srebrenica
Post on 08-Jul-2015
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Ethnic Composition
of Bosnia
43% Bosnian Muslims
33% Bosnian Serbs
17% Bosnian Croats
7% Other
Background
The Srebrenica
Massacre took place
during the Bosnian War
(1992-1995) a conflict
that started over
Bosnia’s seccesion from
Yugoslavia
Background
Bosnian Serbs boycotted the referendum for
independence supported by both the Croatian and
Bosnian populations
Bosnian Serbs with the aid of the Yugoslav People’s
Army (JNA) declared their own republic and began a
campaign of terror against ethnic Muslims
Bosnian Croats likewise declared their own
breakaway republic creating a three sided war
Srebrenica
1993
Located in the western part of Bosnia near the
Serbian border
Was declared a ―safe zone‖ for refugees on April 18th
1993
Srebrenica itself was demilitarized on April 21st –this
meant that Bosnian Muslims had surrendered all
―weapons, mines, ammunition and military
equipment‖ to U.N. soldiers
Srebrenica
1993-1994
From 1993 until the Srebrenica offensive in 1995
Bosnian Serbs severely restricted the passage of
vital humanitarian aid
Serbian soldiers taxed the aid convoys and limited
the amount of food, medicine and fuel available to
the population
Srebrenica
1995
By July it was clear that an offensive was coming as
Bosnian Serbs had surrounded Srebrenica with
some 50 pieces of artillery and some 15-20 combat
vehicles
Replacement troops for the U.N. mission where
denied entry to the enclave
The Massacre
Between the 6th and 11th Bosnian Serb forces
overran Srebrenica taking over 30 U.N. soldiers
hostage and advanced to the main U.N. base in
Potocari
Bosnian Serb soldiers disarmed the U.N.
peacekeepers, stole their vehicles and clothes and
took control of the U.N. encampment completely
The Massacre
With U.N. troops completely pacified the Bosnian Serbs
proceeded to commit atrocities against the civilian’s
population. Serb soldiers raped women, murdered
children and began to separate men of fighting age from
the rest of the refugees. The men of fighting age from
Srebrenica and Potocari where taken away to various
areas and executed in large numbers and buried in mass
graves
Some 8,000 men where killed in the largest slaughter of
unarmed civilians since World War II
Ethical Analysis:
Seven Core Army Values
The definition of duty put forth by the U.S. is:Fulfilling all of your professional, legal, and moral obligations and accomplishing all tasks to the fullest of your ability. Duty means accepting responsibility for your actions and those of your subordinates. Doing your duty prohibits engaging in illegal and immoral actions. Duty also requires your disobedience of unlawful orders— those that run counter to the Army’s doctrine, standard practices, and values (United States Army, 2011)
When UNPROFOR forces confiscated weapons in Srebrenica they created a duty to care for the civilians that gave up their means of self-defense. Surrender and retreat in the face of the enemy constituted a breach of duty from both the civil and military perspective
Ethical Analysis:
Seven Core Army Values
Selfless service according to the U.S. Army is ―placing Army priorities before your own. You consider the welfare of the nation, your mission, and your fellow Soldiers and subordinates before your personal safety‖ (United States Army, 2011)
by following a policy of surrender and displaying cowardice in the face of the enemy U.N. soldiers demonstrated a serious lack of resolve. Surrender to the enemy was not just an isolated incident in and around Srebrenica; U.N. soldiers when faced with armed resistance capitulated and turned their uniforms, vehicles and weapons over to Serb forces
Ethical Analysis:
Deontology
Deontological ethics are a good method of
evaluating the behavior of the U.N. Security Council,
as it was the body that established the rules of
engagement. The U.N. Security Council failed to
meet deontological standards by failing to meet an
absolute moral value, preventing genocide.
Ethical Analysis:
Utilitarianism
According to utilitarianism it would be ok for
peacekeepers to fight and die as long as their
deaths secured safety or escape for the larger
population. By opting to save themselves and not
fight the U.N. soldiers did not do the best for the
greatest number of people of people. The United
Nations Security Council likewise did not meet the
utilitarian standard of ethical behavior as the policies
it pursued did not produce the greatest good for the
greatest number of people.
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