The Betrayal of Srebrenica by Bianca Jagger - Book Report/Review Example

THE BETRAYAL OF SREBRENICA - A Critical Review Introduction: Raphael Lemkin (1900-1959), a Polish Jewish legal scholar, coined the word 'Genocide' in 1943, from the roots genos (Greek for family, tribe or race) and -cide (Latin - occidere, to massacre), (Wikipedia, 2005). A post-war genocide the shook the entire European nations and the world alike is the Genocide of the Bosnian Muslims in the six year period from 1990-1996. It has all the hallmarks of a holocaust, very similar to the one perpetrated by the Nazi Hitler over Jews. More than a decade after this cruel but true massacre, the victims are yet to come to terms with the trauma and sufferings and torture at the hands of the Fascist -like treachery of Serbs (particularly Bosnian Serbs). A piquant dimension in this genocide is that the UNPROFOR, the very force brought-in to protect the Bosnian people, stood witness and, even worse, conspired and participated in the annihilation of Bosnian Muslims, even as the world turned a blind eye towards the killings. This dissertation reviews two important articles of Ms. Bianca Jagger, "The Betrayal of Srebrenica," in The European, 15th Sep'95 - 1st Oct '95. Ms. Jagger is an honoured member of the Amnesty International, and has over two decades of work on human rights, in various places around the globe, from Nicaragua to Northern Ireland, gathering facts and details and producing reports on issues of human rights (Sells, 2005). Summary: Jagger's article begins with an account of the background of the massacre in which, about 8000, men, women and children, mostly civilians, were mercilessly killed at the hands of Bosnian Serbs in a short period of 4 days. Jagger refers to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 819, which was passed in April 1993, establishing Srebrenica as a "safe area" after a previous episode of brutality. Resolution 836 "guaranteed" protection for Srebrenica by "all necessary means, including the use of force", but made a mockery of itself, initially, by watching the fall of Srebrenica, and then, actually aiding the killing of Bosnians. Jagger has described it as the "worst massacre on European soil since the Third Reich" (1995). The Serbs literally ruled the UN relief troop movement and confiscated one convoy carrying salt supplies; they replaced it with of poisonous-industrial salt. The very certification "safe-area" invoked Jagger's protest; but dismally, except Mr. Tadeusz Mazowiecki, the ex-prime minister of Poland and UN envoy, who wrote, "Crimes have been committed with swiftness and brutality and, by contrast, the response of the international community has been slow and ineffectual" (Jagger, 1995), the world was indifferent to the happenings. Quoting from Judge Fouad Riad indictment at the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague that these were indeed "truly scenes from Hell, written on the darkest pages of human history", Jagger points to the prima facie evidence against General Mladic (the commander of the Bosnian Serb army), and Radovan Karadzic, the political leader who gave the orders. The killings are classified as three : 1) Massacres in the woods, on 11th July, 1995 on the Bratunac-Milici road 2) Mass executions at Karakaj football stadium 13th / 14th July 1995 3) Summary executions at Potocari under Mladic, 11-13 July, 1995. The article further analyses in detail a) how General Janvier (the French General representing the UNPROFOR) and General Mladic plotted in Zvornik on June 4, 1995, before the massacre; b) the June 9th conversation among Yasushi Akashi (the UN secretary-general's special envoy to former Yugoslavia), Janvier, and General Rupert Smith (the dissenting inferior to Janvier); c) discreet and coordinated collaboration among Akashi, Mladic, and President Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia, while the massacre was underway; Jagger has also given in detail the callous trading off, of the release of the UN troops held hostage by the Serbs at that time in return to the lives of Bosnian Muslims. The farce of the NATO air-strikes and the subsequent 'explanation' of Akashi to Milosevic the difference between "close air-support", Colonel Ton Karreman's details of Mladic's threats int their meetings on 11th and 12th, clearly and shamefully pointed to who called the shots there, the UN or the Serbs. The involvement and the role of President Milosevic as the massacre facilitator, has been alluded to, here. The Second Article of Jagger, for most part analyses the post-massacre period and the morbid conditions under which the UNPROFOR allowed the annihilation to take place. In the beginning of the article, she continues the delineation of the Tuzla and the Potocari Killings. The markings of a holocaust can be seen from an officer's (of UNPROFO) verdict, that "239 persons, presumable draft-age males were removed [from the Dutch compound] presumable to Batkovici near Bijelina in Bosnian Serb army-controlled territory..of the 15,000 to 20,000 people in the area outlying Potocari, 7000 were removed" (Jagger, 1995). The strong and unmistakable evidence of the "diabolical deal" as Jagger puts is obtained form the following a) the unpardonable betrayal of defenceless and unarmed Muslims to Mladic, by the Dutch Battalion as Dutch commanders drank champagne with General Mladic; b) the supply of fuel to General Mladic by the Dutch army, for the