SREBRENICA 2012 BURIAL PREPARATIONS

In a carefully planned provocation, Serb authorities in Srebrenica have thrown a large scale party with concerts, soccer events, and festivals that will last until the 11th of July -- the day marking the 17th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide. Bosniaks in Srebrenica are preparing to bury 520 newly-identified men, women and children -- who were killed during the final episode of the 1992-95 Bosnian Genocide in July of 1995.

But this was not the only atrocity committed by Serb forces in this part of eastern Bosnia. Srebrenica was under the siege between May 1992 and July 1995. In the first three months of the Bosnian war alone, Serb forces killed at least 3,166 Bosniak women, children and elderly men in and around Srebrenica and adjoining municipalities. In July 1995 alone, Serb forces systematically slaughtered 8,372 Bosniaks and brutally raped hundreds of women and underage girls. More than 20,000 refugees were expelled from Srebrenica in a single day, which signified a large scale ethnic cleansing campaign. Some 95% of all war crimes in eastern Bosnia in a period between 1992 and 1995 were committed by Serb forces.

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A worker carries a wooden frame while preparing graves for a ceremony at a memorial centre for Srebrenica Genocide victims in Potocari July 7, 2012. Tens of thousands of family members, foreign dignitaries and guests are expected to attend a ceremony in Srebrenica on July 11 marking the 17th anniversary of the Genocide in which Bosnian Serb forces commanded by Ratko Mladic killed over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys. Nearly 510 identified victims will be buried at a memorial cemetery during the ceremony, their bodies found in some 60 mass graves around the town.

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A worker smokes during a break after digging graves ahead of a ceremony at a memorial centre for the victims of Genocide in Potocari near Srebrenica on July 7, 2012. Tens of thousands of family members, foreign dignitaries and guests are expected to attend a ceremony in Srebrenica on July 11 marking the 17th anniversary of the massacre in which Bosnian Serb forces commanded by Ratko Mladic killed more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys. Nearly 510 identified victims will be buried at a memorial cemetery during the ceremony, their bodies found in some 60 mass graves around the town. The July 1995 Srebrenica massacre was the final episode of the 1992-95 Bosnian Genocide.

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Workers dig graves ahead of a ceremony at a memorial centre for the victims of Genocide in Potocari near Srebrenica on July 7, 2012. Tens of thousands of family members, foreign dignitaries and guests are expected to attend a ceremony in Srebrenica on July 11 marking the 17th anniversary of the massacre in which Bosnian Serb forces commanded by Ratko Mladic killed more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys. Nearly 510 identified victims will be buried at a memorial cemetery during the ceremony, their bodies found in some 60 mass graves around the town. The July 1995 Srebrenica massacre was the final episode of the 1992-95 Bosnian Genocide.

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Workers dig graves for 520 newly-identified victims of the July 1995 Srebrenica Genocide. The upcoming July 11th will mark the 17th anniversary of the massacre in which Bosnian Serb forces commanded by Ratko Mladic killed more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys.