nations Commission of Experts Established Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 780 (1992) | |||
| id = S/1994/674/Add.2 | |||
| url = http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/comexpert/anx/III-A.htm#IV.A.3 | |||
| publisher = United Nations Security Council | |||
| date = 28 December 1994 | |||
| ref = {{harvid|UNSC|28 December 1994}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite web | |||
| title = Momčilo Krajišnik – Case Information Sheet | |||
| id = IT-00-39 | |||
| publisher = International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia | |||
| url = http://www.icty.org/x/cases/krajisnik/cis/en/cis_krajisnik_en.pdf | |||
| ref = {{harvid|ICTY|Momčilo Krajišnik CIS}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite web | |||
| title = Prosecutor v. Momčilo Krajišnik (Trial Judgment) | |||
| id = IT-00-39-T | |||
| publisher = International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) | |||
| date = 27 September 2006 | |||
| url = http://www.icty.org/x/cases/krajisnik/tjug/en/kra-jud060927e.pdf | |||
| ref = {{harvid|ICTY|27 September 2006}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite web | |||
| title = Prosecutor v. Željko Ražnatović (Initial Indictment) | |||
| id = IT-97-27 | |||
| publisher = International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia | |||
| date = 23 September 1997 | |||
| url = http://www.icty.org/x/cases/zeljko_raznjatovic/ind/en/ark-ii970930e.pdf | |||
| ref = {{harvid|ICTY|23 September 1997}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite web | |||
| title = Radovan Karadžić – Case Information Sheet | |||
| id = IT-95-5/18 | |||
| publisher = International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia | |||
| url = http://www.icty.org/x/cases/karadzic/cis/en/cis_karadzic_en.pdf | |||
| ref = {{harvid|ICTY|Radovan Karadžić CIS}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite web | |||
| title = The Cases | |||
| publisher = International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia | |||
| url = http://www.icty.org/action/cases/4 | |||
| access-date = 4 May 2015 | |||
| ref = {{harvid|ICTY|Cases summary}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite report | |||
| title = Unfinished Business: Return of Displaced Persons and Other Human Rights Issues in Bijeljina | |||
| publisher = Human Rights Watch | |||
| date = May 2000 | |||
| volume = 12 | |||
| issue = 7 | |||
| url = http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/bosnia/BOSN005.pdf | |||
| ref = {{harvid|HRW|May 2000}} | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite report | |||
| title = War Criminals in Bosnia's Republika Srpska: Who Are the People in Your Neighbourhood? | |||
| number = 103 | |||
| publisher = International Crisis Group | |||
| date = 2 November 2000 | |||
| url = http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/europe/Bosnia%2039.pdf | |||
| ref = {{harvid|ICG|2 November 2000}} | |||
}} | |||
{{Refend}} | {{Refend}} | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* {{cite web |title=Bijeljina: The Righteous Man |series=Bosnia and Hercegovina: Twenty Years Later |publisher=Institute for War and Peace Reporting |date=24 April 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIe0Ew5iJo0&list=PL3DFB71DBFDDAB945&index=3}} | |||
{{Refbegin}} | |||
* {{cite web |title=Clouds Over Bijeljina |series=Bosnia and Hercegovina: Twenty Years Later |publisher=Institute for War and Peace Reporting |date=24 April 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIh3zgP_Y10&list=PL3DFB71DBFDDAB945&index=2}} | |||
* {{cite web | |||
* {{cite news |last=Feinstein |first=Anthony |title=Capturing A War Crime |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=21 June 2015 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/capturing-a-war-crime/article25016202/}} | |||
| title = Bijeljina: The Righteous Man | |||
* {{cite journal |last=Hadzic |first=Hasan |title=Bijeljina: A Bastion of Apartheid |journal=Bosnia Report |publisher=Bosnian Institute |date=July 2003 |number=32–34 |url=http://www.bosnia.org.uk/bosrep/report_format.cfm?articleID=935&reportid=157 |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923194107/http://www.bosnia.org.uk/bosrep/report_format.cfm?articleID=935&reportid=157 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead}} | |||
| series = Bosnia and Hercegovina: Twenty Years Later | |||
* {{cite web |last=Haviv |first=Ron |title=Preventing Genocide – Gallery – Eyewitness Testimony – Ron Haviv |publisher=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum |url=http://www.ushmm.org/confront-genocide/cases/bosnia-herzegovina/bosnia-video-gallery/eyewitness-testimony-ron-haviv}} | |||
| publisher = Institute for War and Peace Reporting | |||
* {{cite web |last=Toal |first=Gerard |date=3 April 2012 |title=The Bosnian War, 20 years on ... |publisher=Oxford University Press Blog |url=http://blog.oup.com/2012/04/the-bosnian-war-20-years-on/}} | |||
| date = 24 April 2012 | |||
| url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIe0Ew5iJo0&list=PL3DFB71DBFDDAB945&index=3 | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite web | |||
| title = Clouds Over Bijeljina | |||
| series = Bosnia and Hercegovina: Twenty Years Later | |||
| publisher = Institute for War and Peace Reporting | |||
| date = 24 April 2012 | |||
| url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIh3zgP_Y10&list=PL3DFB71DBFDDAB945&index=2 | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite journal | |||
| last = Hadzic | |||
| first = Hasan | |||
| title = Bijeljina: A Bastion of Apartheid | |||
| journal = Bosnia Report | |||
| publisher = Bosnian Institute | |||
|date=December–July 2003 | |||
| number = 32–34 | |||
| url = http://www.bosnia.org.uk/bosrep/report_format.cfm?articleID=935&reportid=157 | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite web | |||
| last = Haviv | |||
| first = Ron | |||
| title = Preventing Genocide – Gallery – Eyewitness Testimony – Ron Haviv | |||
| publisher = United States Holocaust Memorial Museum | |||
| url = http://www.ushmm.org/genocide/take_action/gallery/portrait/haviv | |||
}} | |||
* {{cite web | |||
| last = Toal | |||
| first = Gerard | |||
| date = 3 April 2012 | |||
| title = The Bosnian War, 20 years on ... | |||
| publisher = Oxford University Press Blog | |||
| url = http://blog.oup.com/2012/04/the-bosnian-war-20-years-on/ | |||
}} | |||
{{Refend}} | |||
{{Bosnian War}} | {{Bosnian War}} | ||
{{Yugoslav wars}} | |||