transportation of captives for torture and execution; c) General van der Wind's debriefing of July 13, 1995, and the beginning of the attempted cover-up. The second half of the second article focuses on the reactions - rather the lack of it from the world bodies, including the UN Secretary General - Kofi Annan, Carl Bildt - a former Swedish prime minister, the US, the French and Dutch Governments etc. When all the killings were done and an "agreement" was reached between Smith and Mladic, to allow a convoy of Red Cross supplies to what was now "a ghost town", it was hailed as a great step in the normalization of Bosnian-BSA (Bosnian Serb Army) relations. She questions with anguish, as to why the US did not disclose or react to prevent the massacre, even though it had significant evidences in its hands, like satellite photographs of a massacre underway. Jagger further warns, 'every individual' of the world, that by blatant inaction in preventing this deplorable genocide and ignoring the Rwanda, Kosovo massacres, we are in fact, encouraging the prototypes of Adolph Hitler and thereby paving way for future genocides. Jagger's articles can be analysed on the following counts: 1) throwing light on the background and those responsible for the massacre 2) clarity in the order of accounting of the occurred attacks 3) factual representation of the betrayal and treachery in its various dimensions and the suffering of the victims, 4) Moral responsibility of the Developed Nations and the world in general, as compared to other works and literature of the same subject. This dissertation analyses a few other contemporary works which deal with the same subject. The articles begin with a detailed background of the circumstances that led to the genocide, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 819 - passed in April 1993, and how it became a ridiculous mockery etc. Her detailing, in the two articles, is drawn in many places, from the indictment of Judge Raid, as much as from her own personal accountings or findings during the several trips she made to the strife-torn land, in order to save the lives of the child victims of the war - "I have, by the way, taken testimonies of many of these men and women" (Jagger, 1995). Similar delineation is found in other works too - collating and condensing evidence from reliable sources as the first hand narration of Robert Fisk (2000) wherein he has elucidated his uncovering of skulls of the Armenian genocide, in a hillside near the banks of the river Habur. Roy Gutman's (1996) article titled "UN's Deadly Deal", has reported the promise of Janvier and the UN and the subsequent back-tracking, and, the role played by the duo of Janvier and his civilian boss, Yasushi Akashi of Japan. Most of the literatures have the time-point of 1993 UNSCR 819 as their starting point. It should also be mentioned here, that some authors like Rohde (1997), probe further back into history in uncovering the circumstances that led to this massacre, revealing the plans for a "Greater Serbia". But, it is argued that, while Rohde's has had enough space for such detailed analysis as it were, because the form of literary presentation referred to being a book; and Jagger did not have the freedom of such space in her articles in "The European". David Rohde's (a Pulitzer Prize-winner) recordings of the massacre in the book titled "End Game", in which he has exposed those responsible for fall of the world's first UN-declared "safe area" and the death of 7.000 Bosnian Muslim men, only strengthens Jagger's claims. Rohde too has substantiated his findings on exhaustive investigations and extensive interviews, access to confidential UN and US documents, government cables etc. Jagger's stand that there was a "diabolical deal", is vindicated by Rohde's evidence which states that, Janvier refused a crucial request, for NATO close air support to bait attack Bosnian Serbs, from UN peacekeepers in Srebrenica; Janvier, it is stated, has cited darkness, a short break in the Serb attack, and a telephone call with General Zdravko Tolimir as his reasons for not believing the information that Serbs are to attack. "He says they do not intend to take the enclave," Janvier told his aides. "I believe him. If I'm wrong I'll draw my conclusions in the morning." Srebrenica fell the following day (Rohde, 1997). This is also reported by Julliard (1996), as the "event that proves Janvier's complicity with genocide occurred when Srebrenica was attacked on July the 11th. General Janvier refused three requests by the Dutchbat in Srebrenica to bomb the positions of the advancing Serbs. Air strikes at this point would have stopped the Serbs in their tracks. NATO bombers were already in the air and NATO was ready to strike when Janvier took his decision". While Jagger has explicitly criticised Janvier, for his trade-off with the lives of the Bosnian Muslims (the very people they were supposed to protect) in lieu of the UN troops release, critiques like Julliard, have partly excused Janvier as "it is possible to maintain that in giving absolute priority to gaining the freedom of the French blue helmets and even to saving their lives, General Janvier was only responding to pressure from the French government" (Julliard, 1996). These are just a few examples to show that Jagger has presented in her articles a very thorough listing of the events stating facts fort rightly and her understanding of the events. Hence, it is argued