The Hague - When the Butcher of Bosnia, Ratko Mladic, arrived at the Scheveningen prison for war criminals in The Hague, the Netherlands, he joined with a number of people who were accused of another mass murderer.
Located not far from the beach, Scheveningen prison has become home to a colleague Mladic, former military commander of Serb Radovan Karadzic is now being tried. Other inmates include Charles Taylor, former president of Liberia who was convicted of murder, rape and sexual slavery as she tried to control the diamond mines of Sierra Leone. Also Thomas Lubanga, a former Congolese warlord accused of recruiting children to become soldiers.
Mladic, former Bosnian Serb military leader, arrived in The Hague, on Tuesday (05/31/2011), to face charges of genocide and war crimes after nearly 16 years on the run.
Although the house arrest of the perpetrators of genocide, Scheveningen prison quite luxurious. It's called "Hague Hilton". The prison was built next to an old prison where the Dutch fighters imprisoned by the Nazis.
The location is just 2 kilometers from the coast, where the Dutch top developers build expensive properties with views towards the sea.
Each prisoner was placed in a cell measuring 10 square meters. They do not share a room and have to stay in the room at 21.00 from 07.30 in the morning till night. During that time they can enjoy television, reading, or studying each case.
Each cell has a bed, bookshelves, cabinets, toilet, and sink. The telephone is provided, although it should be through the supervision officer. Prisoners can also use computers to study the case, but they can not access the Internet or electronic mail (e-mail).
The prisoners had a chance mingle with other prisoners during the day. Their clothes were free, not a prisoner uniforms.
But on the wings of the ex-Yugoslav leader arrested, political and legal case became taboo to talk about. "There are strict rules in this prison, talks about politics or the case is not allowed," said Sefer Halilovic, a former Bosnian Muslim general who became Croatia's alleged killings of civilians seama 1992-1995. International Court of Justice finally released him of all charges.
Serbian media reported, although they are different political views, the prisoners who opposed the 1992-1995 Balkan wars, used to gather during religious celebrations. They even exchanged gifts.
"The war is between us and The Hague that brings us back," he wrote in his book Halilovic.
Chat between prisoners usually revolve around food, family, and health, among others, the difficulty they had access to a local dentist.
Although more luxurious than the prison in general, many prisoners who complained of food. For example, the vegetable is cooked but still crunchy and not everyone liked him. Nevertheless, the prisoner may submit a shopping list and prepare your own food.
"The food's not like we used to eat in the Balkans. Vegetables are not cooked enough and the portions are too small so we have to buy their own food," said Halilovic. But the main difficulty is checked by a dentist. There is only one dentist for all prisoners so very long waiting list.
But nothing fancy, Halilovic said, "Still in jail."
Meanwhile, Mladic who according to his lawyer experienced health problems, apparently going to get easier access to health care. War crimes tribunal would not want their top one detainee died in custody in The Hague.
That's never happened to Slobodan Milosevic, accused of genocide and other war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. Milosevic died on March 11, 2006, several months before a verdict for him was dropped.
A spokesman for the court, Nerma Jelacic, promising Mladic will undergo a medical examination when he arrived in Scheveningen. "The prisoners may use the health facilities in prison, but if they have serious health problems, we could use another prison hospital or public hospital," explained Jelacic.
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