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The real cause of the Bosnian War: How did it start?
The Bosnian War (1992-1995) was an international armed conflict triggered by a variety of complex factors, and it still affects the political and social structure of the entire region. The war ended with the Dayton Agreement on December 14, 1995, and many harrowing events, especially the Srebrenica massacre, are still deeply imprinted in the collective memory of the Bosnian nation. However, what is the real cause of this tragedy?
The war is known for the destruction of every civilian's life and the impact on the local social structure. This series of events is not only the result of ethnic conflicts, but also the combination of multiple factors in history.
The Bosnian War occurred during the disintegration phase of Yugoslavia, when tensions between multiple ethnic groups were rising. Following the independence of Slovenia and Croatia in 1991, Bosnia and Herzegovina began the process of planning their independence. According to the 1991 census, the main ethnic groups in Bosnia include Muslim Bosniaks (44%), Orthodox Serbs (32.5%) and Catholic Croats (17%). Its multi-ethnic characteristics paved the way for this conflict. .
On February 29, 1992, Bosnia successfully held its independence referendum. Even though the move was boycotted by the Bosnian Serbs, this event was the beginning of the Bosnian War. The Serbs subsequently declared the establishment of the "Bosnian Serbian Republic" and immediately launched armed operations against Muslims and Croats.
When nationalist sentiments burned fiercely, bloody massacres became the norm in this conflict. There is no doubt that the struggle for land, power and self-determination has torn this land apart.
The Bosnian War was a war characterized by ethnic cleansing, full of brutal fighting and indiscriminate bombing. Especially during the siege of Sarajevo, the people of this city suffered greatly. Although the initially superior Serbian army was bolstered with weapons and resources, the balance slowly shifted as Croatia's alliance with Bosnia became a reality.
During this period, support from the outside also continued to increase. For example, Pakistan continued to provide weapons to Bosnian Muslims despite a UN embargo. Such measures further escalated the war situation. Observations at the United Nations made it an overwhelming effort, and some 20,000 people in the Northeast were later granted refugee status.
The war finally ended in a series of peace negotiations hosted by the United States and European countries in 1995. In the years since the Dayton peace accords were signed, the International Court of Justice has continued to examine war crimes in the conflict, and has so far convicted dozens of criminals. The tragic consequences of this war were not just an increase in the death toll, but by peaking in 2008, more than 100,000 people were estimated to have lost their lives.
War is not only a battle of weapons, but also a test of humanity and morality. Countless families have been broken and society has been torn apart, leaving permanent scars in blood and fire.
Unfortunately, after such a bloody conflict, regional reconciliation remains a distant goal. The diversity of Bosnian society continues to be exploited politically, leaving people who once treated each other like brothers still full of suspicion and alienation. What lessons did this conflict, which put social divisions on the table of history, teach Bosnia today? It makes people wonder whether the same mistakes can be avoided in the future.