{{coord|44|45|N|19|13|E|source:eswiki_region:BA|display=title}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bijeljina massacre}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Bijeljina massacre}} | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] |
Latest revision as of 11:47, 20 November 2024
Killing of civilians by Serb paramilitary groups in Bijeljina during Bosnian Civil War
Bijeljina massacre | |
---|---|
Part of the Bosnian War | |
Ron Haviv's image showing Srđan Golubović (a member of the Serb Volunteer Guard) kicking Tifa Šabanović, a dying Bosniak woman | |
Location | Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Coordinates | 44°45′27″N 19°13′3″E / 44.75750°N 19.21750°E / 44.75750; 19.21750 |
Date | 1–2 April 1992 |
Target | Bosniaks |
Attack type | Mass killing |
Deaths | 48–78 verified |
Perpetrators | Serb Volunteer Guard White Eagles |
Motive | Establishment of homogenous Serb territory |
The Bijeljina massacre involved the killing of civilians by Serb paramilitary groups in Bijeljina on 1–2 April 1992 in the run-up to the Bosnian War. The majority of those killed were Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims). Members of other ethnicities were also killed, such as Serbs deemed disloyal by the local authorities. The killings were committed by a local paramilitary group known as Mirko's Chetniks and by the Serb Volunteer Guard (SDG, also known as Arkan's Tigers), a Serbia-based paramilitary group led by Željko "Arkan" Ražnatović. The SDG were under the command of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), which was controlled by Serbian President Slobodan Milošević.
In September 1991, Bosnian Serbs had proclaimed a Serbian Autonomous Oblast with Bijeljina as its capital. In March 1992, the Bosnian referendum on independence was passed with overwhelming support from Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats, although Bosnian Serbs either boycotted it or were prevented from voting by Bosnian Serb authorities. A poorly organized, local Bosniak Patriotic League paramilitary group had been established in response to the Bosnian Serb proclamation. On 31 March, the Patriotic League in Bijeljina was provoked into fighting by local Serbs and the SDG. On 1–2 April, the SDG and the JNA took over Bijeljina with little resistance; murders, rapes, house searches, and pillaging followed. These actions were described as genocidal by the historian Professor Eric D. Weitz of the City College of New York. Professor Michael Sells of the University of Chicago concluded that they were carried out to erase the cultural history of the Bosniak people of Bijeljina.
Around 3 April, Serb forces removed the bodies of those massacred in anticipation of the arrival of a Bosnian government delegation tasked with investigating what had transpired. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor's Office were able to verify between 48 and 78 deaths. Post-war investigations have documented the deaths of a little over 250 civilians of all ethnicities in the Bijeljina municipality during the course of the war. After the massacre, a campaign of mass ethnic cleansing of non-Serbs was carried out, all mosques were demolished, and nine detention camps were established. Many deaths in Bijeljina were not officially listed as civilian war victims and their death certificates claim they "died of natural causes."
As of December 2014, local courts had not prosecuted anyone for the killings, and no members of the SDG had been prosecuted for any crimes the unit carried out in Bijeljina or elsewhere in Croatia or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Milošević was indicted by the ICTY and charged with carrying out a genocidal campaign that included Bijeljina and other locations, but died during the trial. Republika Srpska leaders Biljana Plavšić and Momčilo Krajišnik were convicted for the deportations and forcible transfers in the ethnic cleansing that followed the massacre. Radovan Karadžić, the former President of Republika Srpska, was convicted for the massacre and other crimes against humanity committed in Bijeljina. Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović, Serbian intelligence officers, were also convicted. At the end of the war, fewer than 2,700 Bosniaks still lived in the municipality from a pre-war population of 30,000. The Serbs of Bijeljina celebrate 1 April as "City Defense Day", and a street in the city has been named after the SDG.
Background
class=notpageimage| Location of the town of Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina.According to the 1991 census, the municipality of Bijeljina had approximately 97,000 inhabitants. The demographic proportions were approximately 59% Bosnian Serbs, 31% Bosniaks and 10% belonged to other ethnicities. The town of Bijeljina itself had 36,414 inhabitants, 19,024 of whom were Bosniaks (or 52% of the town's population), while the Serbs were the second largest ethnic group in the town.
During 1990, a group of Serb Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) officers and experts from the JNA's Psychological Operations Department had developed the RAM Plan with the intent of organizing Serbs outside of Serbia, consolidating control of the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), and preparing arms and ammunition. In 1990 and 1991, Serbs in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina had proclaimed a number of Serbian Autonomous Oblasts with the intent of later unifying them into a homogeneous Serb territory. As early as September or October 1990, the JNA began arming Bosnian Serbs and organizing them into militias. That same year, the JNA disarmed the Territorial Defense Force of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (TORBiH). By March 1991, the JNA had distributed an estimated 51,900 firearms to Serb paramilitaries and 23,298 firearms to the SDS. Throughout 1991 and early 1992, the SDS heavily Serbianized the police force in order to increase Serb political control. In September 1991, Bijeljina was established by the Bosnian Serbs as the capital of the Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Northern Bosnia, later renamed in November as the Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Semberija, renamed again in December as the "Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Semberija and Majevica". In response, local Bosniaks established the paramilitary Patriotic League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, shortened to the Patriotic League.
