Bosnia arrests 7 for 1995 mass killings after fall of UN-declared safe zone in Srebrenica

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday arrested seven people suspected of participating in the 1995 mass killings of 800 Muslims after the fall of the UN-declared safe zone in Srebrenica town.

The State Investigation and Protection Agency said that the individuals are suspected of committing criminal acts under individual and command responsibility, as well as aiding genocide.

The arrested individuals will be handed over to the Prosecutor’s Office after criminal processing.

According to a statement from the State Prosecutor’s Office, the individuals are all former commanders and members of the Zvornik Brigade of the Army of Republika Srpska.

“The suspects are linked to the shooting and killing of around 800 victims of Bosniak nationality at the Orahovac site, following the fall of the Protected Zone of Srebrenica,” the statement said.

Earlier this month, the State Prosecutor’s Office filed charges for genocide against seven other individuals who are all former commanders and members of the Army of Republika Srpska, for the murder of 65 individuals in July 1995.

The Bosnian Muslims were killed when Bosnian Serb forces attacked Srebrenica in July 1995, despite the presence of Dutch peacekeeping troops.

Serb forces were trying to wrest territory from Bosnian Muslims and Croats to form a state.

The UN Security Council declared Srebrenica a "safe area" in the spring of 1993. But troops led by Gen. Ratko Mladic overran the UN zone. He was later found guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Dutch troops failed to act as Serb forces occupied the area, killing 2,000 men and boys on July 11, 1995 alone.

About 15,000 residents of Srebrenica fled to the surrounding mountains, but Serb troops hunted them down and killed 6,000 more people.

The bodies of victims have been found in 570 areas across the country.

In 2007, the International Court of Justice at The Hague ruled that a genocide had been committed in Srebrenica.