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UN Experts Raise Concerns Over Mladic Funeral in Belgrade
(MENAFN) UN experts on Wednesday cautioned against honoring individuals convicted of international crimes, warning that such displays can cause additional suffering for victims and survivors.
The statement followed the funeral of former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic in Belgrade earlier this month, which the experts described as a “hero's funeral.”
They expressed concern that official recognition of people convicted of atrocities can “deepen suffering and undermine memory, truth and accountability.” Particular attention was drawn to the presence of senior officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina's Republika Srpska entity at Mladic's Sept. 7 funeral.
Mladic, who was widely known as the “butcher of Bosnia,” was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. His convictions included responsibility for crimes linked to the 1995 Srebrenica genocide.
He died in August while serving a life sentence in The Hague.
Reports cited by the UN experts said Mladic's coffin was transported to Serbia aboard a government aircraft and was carried by uniformed soldiers during the funeral. Military medals were also displayed as thousands of people gathered at a church in Belgrade.
The experts stressed that efforts toward reconciliation should be based on established facts and recognition of victims.
"Lasting reconciliation is built on truth, accountability and respect for victims," they said, calling on commemorative activities to respect judicially established facts while rejecting denialism and attempts to revise established historical records.
The statement followed the funeral of former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic in Belgrade earlier this month, which the experts described as a “hero's funeral.”
They expressed concern that official recognition of people convicted of atrocities can “deepen suffering and undermine memory, truth and accountability.” Particular attention was drawn to the presence of senior officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina's Republika Srpska entity at Mladic's Sept. 7 funeral.
Mladic, who was widely known as the “butcher of Bosnia,” was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. His convictions included responsibility for crimes linked to the 1995 Srebrenica genocide.
He died in August while serving a life sentence in The Hague.
Reports cited by the UN experts said Mladic's coffin was transported to Serbia aboard a government aircraft and was carried by uniformed soldiers during the funeral. Military medals were also displayed as thousands of people gathered at a church in Belgrade.
The experts stressed that efforts toward reconciliation should be based on established facts and recognition of victims.
"Lasting reconciliation is built on truth, accountability and respect for victims," they said, calling on commemorative activities to respect judicially established facts while rejecting denialism and attempts to revise established historical records.
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