In January 1992, the SDS assembly proclaimed the "Republic of the Serbian People of Bosnia and Herzegovina" and Radovan Karadžić, its soon-to-be president, announced that a "unified Bosnia and Herzegovina no longer exists". In March, the Bosnian referendum on independence passed with overwhelming support from Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats, having been boycotted by most Bosnian Serbs. The SDS, claiming that independence would result in the Serbs becoming "a national minority in an Islamic state", had used armed irregular units to block the delivery of ballot boxes, and dropped leaflets encouraging the boycott. Despite this, thousands of Serbs in larger cities did participate in the referendum and voted for independence, and several violent incidents were triggered across Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to historian Noel Malcolm the "steps taken by Karadžić and his party – "Autonomous Regions", the arming of the Serb population, minor local incidents, non-stop propaganda, the request for federal army "protection" – matched exactly what had been done in Croatia. Few observers could doubt that a single plan was in operation." Bijeljina was strategically significant because of its location, which enabled the easy movement of military personnel, weaponry, and goods into Posavina and the Bosnian Krajina where Serb forces were gathered.
Provocation, takeover, and massacre
Željko Ražnatović ("Arkan"), leader of the Serb Volunteer Guard (SDG), spent a month in Bijeljina devising battle plans prior to the attack. On 30 March 1992, Blagoje Adžić, Bosnian Serb chief-of-staff of the JNA, announced that the army was "ready to protect Serbs from open aggression". Fighting broke out in Bijeljina on 1 April, after local Serbs and SDG personnel threw grenades into shops, including a Bosniak-owned cafe, provoking the poorly organized Patriotic League into an armed conflict. About a thousand SDG members and Mirko's Chetniks, a paramilitary formation commanded by Mirko Blagojević, were involved and captured important structures in the town. According to journalist and political analyst Miloš Vasić, Bijeljina was defended by 35 or 38 Bosnian policemen. According to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Bijeljina was the "first municipality of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be taken over by the Bosnian Serbs in 1992". Despite the pro-Serb activities of the JNA during the Croatian War of Independence, the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegović apparently believed that the JNA would act differently in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and asked the JNA to defend Bijeljina against the SDG.
On 1–2 April 1992, the town was surrounded by JNA forces, ostensibly to keep the peace. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), Serb paramilitaries wearing balaclavas took up positions around the city, including sniper positions in windows on the top floor of buildings. Meeting little resistance, the SDG, under JNA command and reporting directly to Serbian President Slobodan Milošević, swiftly captured Bijeljina. Artillery units shelled the town in coordination with the street fighting. According to photojournalist Ron Haviv, Serb forces struck first, with several busloads of soldiers arriving in the city, seizing the radio station, and forcing local Serbs to reveal the identities of the city's non-Serb residents. A paramilitary group led by Ljubiša "Mauzer" Savić, who was a founder of the SDS, also participated in the assault or arrived shortly after. Together with the SDG, they began a campaign of violence against local Bosniaks and some of the Serb population, committing several rapes and murders, and searching residents' houses and pillaging their property. Subsequently, Bosnian President Izetbegović tasked the JNA with occupying Bijeljina and stopping the violence. At Karadžić's trial, the former Mayor of Bijeljina Cvijetin Simić, testified that the only real fighting that took place in the town on 1–2 April happened around the city hospital, where the most fatalities occurred.
As the fighting progressed, the SDS and the Bosnian Serbs created the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska (MUP RS), an independent Serb police force. According to HRW, a pattern of violence, fueled by "the strive to create a Greater Serbia", developed in Bijeljina that was later repeated in other municipalities in north-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina by similar paramilitary groups from Serbia. This pattern was described by the United Nations Commission of Experts in the following terms:
First, Bosnian Serb paramilitary forces, often with the assistance of the JNA, seize control of the area. In many cases, Serbian residents are told to leave the area before the violence begins. The homes of non-Serb residents are targeted for destruction and cultural and religious monuments, especially churches and mosques, are destroyed. Second, the area falls under the control of paramilitary forces who terrorize the non-Serb residents with random killings, rapes, and looting. Third, the seized area is administered by local Serb authorities, often in conjunction with paramilitary groups. During this phase, non-Serb residents are detained, beaten, and sometimes transferred to prison camps where further abuse, including mass killings, have occurred. Non-Serb residents are often fired from their jobs and their property is confiscated. Many have been forced to sign documents relinquishing their rights to their homes before being deported to other areas of the country.
The exact number killed in the takeover is unknown. Several sources put the figure anywhere between several dozen and a thousand. According to the ICTY, at least 48 civilians were killed of which 45 were non-Serbs. Around 3 April, a local policeman was ordered to guard a hearse which was picking up bodies from the streets and houses of the town. The killings were eliticidal with the aim of erasing cultural history and included "political leaders, businessmen, and other prominent Bosniaks", but also included women and children. A number of Serbs who had attempted to stop the massacre were also killed. An investigation by the ICTY later stated that the victims had been shot "in the chest, mouth, temple, or back of the head, some at close range" and that none had been wearing military uniforms. According to the historian Professor Eric D. Weitz of the City College of New York, the killing of Bosniaks in Bijeljina was a genocidal act. The acts against civilians in Bijeljina and those carried out by the JNA and special forces that followed were an attempt to intimidate and sidetrack the Bosnian government and general public from pursuing independence.
