‘BUTCHER OF BOSNIA’ MLADIC GETS LIFE FOR GENOCIDE
Ratko Mladic sentenced to life in prison on 10 counts of atrocities
THE HAGUE
UNITED Nations judges yesterday sentenced former Bosnian Serbian commander Ratko Mladic to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of genocide and war crimes in the brutal Balkans conflict more than 20 years ago.
The trial of the man dubbed “the Butcher of Bosnia” was the last before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and comes as the court prepares to close its doors next month.
The court found him guilty on 10 counts, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 1992-1995 war that killed 100,000 people and displaced 2.2 million. But they found him not guilty of genocide in the municipalities.
“For having committed these crimes, the chamber sentences Ratko Mladic to life imprisonnement,” presiding judge Alphons Orie said, adding that the crimes were “among the most heinous known to humankind”.
The former general, 74, who once cut a swathe of fear against Bosnia, gave a thumbs-up as he entered the courtroom here.
But in extraordinary scenes, he was ordered to be dragged from the court when, in an outburst, he accused the judges of lying after they refused to adjourn because he had high blood pressure.
Later, his son told reporters he planned to appeal.
“The circumstances were brutal. Those who tried to defend their homes were met with ruthless force. Mass executions occurred and victims succumbed after being beaten,” Orie said.
“Many of the perpetrators who had captured Bosnian Muslims showed little or no respect for human life or dignity.”
Yesterday’s verdict had been long awaited by tens of thousands of victims across the bitterly-divided region, and dozens gathered early outside the courtroom here, many clutching photos of loved ones who died or were among the 7,000 missing.
It was an emotional day for victims, some of whom broke down in tears in the public gallery.
Munira Subasic, president of the Mothers of Srebrenica association, said she was “partially satisfied” with the verdict. But in Srebrenica, there were tears of joy.
“Mladic will die in The Hague! I’m so happy that justice has been done!” said Nedziba Salihovic, who lost her husband, father and son in the 1995 massacre.
Chief ICTY prosecutor Serge Brammertz also hailed the verdict as a “milestone” for the court and for international justice.
“Mladic will be remembered by history for the many communities and lives he destroyed.”
Caught after 16 years on the run, Mladic was found guilty of the 1995 massacre in Srebrenica, where his troops slaughtered almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys. AFP