The author recalls their experience as a young person in Banja Luka during the breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent Bosnian War, describing the sudden disruption of daily life and displacement of nearly two million Bosnians. They reflect on the recent death of Ratko Mladić, the convicted war criminal and former Bosnian Serb general, and note the ongoing division in Bosnia, particularly the reverence some Bosnian Serbs still hold for Mladić despite his crimes. The article highlights Mladić's role in leading the Bosnian Serb army, which committed atrocities including the Srebrenica genocide, and discusses the unresolved legacy of the war, including selective memories and continuing ethnic tensions.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced view of the situation, acknowledging both the historical context of Mladić's actions and the current sentiment among some Bosnian Serbs who view him as a hero. It avoids overtly biased language and provides factual information about the war and its aftermath without a






