'Butcher of Bosnia' awaits verdict for war crimes

AFP - UN war crimes judges will on Wednesday hand down a historic verdict against former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic. Mladic is blamed for steering Europe’s worst atrocities since World War II.

Who is Ratko Mladic

Ratko Mladić is a former Bosnian Serb general accused of committing  war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

A long-time member of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, Mladić began his career in the Yugoslav People's Army in 1965. He came to prominence in the Yugoslav Wars, initially as a high-ranking officer of the Yugoslav People's Army and subsequently as the Chief of Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska in the Bosnian War of 1992–1995.

The ruthless commander of Bosnian Serb troops in the 1990s civil war, Mladic came to symbolise a barbaric plan to rid swathes of Bosnian territory of Croats and Muslims and carve out a Serb-only state. He was accused by the ICTY of being responsible for the Siege of Sarajevo (5 April 1992 to 29 February 1996) and the  Srebrenica massacre. He was also, accused of the massacre of 8000 Muslims.

Mladic's Arrest

Serb commander was indicted by ICTY in 1995. He ran away and was captured in 2011 after 16 years on the run. Capturing him proved difficult because many Serbs revere him, and were happy to help protect him from the authorities. He was celebrated as a hero and was loved by his troops thus, they provided him with every support.

Bob Ried, an Australian detective is credited with his capture in 2011. Ried formed a group task force, which made it difficult for Mladic to seek refuge with his military fellows. Gradually, the task force started to tighten its grip on him and one day he was captured from a family home.

Mladic's Trial

 

Mladic first appeared un court Mladic denies all the charges, describing them as "obnoxious" at his first court appearance in 2011. "I defended my country and my people," he said.

The trial of Mladić is taking place under ICYT and is being presided over by judge Alphons Orie of the Netherlands, with two assisting judges, Bakone Justice Moloto of South Africa and Christoph Flügge of Germany. The Proceedings of the trial began on 3 June 2011 with a listing of the charges against Mladić, which included crimes against humanity, particularly in connection with the  Srebrenica massacre and Siege of Sarajevo.

The verdict of the trial is to come this Wednesday.