Haviv, who had been invited by Arkan to take photographs, witnessed the killings and one of his pictures, which depicted an SDG member kicking a dying Bosniak woman, was later published in the international media prompting Arkan to put out a death warrant for Haviv. Meanwhile, the Serbian state-owned Radio Belgrade network reported that Bijeljina had been "liberated" with the help of "members of the Serbian National Guard of Semberija and Majevica, in cooperation with Serbian volunteers, Arkan's men, and the Serbian 'radicals'".
Bosnian delegation investigation and response
Serb forces ordered the removal of the bodies of those killed, in anticipation of a delegation of high-ranking Bosnian officials due to arrive on 4 April. The delegation included Biljana Plavšić, a Serb representative of the Presidency; Fikret Abdić, a Bosniak representative; the Croat Minister of Defense, Jerko Doko; and the chief-of-staff of the JNA 2nd Military District, General Dobrašin Praščević. They were sent by Izetbegović for the purpose of investigating the alleged atrocities. On the same day, the JNA moved into Bijeljina, but the violence continued. On 4 April, the SDG established themselves in the local headquarters of the SDS. Local police, who were engaged in arresting the town's Party of Democratic Action (SDA) presidency, joined them for several days, as did members of the White Eagles paramilitary group and local Territorial Defense (TO) members. Serb flags were mounted on two mosques in Bijeljina, and checkpoints and roadblocks were established, preventing journalists and European monitors from entering. The delegation visited the crisis staff and a military barracks where they were made aware of the situation.
During the visit, Plavšić requested that Arkan transfer control of Bijeljina to the JNA. Arkan refused, citing unfinished business, and said he would target Bosanski Brod next. Plavšić consequently withdrew her request and commended Arkan for "protecting" Bijeljina's Serbs from the Bosniaks. She called him a "Serb hero ... who was prepared to give his life for his people", adding that "we need such people". She then thanked and kissed Arkan in public to which the local members of the SDS responded with "shouts of approval". In a conversation with Cedric Thornberry, a United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) representative, she described Bijeljina as a "liberated" town. Abdić was initially turned back at gunpoint, but was later able to enter. He was then kept in custody by Arkan until Plavšić arrived to release him. "Bijeljina was practically empty," he recalled. "I met with the local authorities, they told me what had happened, but there wasn't a single Muslim there, so we couldn't discuss the problem as a whole. Muslims didn't answer our appeal. They were too scared to come out, and specially scared to talk about it at all." General Sava Janković, commander of the JNA's 17th Corps, reported that:
A big influence of the SDS and Arkan's propaganda is felt in the 38th and the 17th , because of which some have left their units with arms. ... The situation in the territory is extremely complex. The town of Bijeljina is controlled by the SDS and Arkan's men, who do not even allow our anti-tank unit to reach certain positions in the town. There are about 3,000 refugees in the barracks and the Cooperative Hall area in Patkovača. A team from the BH Presidency led by Fikret Abdić, Biljana Plavšić, the chief-of-staff of the 2nd Military District and the commander of the 17th Corps, has been in Bijeljina barracks since 1200 hours.
"In the following days," he predicted, "further deterioration of the entire security and political situation is expected. There is a threat that interethnic conflicts in Posavina and Semberija might spread to other parts of the zone of responsibility ... Direct armed provocations by SDA, HDZ , and SDS paramilitary units against commands and units are also possible, as well as attacks by them on military warehouses and isolated facilities." On the same day, Bosnian Defense Minister Ejup Ganić and Croat members of the coalition government urged Izetbegović to mobilize the TORBiH due to the inability of the JNA to stop the violence. Izetbegović described the images coming out of Bijeljina as "unbelievable". "I thought it was a photomontage," he explained. "I couldn't believe my eyes. I couldn't believe it was possible." He described the takeover as "criminal", and said he considered the JNA responsible for Bijeljina's fall because it "passively stood by and watched what was happening". Izetbegović mobilized the Territorial Defense later that day so as to "enable people to defend themselves ... from future Bijeljinas". The Serb members of the Bosnian Presidency, Plavšić and Nikola Koljević, denounced the mobilization as illegal and resigned. On 8 April, Izetbegović announced a "state of imminent war danger". The JNA rejected requests from the Bosnian Presidency to return the TORBiH's weapons that they had confiscated in 1990. Karadžić and the Bosnian Serb leadership used Izetbegović's mobilization order as a pretext to independence and mobilized their Municipal Crisis Headquarters, reserve police units, and TO forces.
Ethnic cleansing, mosque destruction, and detainment
The SDG stayed in Bijeljina until at least May 1992. General Manojlo Milovanović, chief-of-staff of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), commented on Arkan's activities in Bijeljina and Zvornik in April and May 1992: "The return of Serb voluntary units from the Republika Srpska and Republika Srpska Krajina was characterized by long formations consisting of both personnel carriers and tanks and a great number of trucks. This was a clear sign of looting." The ICTY concluded that Serb forces killed a minimum of 52 people, mostly Bosniaks, between April and September 1992 in the Bijeljina municipality. In April, an "organized campaign" had begun to remove the Bosniak population of Bijeljina. The SDS in Bijeljina put forth a plan and proposed that a Bosniak family be killed "on each side of town to create an atmosphere of fear". On 23 September 1992, the SDG and Mirko's Chetniks handed over control of Bijeljina to the SDS and the plan was carried out by Duško Malović's special police unit. On 24 and 25 September, in the village of Bukreš, 22 people including seven children were removed from their homes and taken to the village of Balatun where they were killed and thrown into the Drina river. It is suspected that they were killed by members of the Special Unit of the MUP RS under the supervision of local police and the former State Security. All were under the direct command of Mićo Stanišić the then Minister of MUP RS. Mass ethnic cleansing was committed and nine detention camps were established following the massacre. All seven mosques in Bijeljina were destroyed. They were systematically destroyed using explosives under the supervision of police and experts, and after their collapse the remains were removed with military construction equipment. Trees were planted where they once stood.
