Tilman Zülch honoured by survivors of Srebrenica

For his numerous protest campaigns against the genocide in Bosnia the President of the Society for Threatened Peoples International (GfbV), Tilman Zülch, has been honoured by the mothers and widows of the victims of Srebrenica with the distinction „Srebrenica 1995“. „If there had been more people like Tilman Zülch, the crime of genocide in Srebrenica could have been prevented“, said the spiritual head of the Bosnian Muslims, Reis-ul Ulema Mustafa Ceric, early on Monday evening at the bestowal ceremony at the memorial site for the 8,336 victims of the Srebrenica massacre, who have so far been identified. Zülch was one of those who did not lose heart in the struggle against Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic and their supporters. He has also worked tirelessly for the victims in Brussels and Washington. „No one deserves the prize more than he does“, emphasised the speaker.

In his speech of thanks Zülch assured his listeners that his human rights organisation would continue to invest all efforts leading to the arrest of those chiefly responsible for the massacre of Srebrenica, who are wanted by the International War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague. „It is an absolute disgrace that Karadzic and Mladic have still not yet been brought to court. And it is unbelievable that now no mention is made of Karadzic. Justice for Srebrenica means also bringing to justice many other people who were also involved in the crimes. They must all be removed from public office.“

Zülch wished for an „international campaign for Srebrenica with the object of reconstruction, self-determination and the return of its residents“. The GfbV will work for this, and it is on behalf of his co-workers and the sections that he accepts the prize. Europe cannot deny its failure during the Bosnian war, but it is now time for the European Union to take responsibility for Srebrenica. „The victims must be given back to Srebrenica. The town itself must at last be able to govern itself as a direct district of the government under the aegis of the EU.“

The genocide in Srebrenica is certainly known throughout the world, but this town has nevertheless become forgotten by the western governments and large aid organisations, criticised the GfbV. Only about 4,500 survivors have returned and are eking out a miserable life in poverty. There is no longer even a hospital for the town and the 56 surrounding villages. The most needy of those returning have been in past years supplied by the GfbV with seed, animals or agricultural machinery. Since the beginning of the genocide in 1992 work for Bosnia has been a central point of the work of the human rights work of the GfbV. For years now the GfbV has had an office in Srebrenica.