[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 43 (Wednesday, April 13, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E640-E641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING THE SREBRENICA MASSACRE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 13, 2005

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the 
attention of my colleagues House Resolution 199, regarding the 1995 
massacre at Srebrenica in eastern Bosnian-Herzegovina. In July, ten 
years will have passed since thousands of Bosniaks perished in what was 
the worst atrocity committed during the three-and-a-half years of 
conflict in Bosnia. This was an absolute fiasco by the international 
community, eroding its credibility and principles. Those of us who 
worked together at the time in urging a more decisive international 
response can remember the horror associated with that conflict.
  Many may ask: why do this? Why focus on what happened ten years ago 
in a region that we are encouraging to look forward to a future that 
includes further European integration? I believe it is impossible to 
look forward without acknowledging the past and what really happened at 
Srebrenica. We have many lessons to learn from the past.
  First, the very fact that many of those responsible for the 
Srebrenica massacre--especially Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic and 
others--not only have evaded justice in The Hague but may be receiving 
protection and are held almost as folk heroes by some indicates that 
the past has not been fully understood. Hundreds of people currently 
holding positions of responsibility are only now being investigated for 
possible connections to the massacre. Clearly the myths and propaganda 
originally used to justify a slaughter still hold sway in the minds of 
too many people.
  Second, the international community must learn not to repeat the 
mistakes it made with horrible consequences in 1995. Some. lessons have 
been learned. For the first time since World War II, for example, an 
international tribunal was created to prosecute those responsible for 
war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. That body has borne 
some results, though its task is not complete.
  Intervention in Bosnia-Herzegovina was not some reckless act, as some 
suggest, but a needed response made increasingly difficult by 
unnecessary delay. Mutual congratulations will undoubtedly come later 
this year when commemorating the ten year anniversary of the Dayton 
Agreement. We would do well, however, to recall that it was the simple 
shame of allowing thousands to be massacred within one of the 
international community's officially designated ``safe areas'' that 
finally motivated serious consideration of action against the brazen 
thugs responsible for these crimes. Unfortunately, it took additional 
atrocities before effective action was taken.
  It is also helpful to listen to some of the words spoken in the 
aftermath of the Srebrenica massacre. For example, 27 non-governmental 
organizations--including religious and humanitarian organizations not 
usually inclined to support the use of force, as well as Muslim and 
Jewish organizations not known for taking common stands--issued a 
powerful statement:

       Bosnia is not a faraway land of no concern to our 
     ``national interest.'' At stake is the global commitment to 
     fundamental human values--the right not to be killed because 
     of one's religious or ethnic heritage, and the right of 
     civilians not to be targeted by combatants.

  At about the same time, the U.N.'s rapporteur for human rights in the 
former Yugoslavia, former Polish Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiezki, 
explained why he could no longer ``continue to participate in the 
pretense of the protection of human rights'' and chose to resign in 
response to the events at Srebrenica. Known as a thoughtful, principled 
man, he said:

       One cannot speak about the protection of human rights with 
     credibility when one is confronted with the lack of 
     consistency and courage displayed by the international 
     community and its leaders. . . . Crimes have been committed 
     with swiftness and brutality and by contrast the response of 
     the international community has been slow and ineffectual.


[[Page E641]]


  If, when listening to these words from ten years ago, we think of 
subsequent events including Darfur today, we realize how little we have 
indeed learned.
  In Bosnia-Herzegovina we also produced examples of the best in 
humanity, people in the international community--aid workers, soldiers, 
diplomats, journalists, monitors and advocates--who risked and 
sometimes gave their lives to prevent further loss of life. I 
particularly mention in this connection the American negotiators Robert 
Frasure, Joseph Kruzel, and Nelson Drew who died while traveling 
Bosnia's dangerous, war-torn roads. They deserve our gratitude for the 
efforts to restore peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, we cannot forget the memory of the victims of 
Srebrenica and those who survived, but were traumatized by the debacle 
at Srebrenica. Many continue to wonder about the ultimate fate of the 
missing, even as new mass graves have been unearthed in northeastern 
Bosnia-Herzegovina. For these people, ten years is not long ago, and 
recognizing the pain and anguish they experienced may help bring 
closure for them. Some of these victims, I should add, have come to our 
country as refugees and are now Americans. They will no doubt be 
remembering the tragic events at Srebrenica ten years ago.
  I will not detail here the almost unspeakable horrors that were part 
of the massacre at Srebrenica in July 1995. Some of the events are 
mentioned in House Resolution 199. Mr. Speaker, I hope that my 
colleagues will give this measure their serious consideration and 
active support.

                          ____________________