A "State Commission for the Free transfer of the Civilian Population" or "Commission for the Exchange of Population" was created and headed by Vojkan Đurković, a major in the SDG, and included Mauzer's Panthers. Its purpose was to completely expel all non-Serbs from Bijeljina. Đurković claimed that the Bosniaks had left voluntarily and said Bijeljina was "sacred Serbian land". According to him "after a time, the People's Deputies, Milan Teslić and Vojo Kuprešanin, expanded the Commission in the name of the Deputies Club, and later the Commission was approved by the Parliament of the Serbian Republic ." He explained that "travel was undertaken in the following manner: the State Commission for the Free Transfer of the Civilian Population had as its duty to inform the State Security Service of the Serbian Republic (Republika Srpska) of that travel. The latter, by fax, would then pass that on to that ministry in the Republic of Serbia which has jurisdiction. The transit would occur in broad daylight, at noon." Expulsions continued into 1994, and in July a "systematic program" was implemented with the goal of "expelling the remaining Bosniaks and extorting property and money from them". Đurković was promoted by Arkan to lieutenant colonel in 1995. Mauzer's Panthers later became a special unit of the VRS. Mauzer was killed in 2000.
War crimes prosecution
Branko Todorović, President of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bijeljina"We live with the former war criminals, we see them every day in the streets."
Bosnian courts have not filed any war crimes indictments for the massacre. In 2008, Branko Todorović, the President of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bijeljina, criticized the "lethargic" and "unacceptable behavior" of the Republika Srpska judiciary. However, since 2003, the prosecution of war crimes has mostly been under the jurisdiction of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2000, the International Crisis Group named three individuals from Bijeljina as "potentially indictable for war crimes":
- Mirko Blagojević: who is alleged to have led Mirko's Chetniks, which took part in the attack and in the ethnic cleansing of Bijeljina. He served as the head of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) in Bijeljina and is now a lawyer.
- Vojkan Đurković: who is suspected of forcing Bosniak civilians "to hand over all their money, valuables and documents, and to sign away their property". He is also reported to have worked with the Panthers and other groups in the "forcible expulsion of the civilian population". He was arrested in November 2005, but released from police custody less than a month later.
- Jovan Aćimović: who is alleged to have played a major role in the last initiative to remove Bosniaks from Bijeljina shortly prior to the signing of the Dayton Agreement in November 1995. He reportedly continued to evict Bosniaks from their houses during peace time. He later became a member of the police in Ugljevik.
In 1997, the ICTY secretly indicted Arkan for war crimes carried out in Sanski Most in 1995, but not for those in Bijeljina. In January 2000, he was killed in a Belgrade hotel lobby by masked gunmen, and did not face trial. In 1999, Milošević was indicted for carrying out a genocidal campaign that included Bijeljina and other locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, among other charges, but he died mid-trial in March 2006. In February 2000, Plavšić and Momčilo Krajišnik, the speaker of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, were indicted for the same genocidal campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina, among other charges. On 2 October 2002, Plavšić pleaded guilty to persecuting the non-Serb populations in 37 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Bijeljina. This plea was entered under an agreement that involved the prosecution moving to dismiss the remaining charges. She was subsequently sentenced to 11 years imprisonment. On 27 September 2006, Krajišnik was found guilty on a five counts of crimes against humanity, including the same count as Plavšić regarding the persecution of non-Serb populations in municipalities including Bijeljina, but he was found not guilty of genocide. In 2009, he was handed a twenty-year prison sentence. After serving two-thirds of her sentence, Plavšić was released in October 2009. Krajišnik was released in August 2013, having served two-thirds of his sentence (including time spent in custody).
In 2010, the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor's Office investigated Borislav Pelević, a former SDG member and a member of the Serbian National Assembly. The investigation was ultimately dropped due to lack of evidence. In 2012, former SDG member Srđan Golubović was arrested in Belgrade at the request of the Prosecutor's Office. Golubović was charged with an indictment listing the names of 78 victims. Clint Williamson, the lead prosecutor, said that other members of the SDG could not be identified because their faces had been covered with masks. Radovan Karadžić, the former President of Republika Srpska, was sentenced to a life in prison. In 2023, the follow-up International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals sentenced Serbian State Security officers Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović for aiding and abetting the crime of murder, as a violation of the laws or customs of war and a crime against humanity, and the crimes of deportation, forcible transfer, and persecution, as crimes against humanity in Bijeljina, included them in a joint criminal enterprise, and sentenced them each to 15 years in prison. The Tribunal concluded:
shared the intent to further the common criminal plan to forcibly and permanently remove the majority of non-Serbs from large areas of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As of December 2014 no member of the SDG has been prosecuted for the murders, rapes, or looting committed in Bijeljina, or any of the crimes allegedly committed by the unit elsewhere in Croatia or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Aftermath
The Research and Documentation Center in Sarajevo has recorded a total of 1,078 fatalities in the Bijeljina municipality during the war, including approximately 250 civilians of all ethnicities. Many deaths in Bijeljina were not officially listed as civilian war victims and their death certificates claim they "died of natural causes." After the war ended, less than 2,700 people of the pre-war Bosniak population of over 30,000 still lived in the municipality of Bijeljina (the town itself had 19,000 Bosniak inhabitants). Many faced difficulties in returning to their homes including discrimination from the police, being unable to receive an identification card, or reconnect their phone lines. Local authorities prevented the Islamic community from reconstructing a mosque and, for a while, did not allow them to have their own local meeting place. Meaningful Bosniak participation in the politics and administration of the municipality was also blocked. As of 2012, 5,000 Bosniaks have returned to Bijeljina.
