Bijeljina massacre
Encyclopedia
The Bijeljina massacre refers to the killings of Bosniaks
by the Serbian paramilitary group Arkan's Tigers during the Bosnian war
. A number of Serbs
who attempted to stop the massacre
were also killed. At least 48 civilians were killed. Local courts have not filed a single war-crimes indictment. The Research and Documentation Center in Sarajevo
says some 1,040 people were killed in the town.
command, invaded Bijeljina
on 1 April 1992. Subsequently, President Alija Izetbegović
sanctioned the JNA's occupation of Bijeljina and warned them to end the Tigers terror against Bosniak civllians.
Eyewitnesses of the killings included photo journalist Ron Haviv
, who was invited by Arkan himself. One of his pictures, which depicted "Arkan's militiaman kicking a dying woman", was later published and caused Arkan to put out a death warrant on Haviv.
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
by the Serbian paramilitary group Arkan's Tigers during the Bosnian war
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
. A number of Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
who attempted to stop the massacre
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
were also killed. At least 48 civilians were killed. Local courts have not filed a single war-crimes indictment. The Research and Documentation Center in Sarajevo
Research and Documentation Center in Sarajevo
The Research and Documentation Center is an institution based in Sarajevo, which aims to gather facts, documents and data on genocide, war crimes and human rights violations, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It describes itself as an independent, non-governmental, non-profit, professional and...
says some 1,040 people were killed in the town.
Background
Arkan's Tigers, under JNAYugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
command, invaded Bijeljina
Bijeljina
Bijeljina is a city and municipality in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city is the second largest in the Republika Srpska entity after Banja Luka and fifth largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is situated on the flat rich plains of Semberija...
on 1 April 1992. Subsequently, President Alija Izetbegović
Alija Izetbegovic
Alija Izetbegović was a Bosniak activist, lawyer, author, philosopher and politician, who, in 1990, became the first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He served in this role until 1996, when he became a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving until 2000...
sanctioned the JNA's occupation of Bijeljina and warned them to end the Tigers terror against Bosniak civllians.
Eyewitnesses of the killings included photo journalist Ron Haviv
Ron Haviv
Ron Haviv is a photojournalist, producing work covering a broad spectrum of international conflict. He is the author of several photographic collections and the recipient of a number of awards. Haviv is also a co-founder of VII Photo Agency, which is dedicated to documenting change, conflict, and...
, who was invited by Arkan himself. One of his pictures, which depicted "Arkan's militiaman kicking a dying woman", was later published and caused Arkan to put out a death warrant on Haviv.