that Jagger should be given credit for the accuracy of her interpretations and understanding of the Bosnian cause. Bob Chaundy (2003), of BBC 'Newsmakers', writes of Jagger as having been "characterised as well-informed, forthright, difficult, driven, all the adjectives one might expect from a humanitarian campaigner". Apart from that, the depth of truth and veracity of Ms. Jagger's articles, are self-evident. The intricate details of the complex situations, well analysed within the constructs of a collective social responsibility and humane vision, has exposed the dangers awaiting the whole world when genocide is encouraged and appeased. While the articles of Bianca Jagger, definitely merit for the humanitarian perspective of the genocide and the questions they raise about the collective responsibility of the world in preventing future holocausts, one argues that certain aspects or dimensions worthy of mention could have been allotted at least, a brief mention in the two articles. For example the while implicating Karadzic as one of the prime persons responsible for perpetrating violence against the Bosnians, there is no mention about the powerful propagation programs which were unleashed by the Serbian Government, which constantly warned of the Bosnian plot to perform a genocide of Serbians, master minded by Dr. Karadzic. In fact Danner (1998), recounts of him, "Dr. Karadzic, clearly a very intelligent man, had mastered the fine art of constructing and delivering with great sincerity utterances that seemed so distant from demonstrable reality that he left no common ground on which to contradict him". His poem "Take no pity let's go/kill that scum down in the city." (1971), could be seen as an early sprout of his hatred-ridden mind, well camouflaged under deceit and civility. The analysis of this seemingly mind-diseased person is pertinent, because, it was he who was responsible for sowing the seed of hatred in the minds of the citizens of Bosnia - Herzegovina, who until before the war started were friends living together in a multi-cultural environment. As Danner observes, "Serbian Democratic Party, which Milosevic had started as a Bosnian vehicle to advance his program to achieve a Greater Serbia-"All Serbs in one nation." The embryonic party consisted of little more than a collection of bullies and thugs, and Karadzic, standing out as a well-known and cultured man, rose quickly;" The hatred was blown and fanned to burn further until it culminated in the genocide. This analysis would have further substantiated Jagger's view of Milosevic's role in the massacre. Another aspect that may have been accorded mention in Jagger's article is the stand and efforts taken by the Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic, his repeated appeals to the world nations, the note of desperation in his appeals to save the people of his fledgling nation. His anguish and the pathetic condition of Bosnians can be seen in his speech at Budapest, "One gentleman, a high-ranking official, with cynical indifference proclaims to the world and to the people threatened by slaughter and destruction, that the Serbs are the victors. As if we were a football match, he whistles the end. But because this is a battle for survival, this is not the end, the battle shall continue" (1994). An interesting reference should be quoted here, in the context of President Izetbegovic and how his nationalism irked the hatred of Dr. Karadzic's future plans of annihilation as observed by Dr. Cedric to Danner - in Dr. Karadzic's words "There is only one problem: Alija Izetbegovic wants to organize an Islamic Republic here...." (Danner, 1998). It should be argued that Jagger's articles are quite comprehensive in the narration of facts with an intention to awaken the senses and social conscience of the US and all the "powered nations" as she puts it. As such, there is no space for too deep a focus on structured methodology to be quoted extensively. With in the limits of an article, one can decipher an underlying structure in Jagger's presentation of the events in the light of her understanding - which is fairly accurate. She has based her writings on not only her personal observations, interviews, experience and analysis, but has also taken the pain to systematically study the information being issued by the various parties involved, evaluate the responses for their validity and them intuitively understand the unspoken but pertinent collaborations and intrigues of this macabre holocaust. Evidence of this is found in her second article itself, wherein she quotes pointedly to the US daily paper Newsday's feature with the former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, on the collaboration Mladic and Serbian President Milosevic; Bildt - "We had to meet with Milosevic" he said, "because he was the only person who could get the two generals [Smith and Mladic] together. Milosevic ordered Mladic to Belgrade" (Jagger, 1995). It is argued that the two articles of Jagger, highlight the massacre with an emotional appeal; rather than argue or try to catch the attention of an already indifferent world, Jagger has chosen a more effective way - to shock the collective conscience of the world with pointed queries about the inactive stupor while whole towns and enclaves burnt. Viewed in this perspective, there is no need to dwell too much on facts, of which the world is already aware of, but didn't care to act or react on. "The UN