In 2007, the Bijeljina truth commission was created with a four-year mandate. It held two public hearings in 2008, but by March 2009, although it was not formally disbanded, the commission was effectively dissolved when the majority of its members resigned. A number of factors have been cited as contributing to its failure, such as the inclusion of the commander of the Batković concentration camp in its delegation, its limited legal standing, disputes over the commission's scope, and poor funding.
Local Serbs celebrate 1 April as "City Defense Day", and a street in the town is presently named after the Serbian Volunteer Guard. In 2012, the Bijeljina municipal veterans organization, municipal officials, and city leaders marked the occasion stating that "on this day the Serbian people of Semberija were organized to defend against and prevent a new Jasenovac and notorious 13th Handschar division."
See also
Footnotes
- ^ Human Rights Watch 2000, pp. 2, 16, 33.
- ^ Magaš & Žanić 2001, p. 182.
- ^ Gow 2003, p. 128.
- ^ United Nations Security Council 1994.
- ^ Central Intelligence Agency 2002, p. 135.
- ^ Toal & Dahlman 2011, p. 113.
- ^ Calic 2012, p. 125.
- Human Rights Watch 2000, p. 11.
- ^ Institute for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina 1993, p. 17.
- Allen 1996, p. 56.
- Judah 2000, p. 170.
- Lukic & Lynch 1996, p. 203.
- Bugajski 1995, p. 15.
- ^ Ramet 2006, p. 414.
- Thomas 2006, p. 9.
- ^ Human Rights Watch 2000, p. 12.
- ^ Toal & Dahlman 2011, p. 110.
- Gow 2003, p. 173.
- Velikonja 2003, p. 238.
- Lukic & Lynch 1996, p. 204.
- Human Rights Watch 2000, p. 15.
- ^ Goldstein 1999, p. 242.
- ^ International Crisis Group 2000, pp. 10–13.
- ^ International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia 2006, p. 113.
- Amanpour 1997.
- ^ Kumar 1999, p. 40.
- Human Rights Watch 1992.
- Amnesty International 1994, p. 5.
- Ramet 2006, p. 427.
- Gow 2003, p. 129.
- Keane 2003.
- ^ BBC 2000.
- Human Rights Watch 2000, pp. 11–12.
- International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia 2006, p. 117.
- International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia & Radovan Karadžić transcript 2013, p. 35702.
- Human Rights Watch 2000, p. 16.
- ^ Human Rights Watch 2000, p. 14.
- ^ Malcolm 1994, p. 236.
- Off 2010, p. 69.
- ^ Karabegović 2012.
- ^ International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia 2006, p. 114.
- Sells 1996, p. 26.
- ^ Weitz 2003, p. 215.
- Bećirević 2014, pp. 88–89.
- BBC 2001.
- Kifner 2001.
- ^ International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia 2006, p. 115.
- ^ Silber & Little 1997, p. 225.
- International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia 2006, pp. 113–114.
- Velikonja 2003, p. 247.
- Ramet 2006, pp. 427–428.
- ^ International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia 2006, pp. 329–330.
- Silber & Little 1997, p. 224.
- Sudetic 1992.
- Central Intelligence Agency 2002, p. 136.
- Bećirević 2014, p. 90.
- ^ International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia 2006, pp. 117–118.
- Sudetic 1994a.
- Musli 2011.
- ^ Musli 2012b.
- Human Rights Watch 2000, p. 4.
- Musli 2013a.
- ^ Totten & Bartrop 2008, p. 410.
- Human Rights Watch 2000, p. 28.
- Amnesty International 1994, pp. 6–7.
- ^ Cigar & Williams 2002, p. 53.
- Cigar & Williams 2002, p. 133.
- Sudetic (1994a, 1994b, 1994c, 1994d, 1994e).
- Amnesty International 1994, p. 3.
- Human Rights Watch 2000, p. 34.
- ^ Little 2008.
- Husejnovic 2008.
- OSCE.
- ^ Musli 2012a.
- B92 2011.
- Human Rights Watch 2000, p. 36.
- International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia & 23 September 1997.
- Erlanger 2000.
- Armatta 2010, pp. 285, 470.
- ^ International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia & Momčilo Krajišnik CIS, p. 1.
- ^ International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia & Biljana Plavšić CIS, p. 1.
- Traynor 2009.
- Fox News 2013.
- ^ Ristic 2012.
- "Bosnia-Herzegovina: Karadžić life sentence sends powerful message to the world". Amnesty International. 20 March 2019. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- "UN commends Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, as final judgement is delivered". UN News. 31 May 2023. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- "STANIŠIĆ and SIMATOVIĆ (MICT-15-96-A)". The Hague: International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. 31 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- Peter Beaumont (31 March 2023). "Court widens war crimes convictions of former Serbian security officers". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- Al Jazeera 2014.
- Dzidic et al. 2014.
- Prometej 2013.
- Musli 2013b.
- Human Rights Watch 2000, pp. 3, 37.
- International Center for Transitional Justice & 8 September 2009, p. 3.
- Dnevni Avaz 2012.
- InfoBijeljina 2015.
- Pazarac 2010.
References
Books and journals
- Allen, Beverly (1996). Rape Warfare: The Hidden Genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. Ithaca: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-4158-5.
