I genuinely didn't think they would ever catch him. General Ratko Mladic, as the leader of the Bosnian Serb army during the 1990s conflict in Bosnia holds the ultimate responsibility for the acts of that army during the war. Acts that included massacres, illegal detainment and abuse of civilians during the 'ethnic cleansing' of Serb areas of Bosnia. Acts that included the systemic rape of Bosnian Muslim women. Acts that included besieging the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, for three years withholding fuel and food during the bitter Bosnian winters and water during the scorching summers. Acts that included the massacre of 8,000 men and boys in Srebrenica.
His capture and what will eventually be his transfer to The Hague to face trial is an important moment for the region. For many it is a small piece of justice. Evidence that eventually the perpetrators of crimes against humanity will be caught and asked to account for their actions. A few of those who suffered will testify at the trial, will be able to look Mladic in the eye as they relate what happened to them. Many people, particularly those who suffered directly, find the trials to be helpful as they continue to deal with their grief.
Other Bosnians are less enthused by the trials. They feel that they are a long, slow, excessively legalistic and very expensive process that hasn't led to the outcome they wanted. What they wanted isn't always clear. Longer sentences perhaps. More regret from those convicted? More of a chance to say what happened possibly. Either way some Bosnians feel that these trials are keeping people rooted in the past, constantly looking back at what happened and unable to move forward.
The Serbs feel that they have been unfairly victimised by the courts. They claim that those responsible for terrible acts against the Serbs (and there were many) are evading justice or receiving lighter sentences. The arrest of Mladic, one of the last outstanding war criminals will reinforce this belief.
Mladic's arrest comes at an interesting time. It is evidence that the nationalist element in Serbia is weakened. Until now, the nationalists have been able to protect the Serb war criminals from the international community. Serbians are looking towards Europe and (as the ever politically aware Serbs know) the arrest of Mladic makes it very difficult for the EU to turn them down.
The Bosnian Serbs however are that classic exiled community. More Serb than the Serbians. Older traditions and ways of thinking haven't reached them yet. There are many, many nationalist Serbs in Bosnia for whom the arrest of Mladic will be yet another blow to their national pride which needs to be avenged. Make no mistake, Mladic is a legend in many parts of Bosnia. Men in powerful and influential positions in their communities will tell you, with glittering eyes defying you to disagree, that Mladic was a hero.
How this arrest affects the current febrile nature of the Bosnian political scene remains to be seen. Expect to see posturing from all sides as the politicians vie to make the most personal capital from it. As for the rest of the Bosnians? They know that their country must overcome enormous challenges to move forward. This arrest, welcome as it is for many people, won't change their situation. As one friend texted to me on Friday. 'Of course we are excited, but we were more excited when Karadzic was arrested a few years ago. We have too much else to do to be more excited.'
Frightening and impossible to comprehend the suffering human beings can inflict on their fellow man (and women). I can't really get past that first paragraph and those horrific crimes. Truely shocking. His arrest it bound to have stirred up strong feelings in many.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to get your take on the situation. Like many conflicts in the world, it's not possible to simplify things and I suppose this arrest doesn't end what has always been a fragile situation?
ReplyDeleteHow can you rightfully avenge for such attrocities? The law isn't strong enough and you can only die once? There will never be a big enough punishment.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, maybe, it will be a case of putting to bed a little bit more of history and helping people to move forwards in a united nation.
E: thanks for your insightful comment on the recent arrest. Two years from our second stay in Tuzla, we still monitor conditions. It is difficult to feel exultant about the capture. Similar to our sentiment when Bin Laden was killed. Relief. Sense of time to move on. But, not joyful. It is good to hear the current High Representative in BiH was adamant about the proposed RS referendum not occurring. Still, BiH has a long way to go.
ReplyDelete-Toni in Ithaca-
Thanks for that unsimplified exposition. People's responses are always complex. At least justice has take a staggering half-step forward at last. The ICTY process is going to be a mess. Everybody wants to get the trial out of the way, so the ICTY process is finished and can be closed down and also to get Mladic tried before there's a chance of him doing a Milosevic and popping off. That presumably means that as with Karadzic important charges are going to get dropped and yet more people's hopes of a hearing, if not justice, will be dashed. There's argument about whether the Karadzic and Mladic trials should be combined - reasonable, except both will probably exploit the situation to the maximum to disrupt the slow momentum the Karadzic trial has already achieved. Justice delayed is justice betrayed. Better than nothing, but it must be hard when you feel that the simple wrongs done to you don't get simple judgments and punishments. And as you note, there are all the small and medium-sized fish still swimming around in the pond of impunity.
ReplyDeleteI still can not get my head around the fact that NATO allowed this to happen in this day and gae, almost under their noses. It is shocking, it really is.
ReplyDeleteBeen waiting to read this knowing you'd have a good and balanced view - so difficult to balance what actually is 'justice' in such a difficult environment and with all of the political undercurrents
ReplyDeleteIt IS a step at least & an important part of the process of closure, justice & so on, however imperfect. I WAS excited, I must admit. It was gd to read yr take on it. V balanced.
ReplyDeleteWe are leaving Albania in 3 wks. Eek! I will really miss the Balkans, feeling v wobbly abt it!