Karadzic in the Hague

As the news broke this morning that Karadzic was transferred from Belgrade to the Hague, it seems as if a new chapter has been opened in the relations between Bosnia and Serbia. His extradition to the Hague coincided with a major decision by the Bosnian War Crimes Tribunal in Sarajevo that is now taking over some cases of the Hague Tribunal: the Sarajevo court sentenced seven Bosnian Serbs to sentences ranging from 38 to 42 years for their direct involvement in the Srebrenica killings. What is most encouraging is the muted reaction to these developments by the so-called supporters of Karadzic. Yes, there was some violence last night on the streets of Belgrade, but the scenes of scattered hooligans battling determined Serbian police looked more like an aftermath of a soccer match than an outbreak of nationalist-inspired violence. The forceful response of the Serbian police--as well as their impeccable protection of the US Embassy--bides well for the new Serbian government. What is most surprising is that this is all happening while the Serbian Interior Ministry is controlled by a Socialist Party (Milosevic's party) man. It seems that they are more determined than ever to move on beyond the horrific Milosevic legacy.

I have also observed the reaction in Bosnia with a sense of relief. A few days ago, a couple of thousand supporters of Karadzic gathered in the Sarajevo Serb suburb of Pale and staged a very peaceful protest. They protested for a few hours, and then went on home.

This is an important moment since it shows the pragmatism and de-ideologization of ordinary people who are struggling to make ends meet in a terrible economy. Dissatisfaction with politicians crosses ethnic boundaries as a whopping majority of Bosnians see themselves as being regularly screwed by their government(s). It is particularly telling that the Bosnian parliament just a few days ago, voted to increase the salaries of its representatives while the unemployment reaches 40%, average pension drops to $100, and an army of young people continuously lines up in front of foreign embassies looking for a way out.

Thus, it is not so much that people are finally dealing with the past, but that the past is being run over by the oppressive present. And this may not be such a bad thing!