- Armatta, Judith (2010). Twilight of Impunity: The War Crimes Trial of Slobodan Milosevic. Durham: Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-9179-1.
- Central Intelligence Agency (2002). Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990–1995. Vol. 1. Washington, D.C.: Office of Russian and European Analysis, Central Intelligence Agency.
- Bećirević, Edina (2014). Genocide on the Drina River. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-19258-2.
- Bugajski, Janusz (1995). Ethnic Politics in Eastern Europe: A Guide to Nationality Policies, Organizations and Parties. Armonk: M. E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-1-56324-283-0. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- Calic, Marie–Janine (2012). "Ethnic Cleansing and War Crimes, 1991–1995". In Ingrao, Charles; Emmert, Thomas A. (eds.). Confronting the Yugoslav Controversies: A Scholars' Initiative (2nd ed.). West Lafayette: Purdue University Press. pp. 109–127. ISBN 978-1-55753-617-4. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- Cigar, Norman L.; Williams, Paul (2002). Indictment at the Hague: The Milosevic Regime and Crimes of the Balkan Wars. New York University Press. ISBN 978-0-8147-1626-7. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- Goldstein, Ivo (1999). Croatia: A History. London: C. Hurst & Co. ISBN 978-1-85065-525-1. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- Gow, James (2003). The Serbian Project and its Adversaries: A Strategy of War Crimes. London: C. Hurst & Co. ISBN 978-1-85065-646-3. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- Judah, Tim (2000). The Serbs: History, Myth and the Destruction of Yugoslavia. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-08507-5. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- Kumar, Radha (1999). Divide and Fall?: Bosnia in the Annals of Partition. London and New York: Verso. ISBN 978-1-85984-183-9. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- Lukic, Rénéo; Lynch, Allen (1996). Europe From the Balkans to the Urals: The Disintegration of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-829200-5. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- Magaš, Branka; Žanić, Ivo (2001). The War in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina 1991–1995. London: Frank Cass. ISBN 978-0-7146-8201-3. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- Malcolm, Noel (1994). Bosnia: A Short History. New York: New York University Press. ISBN 978-0-8147-5520-4.
- Off, Carol (2010). The Ghosts of Medak Pocket: The Story of Canada's Secret War. New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-307-37078-5.
- Ramet, Sabrina P. (2006). The Three Yugoslavias: State-Building and Legitimation, 1918–2005. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34656-8. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- Sells, Michael (1996). "Religion, History, and Genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina". In Davis, G. Scott (ed.). Religion and Justice in the War Over Bosnia. New York: Psychology Press. pp. 23–44. ISBN 978-0-415-91520-5.
- Silber, Laura; Little, Allan (1997). Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-026263-6.
- Subotić, Jelena (2012). "The Cruelty of False Remorse: Biljana Plavšić at the Hague". Southeastern Europe. 36 (1). BRILL: 39–59. doi:10.1163/187633312X617011. ISSN 0094-4467. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- Thomas, Nigel (2006). The Yugoslav Wars (2): Bosnia, Kosovo, and Macedonia, 1992–2001. New York: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-964-6.
- Toal, Gerard; Dahlman, Carl T. (2011). Bosnia Remade: Ethnic Cleansing and Its Reversal. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-973036-0.
- Totten, Samuel; Bartrop, Paul R. (2008). Dictionary of Genocide. Vol. II. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-34642-2.
- Velikonja, Mitja (2003). Religious Separation and Political Intolerance in Bosnia-Herzegovina. College Station: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-1-58544-226-3.
- Weitz, Eric D. (2003). A Century of Genocide: Utopias of Race and Nation. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-00913-1. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
News articles
- Amanpour, Christiane (1 June 1997). Arkan: Part 2 – From Bijeljina to Infamy (Documentary). CNN. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
I mean, to take Bijeljina was nothing actually. Bijeljina was defended by something like 35 or 38 Bosnian police officers. Bijeljina was an undefended city.
- "Arkan's Balkan 'Tigers' escape accountability". Al Jazeera. 9 December 2014. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- "Biljana Plavsic: Serbian Iron Lady". BBC. 27 February 2003. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- "Bosnian Serbs welcome released war criminal Momcilo Krajisnik home as a hero". Fox News. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- Dzidic, Denis; Ristic, Marija; Domanovic, Milka; Collaku, Petrit; Milekic, Sven (8 December 2014). "Arkan's Paramilitaries: Tigers Who Escaped Justice". Balkan Insight. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- Erlanger, Steve (16 January 2000). "Suspect in Serbian War Crimes Murdered by Masked Gunmen". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Former Bosnian Serb Commander Killed". BBC. 8 June 2000. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- Husejnovic, Merima (8 November 2008). "Bijeljina's Strange Silence Over War Crimes". Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
- Irwin, Rachel (22 March 2013). "Karadzic Witness Pressed on Serb "Tigers"". Institute for War & Peace Reporting. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- Karabegović, Dženana (4 April 2012). "Sjećanje na zločine u Bijeljini" [Remembering the Crimes Committed in Bijeljina]. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (in Serbo-Croatian). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- Keane, David (2003). Arkan: Baby-faced Psycho (Documentary). The History Channel. ISBN 978-0-7670-6417-0.
