DATE=7/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SREBRENICA ANNIVERSARY (L-O)
NUMBER=2-264294
BYLINE=LAUREN COMITEAU
DATELINE=THE HAGUE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Five-years ago today (July 11, 1995), Bosnian
Serbs overran the town of Srebrenica. The United
Nations had declared it a safe area, but after the
Serb takeover, more than seven-thousand Muslim men and
boys were executed. There are commemorations today in
Srebrenica, and in The Hague. Lauren Comiteau has
this report.
TEXT: On the fifth anniversary of the worst massacre
in Europe since the Second World War, U-N Secretary
General Kofi Annan said the tragedy of Srebrenica will
forever haunt the history of the United Nations. It
was U-N peacekeepers who failed to protect the
thousands of Muslims seeking refuge in the so-called
U-N safe haven.
But if the massacre haunts the United Nations, it is a
particularly painful episode for the Dutch, whose
soldiers made-up the peace-keeping battalion and whose
leaders have been sharply criticized for doing little
to protect Muslims in the face of the Serb onslaught.
Hasan Nuhanovic was working as a U-N interpreter when
Serbs overran the enclave. He watched as his parents
and brother were forced to leave the Dutch base.
Five-years later, they are still missing, and Mr.
Nuhanovic wants Dutch officials to answer for their
behavior.
/// ACT NUHANOVIC ///
The most characteristic example is when the
Dutch handed over six-thousand people to the
Serbs from the U-N base and still, not one Dutch
official has explained why that was done, and if
anyone is responsible and anyone should be
punished for it.
/// END ACT ///
Some Dutch activists are calling for a parliamentary
inquiry into what exactly happened at Srebrenica.
/// OPT /// They will be holding a rally later today
outside parliament in The Hague. /// END OPT ///
Meanwhile, the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal is in the
process of trying Bosnian-Serb General Radislav Krstic
for genocide in relation to the Srebrenica massacre.
Prosecutors say he commanded the troops who most
likely killed more than 75-Muslims. Tribunal
investigators have uncovered about two-thousand
bodies, and exhumations will continue later this week.
But the two men prosecutors hold most responsible for
the crimes - Former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan
Karadzic, and his military commander General Ratko
Mladic - are still at large. And people such as Hasan
Nuhanovic say until they are brought to The Hague to
stand trial, there will be no justice for Srebrenica's
victims. (SIGNED)
NEB/LC/GE/RAE
11-Jul-2000 08:30 AM EDT (11-Jul-2000 1230 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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