Remember Bosnia?

The Bosnian civil war took place when I was ten or so when my interests included Barbies, Mortal Kombat (the game, I didn’t actually fight to the misspelled death), and The Simpsons. Couple that with the fact that I am a middle-class American and, naturally, I know nothing about it. After reading this article, however, I am lead to believe it was a civil and humane affair…

Two Bosnian Serb military commanders have been found guilty of war crimes, including burning women and children alive, during the Bosnian civil war. Cousins Milan and Sredoje Lukic were members of a paramilitary group called the White Eagles, or the Avengers. [Ed. Note: Well, which was it?]. They were accused of murder, persecution, extermination and other inhumane acts against Bosnian Muslims near Visegrad between 1992 and 1994. Judges at The Hague jailed Milan Lukic for life, and Sredoje to 30 years. Judge Patrick Robinson, reading his verdict, said: "The perpetration by Milan Lukic and Stredoje Lukic of crimes in this case is characterised [sic.] by a callous and vicious disregard for human life." The burning alive of Muslims, he said, was extraordinarily brutal, and "exemplified the worst acts of humanity that one person may inflict on others". The court ruled that Milan Lukic, the leader of the White Eagles paramilitary force, was the ringleader of the attacks. He herded about 130 women, children and elderly men in to two houses - both in or near the eastern Bosnian town of Visegrad - before setting fire to them. All those who tried to escape were shot. He was also found guilty of murdering 12 Muslim civilian men, and beating Muslims at a detention camp. [Source: bbc.co.uk]

Life in prison? For burning people alive? I hope the Tribunal at least sends them to Bosnian prison. Oh or maybe Turkish. Midnight Express led me to believe that Turkish prison is no party. Still, anywhere that doesn’t include daily rape and extreme torture seems like a miscarriage of justice. *puts on oversized crucifix, grabs M4 Carbine*