- Kifner, John (24 January 2001). "A Pictorial Guide to Hell; Stark Images Trace the Balkans' Descent and a Photographer's Determination". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- "Ko uzima deo Cecine kuće?" [Who's Taking a Piece of Ceca's House?]. B92 (in Serbo-Croatian). 27 October 2011. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- Little, Allan (17 September 2008). "Karadzic's broken Bosnia remains". BBC. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- Musli, Emir (24 September 2011). "Zločin bez kazne" [Crime Without Punishment] (in Serbo-Croatian). Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- Musli, Emir (2 April 2012a). "Odbrana ili zločin?" [Defense or Crime?] (in Serbo-Croatian). Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- Musli, Emir (26 September 2012b). "Nekažnjeni zločin u Bijeljini" [Unpunished Crimes in Bijeljina] (in Serbo-Croatian). Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- Musli, Emir (13 March 2013a). "Dvadeset godina od rušenja bijeljinskih džamija" [Twenty Years Since the Destruction of Bijeljina's Mosques] (in Serbo-Croatian). Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 21 March 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- Musli, Emir (16 September 2013b). "Ubijeni prirodnom smrću" [The Dead of Natural Causes] (in Serbo-Croatian). Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- Pazarac, Sadik (8 August 2010). "Kako su se mijenjali nazivi ulica u Bijeljini" [How the Names of Streets Have Changed in Bijeljina]. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (in Serbo-Croatian). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- "Pojedinačan popis broja ratnih žrtava u svim općinama BiH" [Detailed Census of War Fatalities in All Municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina]. Prometej (in Serbo-Croatian). 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- "Proslava dana odbrane grada" [Celebration of the City Defense Day]. InfoBijeljina (in Serbo-Croatian). 31 March 2015. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- Ristic, Marija (2 October 2012). "Belgrade DJ Investigated For War Crimes". Balkan Insight. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- "Sjećanje na početak aprila 1992. godine: Bijeljina slavi zločine" [Remembering the Beginning of April 1992: Bijeljina Celebrates Crimes] (in Serbo-Croatian). Dnevni Avaz. 2 April 2012.
- Sudetic, Chuck (5 April 1992). "Bosnia Calls Up Guard and Reserve". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- Sudetic, Chuck (18 July 1994a). "More 'Ethnic Cleansing' by Serbs Is Reported in Bosnia". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- Sudetic, Chuck (3 September 1994b). "Serb Gang Expels 566 Muslims From Their Homes in Bosnia". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- Sudetic, Chuck (5 September 1994c). "Serbs Drive 800 More Muslims From Homes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- Sudetic, Chuck (20 September 1994d). "Serbs Step Up Violence Against Bosnian Muslim Civilians". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- Sudetic, Chuck (30 August 1994e). "Bosnian Serbs Force More Than 2,000 Muslims to Leave Their Homes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- Traynor, Ian (27 October 2009). "Leading Bosnian Serb war criminal released from Swedish prison". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- "Witness to Balkans bloodshed". BBC. 24 May 2001. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
International, governmental, and NGO sources
- "Accountability for War Crimes". Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- "Biljana Plavšić – Case Information Sheet" (PDF). International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. IT-00-39 & 40/1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- Bosnia-Herzegovina: Living for the Day – Forced Expulsions from Bijeljina and Janja (PDF) (Report). Amnesty International. 21 December 1994. EUR 63/022/1994. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council (PDF) (Report). International Center for Transitional Justice. 8 September 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- Final Report of the United Nations Commission of Experts Established Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 780 (1992) (Report). United Nations Security Council. 28 December 1994. S/1994/674/Add.2. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011.
- "Momčilo Krajišnik – Case Information Sheet" (PDF). International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. IT-00-39. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- Popis stanovništva u Bosni i Hercegovini 1991: Etnički sastav stanovništva [Population Census in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1991: Ethnic Composition of the Population] (PDF) (Report) (in Serbo-Croatian). Institute for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 1993. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016.
- "Prosecutor v. Momčilo Krajišnik (Trial Judgment)" (PDF). International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). 27 September 2006. IT-00-39-T. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- "Prosecutor v. Željko Ražnatović (Initial Indictment)" (PDF). International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. 23 September 1997. IT-97-27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- "Radovan Karadžić – Case Information Sheet" (PDF). International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. IT-95-5/18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- "The Cases". International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Archived from the original on 3 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- "Trial of Radovan Karadžić – Transcript". International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. 20 March 2013. 130320IT. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- Unfinished Business: Return of Displaced Persons and Other Human Rights Issues in Bijeljina (PDF) (Report). Vol. 12. Human Rights Watch. May 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- War Crimes in Bosnia-Hercegovina (PDF) (Report). Human Rights Watch. August 1992. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- War Criminals in Bosnia's Republika Srpska: Who Are the People in Your Neighbourhood? (PDF) (Report). International Crisis Group. 2 November 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
External links
- "Bijeljina: The Righteous Man". Bosnia and Hercegovina: Twenty Years Later. Institute for War and Peace Reporting. 24 April 2012.
- "Clouds Over Bijeljina". Bosnia and Hercegovina: Twenty Years Later. Institute for War and Peace Reporting. 24 April 2012.
- Feinstein, Anthony (21 June 2015). "Capturing A War Crime". The Globe and Mail.
- Hadzic, Hasan (July 2003). "Bijeljina: A Bastion of Apartheid". Bosnia Report (32–34). Bosnian Institute. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- Haviv, Ron. "Preventing Genocide – Gallery – Eyewitness Testimony – Ron Haviv". United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- Toal, Gerard (3 April 2012). "The Bosnian War, 20 years on ..." Oxford University Press Blog.
- 1992 in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Massacres in 1992
- Massacres in the Bosnian War
- Massacres of Bosniaks
- Serbian war crimes in the Bosnian War
- Anti-Muslim violence in Europe
- Bosnian genocide
- History of Republika Srpska
- April 1992 events in Europe
- Massacres of Muslims
- Attacks on mosques in Europe
- Sexual violence in the Bosnian War
- 20th-century attacks on mosques