listened, impotent . . . complicit There is no suggestion that Smith had been party to the overrunning of Srebrenica, but what about his superiors, Janvier and Akashi" she questions in the second article more as a pointer to the conclusive proof against the UNPROFOR and its colluding parties. This technique of leading the audience step-by-step, to the protagonist's point of view has always been effective and produced desired results, and not very dissimilar to the one employed by Mark Anthony in his burial speech after the assassination of Julius Caesar (Shakespeare, 1623). It is ironical indeed, that just as in the case of Caesar, who was betrayed by his own trusted friend, who was supposed to protect him from danger, the nation of Bosnia was also brutally betrayed by the very body (UNPROFOR) brought in to protect it. It can be argued that, History in the form of Political Irony, has repeated itself, in the Bosnian genocide. She alleges that the "international community wants to forget Srebrenica". But as for herself, "I decided that I was not going to forget those who were executed, massacred, tortured and buried alive because I felt that if I forgot them I would be completing their extermination" she records, in the hearing conducted by the One Hundred and Fifth Congress of International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee, on 31st March, 1998. And it is this conviction - of the just nature of the Bosnian cause that stands out in her two articles. The sincerity and honesty of her appeal carries forth her message easily and effectively across. They, more than compensate, for any other inadequacies that may be perceived in the articles, it is argued. Conclusion: There are important lessons to be learnt from this genocide, for the future. As Mr Stovor, the Director of Human Rights Centre, University of California/Beckerley, puts it "What we need to learn from this experience is that the international community doesn't pass Security Council resolutions declaring safe areas to people who are living and believing that they are going to be protected. That, is the key issue we have to take forward" (1998). Jagger herself has stated that "There will be no lasting peace in Bosnia until the war criminals are apprehended" (Jagger, 1995). She says that while the "blood may not be on our hands, but it is already on our conscience". According to her, doing justice and bringing the criminal to books shall, help in the reconciliation of the victims. Failing which, she has warned the world shall see more and more such genocides, and Hitlers. In the end, whatever happens, some of the victim's questions may forever remain unanswered. But, after dark comes dawn. It is argued by this researcher, that "Time Heals" as the saying goes, and it is possible to enter into the future if only we would remember that life is precious and "Human values, the right to life, the struggle against evil, are universal" (Fisk, 2000). And to this end, the study of Bianca Jagger's articles on "The Betrayal of Srebrenica" helps one gain valuable insight into genocides. Bibliography Chaundy, Bob (2003), "Bianca Jagger: Champion of peace" , "BBC News" Newsmakers, 14th February, 2003, London. http://www. BBC NEWS/In Depth/ Newsmakers/Bianca Jagger/Champion of peace.htm last accessed on 12/09/05. Danner, Mark (1998), "Bosnia: The Turning Point," The New York Review of Books, dated 02/05/98 , http://www.markdanner.com/nyreview/032698_Bosnia_The_Great_Betrayal.htm http://www.pbs.org/wnet/frontline the world's most wanted man karadzic the marketplace massacre and radovan karadzic.htm accessed on 12/09/05 Fisk, Robert (2000), "Holocaust and Genocide", "The Independent" dated 5th Aug 2005, London. Gutman, Roy (1996), "UN's Deadly Deal" , "How troop-hostage talks led to the slaughter of Srebrenica", Newsday, dated 29th May, 1996, Washington. Izetbegovic,Alija (1994), President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the 49 session of General Assembly of the United Nations. 27th of September 1994. Jagger, B. (1995) 'The Betrayal of Srebrenica', The European, 25th September and 1st October, 1995 (Parts 1 and 2) http://www.haverford.edu/relg/sells/srebrenica/BiancaJagger1.html http://www.haverford.edu/relg/sells/srebrenica/BiancaJagger2.html Julliard, Jacques (1996), "Should Janvier be Held Accountable for the Events at Srebrenica " (trans: Stephen Albert), "Le Nouvel Observateur", dated 3-9 October, 1996, Paris. Rohde, David (1997)"End Game: The Betrayal and Fall of Srebrenica, Europe's Worst Massacre since World War II", (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1997). Sells A. Micheal (2005), "Massacre in Srebrenica", www.haverford.edu/relg/sells/srebrenica/srebrenica.html Shakespeare, William (1623), "Julius Caesar", Dover Publications (1991) London. Stovor, Eric (1998) "THE BETRAYAL OF SREBRENICA: WHY DID THE MASSACRE HAPPEN WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN" http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/top3mset/952aba7b8e1eafa5a19afeb4da09e526.html last accessed on 12/09/05. Wikipedia (2005), The Free Encyclopaedia, "Coining of the term Genocide", http://www. Genocide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.htm. last accessed on 12/09/05. http://www.haverford.edu/relg/sells/srebrenica/gutman.html http://www.markdanner.com/nyreview/032698_Bosnia_The_Great_Betrayal.htm http://journalism.berkeley.edu/faculty/MarkDanner/wnyrbosniabetrayal.html Read More