We left Israel early Tuesday morning, May 15. There are many blog entries about tables in Israel that I haven’t had time to write. Maybe later. For now I will just say that I found remarkable, gifted teachers and generous fellow students at study tables where I was greeted warmly and supported in my learning. I witnessed people at work tables that were filled of righteousness. And we were welcomed at countless other tables with generosity and food and friendship. Suffice it to say that we witnessed great righteousness at many tables during our time in Israel. More on Israel tables another time.
Today, I have a tale of some different tables from a different place. A tale of a table of a prosecutor of war crimes. And of a table of an unrepentant man who stands accused of acts of genocide. And of empty places at thousands of tables where the survivors somehow continue living, awaiting justice, supporting each other and maintaining their humanity.
Here is the story: From Israel, we flew to Amsterdam. When we watched the news during our first day in Amsterdam we saw that the opening argument of the prosecution in the trial of Radko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb military leader accused of acts of genocide, had started that day and would continue the next day. As you may recall, we were in Bosnia in March, so the Bosnian genocide was fresh in our hearts and minds. We had planned to spend Thursday wandering around Amsterdam. But, after seeing the news, we knew we had to try to get into the trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. (ICTY http://www.icty.org/sections/AbouttheICTY ) in The Hague. So, we left the house the next morning at 6:30 and headed for The Hague.
This is the courtroom of the Mladic trial.
There were only a handful of visitor tickets left when we arrived a bit before 9:00 am and we received 2 of them. The prosecution finished making introductory arguments from 9 until about noon with a couple of short breaks. There was space for about 75 people in the visitors’ gallery and it was full. Many of the people in that section were survivors. There was a glass wall in front of us. On the other side of it were tables with the 3 judges, Mladic and his lawyers, and the prosecution and their staff. There were two guards sitting on either side of Mladic who didn’t take their eyes off of him. There was a change of guards every 30 minutes. He was dressed in a suit and tie. We were about 100 feet from him.
The prosecution presented evidence that pointed to Mladic as the top commander in horrific genocide acts. We heard grisly, detailed descriptions. We saw heart-breaking pictures and terrifying videos. Mladic was smug and even smiling at times during these presentations. When there was a video shown of him yelling at the head of the Dutch peace-keepers in Srebrenica (who ultimately were intimidated enough to leave and then the slaughter took place) he looked pleased and gave a thumbs-up. I am here to tell you that pure evil does exist in this world, in case you had any doubt.
Ratko Mladic during the trial
But he isn’t what left the greatest impression on me. Rather, it was the survivors filling the gallery who overwhelmed me with emotion. We Jews, unfortunately, have our own horrible story of being survivors of genocide. I’ve sat with survivors. Many times. I’ve heard their stories. But I’ve never sat with survivors as they faced the person who was responsible for killing their entire families.
Most of the survivors in the room were women. He killed almost all of the men. The women sat with great dignity. They were visibly moved as the prosecution presented its case. There were tears and gasps and murmurs. Especially during the videos and pictures. But there was also strength and composure. They faced him. They stood witness. He looked at them with contempt and with laughter. They sat with self-control and didn’t back away. They supported each other. Younger women quietly touched the shoulders of older women as they sat together. Many of them lost everything. But not their humanity. I saw that they take care of each other.
During one of the breaks we heard a woman interviewed. Her name is Hatidza Mehmedovic . You can read more about her here. She lost both of her sons and her husband during the massacre at Srebrenica. She stated that she now lives for justice. That is all. She has lost her entire family.
Hatidza Mehmedovic being interviewed. Her husband, both of her sons and many other male relatives were murdered. She founded Mothers of Srebrenica.
She looks like she’s about 60. This happened in July of 1995. Her husband was born in 1951. One of her sons was born in 1977. We didn’t hear when the other one was born. She doesn’t speak any English, so there was someone with her translating as she spoke. The cameras and reporters surrounded her. It wasn’t easy to hear with all the people and noise, but her face and eyes spoke, even when we couldn’t hear. She is the chairperson of Mothers of Srebrenica, which she founded. She and the others came all this way to be here for the opening of the trial. There were moments when she was weeping as she told her story, but most of the time she spoke with dignity and courage and without anger. Just tremendous, overwhelming sadness and grief. And a desire for justice. That is all she has left. David tried to talk to her later, but language made it impossible. So – we used our eyes and our hands to try to tell her what was in our hearts.
At the end of the prosecutor’s address, the judge indicated that, because of “significant” errors of disclosure on the part of the prosecution, the continuation of the trial will be delayed. I just read that it will probably be a half a year until they can resume the trial.
Is there such a thing as justice in a case like this? Mladic is directly responsible for at least 8000 deaths of men and boys at Srebrenica. The terror inflicted by the snipers on the people we met in Sarajevo was also at his command. He is 70 years old and his health is poor. What does justice look like? I have no idea.
But this I do know: The human capacity for evil is very real. And frightening. At this trial, however, I was also reminded of the human capacity for kindness and compassion. And of the capacity for dignity in the face of evil. I saw that human beings are capable of tremendous resilience and generosity of spirit. I have been witness to all of this – both today and throughout our entire trip. I’m not sure which is more difficult to explain – the evil or the capacity for empathy and compassion. I am grateful for and in awe of the many whose resiliency in the face of unspeakable pain and suffering allows them to maintain the best of what it means to be human. They are the ones I will choose to remember and support and teach about. It is their tables that will go to the next world as witnesses to righteousness. It is what their tables see that we need learn from and to emulate.
To read David’s thoughts on the trial, check out his blog at www.roadeducation.wordpress.com
It Takes a Table 
Beth, your eloquent, pain -wracked words paint the most vivid of portraits. I am shaken & touched so deeply. I cannot thank you enough for the time, effort, and emotional cost of sharing these experiences. I admire & love you so much. Haverti, Morati, take good care of your precious self!