I genuinely didn't think they would ever catch him. General Ratko Mladic, as the leader of the Bosnian Serb army during the 1990s conflict in Bosnia holds the ultimate responsibility for the acts of that army during the war. Acts that included massacres, illegal detainment and abuse of civilians during the 'ethnic cleansing' of Serb areas of Bosnia. Acts that included the systemic rape of Bosnian Muslim women. Acts that included besieging the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, for three years withholding fuel and food during the bitter Bosnian winters and water during the scorching summers. Acts that included the massacre of 8,000 men and boys in Srebrenica.
His capture and what will eventually be his transfer to The Hague to face trial is an important moment for the region. For many it is a small piece of justice. Evidence that eventually the perpetrators of crimes against humanity will be caught and asked to account for their actions. A few of those who suffered will testify at the trial, will be able to look Mladic in the eye as they relate what happened to them. Many people, particularly those who suffered directly, find the trials to be helpful as they continue to deal with their grief.
Other Bosnians are less enthused by the trials. They feel that they are a long, slow, excessively legalistic and very expensive process that hasn't led to the outcome they wanted. What they wanted isn't always clear. Longer sentences perhaps. More regret from those convicted? More of a chance to say what happened possibly. Either way some Bosnians feel that these trials are keeping people rooted in the past, constantly looking back at what happened and unable to move forward.
The Serbs feel that they have been unfairly victimised by the courts. They claim that those responsible for terrible acts against the Serbs (and there were many) are evading justice or receiving lighter sentences. The arrest of Mladic, one of the last outstanding war criminals will reinforce this belief.
Mladic's arrest comes at an interesting time. It is evidence that the nationalist element in Serbia is weakened. Until now, the nationalists have been able to protect the Serb war criminals from the international community. Serbians are looking towards Europe and (as the ever politically aware Serbs know) the arrest of Mladic makes it very difficult for the EU to turn them down.
The Bosnian Serbs however are that classic exiled community. More Serb than the Serbians. Older traditions and ways of thinking haven't reached them yet. There are many, many nationalist Serbs in Bosnia for whom the arrest of Mladic will be yet another blow to their national pride which needs to be avenged. Make no mistake, Mladic is a legend in many parts of Bosnia. Men in powerful and influential positions in their communities will tell you, with glittering eyes defying you to disagree, that Mladic was a hero.
How this arrest affects the current febrile nature of the Bosnian political scene remains to be seen. Expect to see posturing from all sides as the politicians vie to make the most personal capital from it. As for the rest of the Bosnians? They know that their country must overcome enormous challenges to move forward. This arrest, welcome as it is for many people, won't change their situation. As one friend texted to me on Friday. 'Of course we are excited, but we were more excited when Karadzic was arrested a few years ago. We have too much else to do to be more excited.'