Ratko Mladić is still viewed as a hero by many Bosnian Serbs. It’s a reminder how divided my country remains today
Bosnia remains a country divided by contrasting histories and narratives about the war. Mladić is a symbolic reminder of this.
Ratko Mladić, the Bosnian Serbian general and convicted war criminal, remains a revered figure for many Bosnian Serbs despite his numerous crimes. This observation serves as a stark reminder of the deep divisions that persist in Bosnia today. Mladić, a career military officer, rose to the rank of commander-in-chief of the Bosnian Serb army during the Bosnian War, which marked a period of rampant violence and genocide.
His leadership accelerated the Serbian takeover of 70% of Bosnia, culminating in the notorious Srebrenica massacre where over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed. Despite his heinous crimes, Mladić was celebrated as a hero by Serbs in Bosnia, a testament to the selective memories and enduring divisions in the country. The post-war trial and conviction of Mladić in The Hague offered a measure of justice, yet it did not heal the wounds of the Bosnian people.
Many convicted war criminals continue to be revered by the communities they came from, highlighting the complex and unresolved legacy of the conflict.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Allan Little: I met dangerously fanatical Mladić early in Bosnian war bbc.co.uk
- Convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal Mladić dies aged 84 capitalfm.africa
- Convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal Mladić dies aged 84 myjoyonline.com
- Ratko Mladic, Convicted Bosnian Serb General, Dies at 84 kahawatungu.com
- Ratko Mladic, war criminal and former Bosnian Serb military leader, dead cbc.ca
