No teeth…? A mustache…? Smells like shit…? BOSNIAN GIRL!
The poster was based upon very unfriendly texts about Muslims in Bosnia, supposedly made by members of Dutchbat. Members of Dutchbat III (who failed to protect the Muslim enclave of Srebrenica and prevent the slaughter of Muslim men and boys, stationed at Srebenica), have been awarded a medal which, according to minister of defense Kamp, acknowledges that their position at the time of Srebenica Massacre was extremely difficult and that the soldiers were powerless. Bosnian authorities have protested against this and for example the organisation Mothers of Srebenica see this as injustice and would rather see Dutchbat III as an example of the ‘Hall of Shame‘.
There has been not much debate about this in Dutch politics and Dutch media; which is extraordinarely. No matter which side you take, Srebenica is one of the biggest failures of the international community since World War II and the Dutch are part of it, whether they want it or not. Important to note is also that certain parts of Dutchbat II and III showed many anti-muslim sentiments; which is not to say that Dutchbat in itself was anti-Muslim or that all soldiers were anti-Muslim (there were also those who helped Muslims of course) or that some grievances were not caused by encounters with some Bosnian Muslims, or that the Dutch were the only ones with these sentiments.
Nevertheless, the sentiments among Bosnians these days about the medals for Dutchbat are understandably negative. One of the means the express these angers is an emailaction, called AFERIM:
In accordance with the acknowledgement to Holand batallion for their role during the stay in Srebrenica in 1995, now you can take part in the activity of congratulating for all their merits and send an e-card that will be submited to:
– Holland Government
– Holland Embassy in Sarajevo
– Dutchbat 3
– Holland Ministry of Defence
NOTE: AFERIM! means CONGRATULATIONS!
According to the Bosnian radiostation that organizes this, 16.000 emails have already been sent. But here in the Netherlands it remains all quiet. I wonder why.
I can tell you some stories of anthropologists letting off steam in the field. Doesn’t necessarily mean much.
Some Dutchbatters obviously have mistaken girls for boys. Congratulations indeed…
@Peter:
True, but that does that make it ok? Or am I too moralistic (is that english?) now?
No, according to me it’s not OK. The trouble is that this attitude has a certain in-group function that I can understand, but outside this context it loses this function and becomes offensive and unpleasant.