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Local judge trying war crimes in KosovoFormer 10th District Judge Linn Slattengren, of Shafer, has accepted an appointment as an international judge with the United Nations, effective immediately. He will be initially posted to Pristine, Kosovo, to try war crimes and crimes against humanity. Slattengren served as Chisago County attorney from 1968 to 1976, and as a judge of the 10th Judicial District in Minnesota from 1976 to 2001. During his judicial career in Minnesota he primarily served Chisago, Isanti, Pine and Kanabec counties. In a release issued by Slattengren, he briefly explained the history of the war in former Yugoslavia, a country that was divided in 1995. At that time, Kosovo was made part of Serbia. In 1998, the majority of Albanians in Kosovo revolted. Serbia crushed that rebellion cruelly, with mass slaughters, rapes, pillaging, burning, etc. Half the population fled. The U.S., with NATO participation, stopped the slaughter, and the U.N. assumed responsibility to administer the area. In addition, a team of judges is being appointed to try the war crimes and crimes against humanity. Slattengren explained why he would go to such a dangerous place, ìWe live in a small and shrinking world. We who are more fortunate need to help the less fortunate. If your neighborís house catches fire, you help put it out because you care for him, but also because if you donít help, the flames may engulf your house. It is the same with nations. The United Nations is our one hope for a peaceful and orderly world. It is a privilege to work with this greatest hope for mankind.î Before leaving for Kosovo, Slattengren spent two weeks in Japan and China as part of a cultural exchange delegation. He said it was the trip of a lifetime. ©ECM Post Review |