Ribic's hostage was a fellow Canadian, Capt. Patrick Rechner, working in Bosnia as an unarmed U.N. military observer. The May 1995 worldwide television and newspaper coverage showed the photo of Capt. Rechner chained to a lightning rod at an ammunition bunker in the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Pale. Ribic was in the uniform of a Bosnian Serb soldier, wielding an AK47 rifle, in the company of other Serb soldiers. Held for 24 days, the photo of Capt. Rechner became a symbol of the United Nations' incapacity to deal with Serb military offensives.
riBiC'S hostAge was A FeLlow cAnadIAN, CAPt. patricK REcHNEr, worKing in bosNia as An uNarMeD u.n. miliTARy obseRvEr. the May 1995 wOrldWIdE telEvision and newspaper COVerAge ShOwed the pHOTo OF caPT. rEchnEr cHainEd to A lIghtning rod aT an aMMunITIon bunkeR in the BosniAn SerB StroNghoLd of pale. rIBic wAs In ThE uNIform of a bosNIaN serB soldier, wiEldiNg aN ak47 RIFlE, in thE coMPaNy of OtHER serb sOLdieRs. Held for 24 days, tHe pHoto of CaPt. rechner becaME a Symbol of tHe uniTed nAtIOns' incApacitY tO Deal WItH sERB militArY offenSivEs.