“Milosevic organised many many assassinations of people of my party, of people of my family… He ordered a few times assassination attempts against my life….What can I say? I can say it’s a pity he didn’t face justice in Belgrade.” [Vuk Draskovic, Foreign Minister of Serbia-Montenegro]
I suspect that, like me, many of you have said – of a particularly despicable criminal – that you hope he rots in jail. Well, that wish was denied many citizens of the former Yugoslavia on Saturday when their former dictator was found dead in his cell at The Hague, far too prematurely. And, true to his amoral nature, Slobodan Milosevic died not only protesting his innocence but also defying the authority of The Hague tribunal to even try him.
An autopsy – performed by a team of Dutch pathologists yesterday – determined that he died from “myocardial infarction” (a sudden and massive heart attack). Nonetheless, his chief prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, believes Milosevic may have taken the coward’s way out by committing suicide. And, given the history of suicides in his family, I would not be surprised if further tests determine that to be the case.
(Incidentally, despite their best efforts, Milosevic’s family members will find few people willing to suspect foul play in his death. The way, for example, that Mohammed al-Fayed led so many people to suspect that the British royal family had a hand in the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed – until their cases were closed, authoritatively, just last week.)
Unfortunately, Milosevic’s death robs many of the satisfaction of seeing him adjudged guilty for the crimes against humanity he ordered during the 1992-95 Bosnia war, in which over 200,000 people died. After all, only a few die-hard supporters of this “Butcher of the Balkans” thought he stood any chance of ever seeing the light of day again. But, as I’m loath to speak ill of the dead, I shall suffice to note that his drawn-out farce of a trial and peaceful death presage the all too blessed fate that awaits Saddam Hussein.
Though, admittedly, I sympathise with the profound regret of my Serb friends who would’ve preferred to see Milosevic sent off to meet his maker with the bang of a firing squad, not the whimper of a deep sleep.
Nek mu BOG dusu oprosti…
Slobodan Milosevic, The Hague tribunal
Michelle says
Hi Anthony
Where did you get the picture of him. It goes great with the article. Funny I didn’t know anything about this evil man until they started reporting his death this weekend.
Great article.
Anonymous says
As I read today’s posting, I am saddened by the relatively short list of men who occupied positions of power during the past 100 years, who are in turn responsible for the deaths of so many around the world. We still have a lot to learn…
Rage……
James says
Every dictator has devoted followers among those they oppress. Some Russians still worship Stalin and some Germans still worship Hitler. There’s no accounting for human ignorance.
Thank God for Carla Del Ponte. I like your reference to Les Miserables about her prosecution of these war criminals.
Anonymous says
I can not beleive that 10 years after the bosnian war propaganda is still so powerfull. Yes, more than 200,000 people have died in bosnia, but according to bosnian muslim demographic institute around 50% were muslims, fully 32% were serbs. If there was no Milosevic and his support for Bosnian serbs it would have been a repeat of warld war II genocide.
Burn in Hell, Anthony ASAP and may Milosevic roast you down there
Anonymous says
go eat your mc donolds and watch baseball. what do you american know about politics, human rights, etc..
fuck milosevic too but if there wasn’t him maybe some of bosnian muslims would carry more 9/11 attack on usa
Anonymous says
go eat your mc donalds and watch baseball. what do you americans know about politics, history and human rights????? haha
fuck milosevic too but if there was no man like him maybe we would see bosnian muslims performing 9/11 attacks all over europe and usa
Anonymous says
To the “anonymous” commenters who have the passionate rage that made Milosevic the mad man that he was:
The problem with people like you is that you think you are the only ones who know anything and are entitled to do anything; it is unfortunate – but it is also people like you who enabled Milosevic to destroy a beautiful country and a people to whom I’m related to, but certainly can’t always relate to!