Bosnian Muslim commander pleads not guilty at war crimes tribunal News
Bosnian Muslim commander pleads not guilty at war crimes tribunal

[JURIST] Rasim Delic [Trial Watch profile], the former commander of Bosnia's Muslim army during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, pleaded not guilty Thursday in his first appearance before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at The Hague on charges [ICTY summary; full indictment] of violating the laws of war by murder and cruel treatment of ethnic Croat and Serb prisoners. Prosecutors accuse Delic of war crimes that include the murder of 24 Bosnian Croats outside the village of Maline in June 1993, and failing to prevent crimes committed at the Kamenica prison camp. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.