This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/17/srebrenica-elects-mladen-grujicic-mayor-serb-denies-massacre-genocide

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Srebrenica elects as mayor Serb who denies massacre was genocide Srebrenica elects as mayor Serb who denies massacre was genocide
(35 minutes later)
Srebrenica, where 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Serb nationalist forces seeking to carve an ethnically homogeneous state out of Bosnia, has elected its first Serb mayor since the 1995 massacre. Srebrenica, where 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Serb nationalist forces seeking to carve an ethnically homogeneous state out of Bosnia, has elected its first Serbian mayor since the 1995 massacre.
For relatives of the victims, the election of Mladen Grujicic, a Serb nationalist who denies that the massacre was genocide despite international court rulings to the contrary, marks an ominous turn in Bosnian politics. For relatives of the victims, the election of Mladen Grujicic, a Serbian nationalist who denies that the massacre was genocide despite international court rulings to the contrary, marks an ominous turn in Bosnian politics.
The US-brokered Dayton accords that ended the war set up an intricate federal structure with a weak central government designed to preserve Bosnia as a multi-ethnic state. But decentralisation has essentially entrenched the status quo achieved by Serb and Croat forces, critics say. The US-brokered Dayton accords that ended the war set up an intricate federal structure with a weak central government designed to preserve Bosnia as a multi-ethnic state. But decentralisation has essentially entrenched the status quo achieved by Serbian and Croatian forces, critics say.
Srebrenica, a Muslim-majority town before the war, fell within the territory of Bosnia’s Serb Republic under the peace deal; its 7,500 population is now 55% Serb and 45% Bosniak (Muslim). Bosnia’s other autonomous entity is the Bosniak-Croat Federation.Srebrenica, a Muslim-majority town before the war, fell within the territory of Bosnia’s Serb Republic under the peace deal; its 7,500 population is now 55% Serb and 45% Bosniak (Muslim). Bosnia’s other autonomous entity is the Bosniak-Croat Federation.
Grujicic claims Srebrenica’s Serbs face discrimination, and denied that the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague had ever proved the massacre was genocide. “When they prove it to be the truth, I’ll be the first to accept it,” he said. Grujicic claims Srebrenica’s Serbs face discrimination, and denies that the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague has ever proved the massacre was genocide. “When they prove it to be the truth, I’ll be the first to accept it,” he said.
His defeated rival, Camil Durakovic, a Bosniak, pledged to appeal against the result of what he called a “rigged” election.His defeated rival, Camil Durakovic, a Bosniak, pledged to appeal against the result of what he called a “rigged” election.
Zulfo Salihovic, a local politician who was one of the last Bosniaks to escape Srebrenica before the massacre, said he was worried for the future of the town’s Bosniaks.Zulfo Salihovic, a local politician who was one of the last Bosniaks to escape Srebrenica before the massacre, said he was worried for the future of the town’s Bosniaks.
“We fear that Bosniaks and other citizens who think differently from the leaders of Serb nationalist parties will be humiliated, bullied and discriminated against,” he said.“We fear that Bosniaks and other citizens who think differently from the leaders of Serb nationalist parties will be humiliated, bullied and discriminated against,” he said.
When Bosniaks – many of them elderly women wanting to be close to relatives’ tombs – began returning to Srebrenica after 2000, the international community, then closely involved in Bosnia’s peace process, promised them protection. Now many fear they may be forced to leave their homes again.When Bosniaks – many of them elderly women wanting to be close to relatives’ tombs – began returning to Srebrenica after 2000, the international community, then closely involved in Bosnia’s peace process, promised them protection. Now many fear they may be forced to leave their homes again.
The massacre, Europe’s worst atrocity since the second world war, prompted western airstrikes on Serb forces that ended the fighting in 1995. The massacre, Europe’s worst atrocity since the second world war, prompted western airstrikes on Serbian forces that ended the fighting in 1995.
In an attempt to conceal the crime, some Serb forces dug up the bodies of Srebrenica’s victims and moved them to other grave sites across Bosnia. More than 1,000 remain missing, with more being found and returned to Srebrenica for burial every year. In an attempt to conceal the crime, some Serbian forces dug up the bodies of Srebrenica’s victims and moved them to other grave sites across Bosnia. More than 1,000 remain missing, with more being found and returned to Srebrenica for burial every year.
The ICTY has jailed a number of Bosnian Serbs over the massacre. It convicted the wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić of genocide earlier this year and sentenced him to 40 years in prison.The ICTY has jailed a number of Bosnian Serbs over the massacre. It convicted the wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić of genocide earlier this year and sentenced him to 40 years in prison.
The Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladić remains on trial for his role in the war, which killed 100,000 people.The Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladić remains on trial for his role in the war, which killed 100,000 people.