| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Europe | |
| Srebrenica survivors to sue UN | |
| 2003-11-09 | |
Survivors of Bosnia's wartime massacre in Srebrenica are to sue the United Nations and the Netherlands for more than half a billion dollars for failing to protect the enclave. The massacre is the worst European atrocity since World War II. "In the next three or four months we are to file suit against the UN and the Netherlands before appropriate courts for breaching international laws and the European convention on human rights," Samir Guzin, one of the lawyers representing families of those killed in Srebrenica, said. "Survivors demand at least one billion convertible marks ($590 million) in compensation for their loss," said Guzin, whose team represents about 8000 family members and survivors. More than 7000 Muslim men and boys were summarily executed after Bosnian Serb troops overran the Muslim enclave in eastern Bosnia, a UN-declared "safe haven" protected by lightly-armed Dutch peacekeepers, in July 1995. The entire Dutch government resigned in 2002 after the country's report claimed partial responsibility of the Dutch authorities for the massacre.
| |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #6 Lets not forget Kofi's other great moment - Rwanada. He was in charege of UN peace keeping when Dallaire (the Canadian General in charge) sent message after message warning Annan about what was about to happen. At one point, Dallaire said that he could nip it in the bud if he launched a counter attack on weapons depots. Annan told to take no further action and notify the government. After the notification, Dallaire's informant was killed and the genocide was launched. I guess that is how he got the UN chair. |
| Posted by: Larry 2003-11-9 11:54:03 PM |
| #5 here's a new one for the un - both judge and defendant! |
| Posted by: Dan 2003-11-9 7:14:18 PM |
| #4 I want to change my vote now. I really think the U.N. should take over ALL peacekeeping efforts around the world. Bring the troops home and let Kofi take over. This was their FINEST hour! |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2003-11-9 3:46:46 PM |
| #3 They'll go through the carade and issue the obvious ruling, which will be promptly ignored. Everyone will then blame the United States for setting the precedent by refusing to submit to the ICC, and refusing to sign Kyoto and the anti-land mine treaties. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-11-9 3:05:25 PM |
| #2 The article cites The Hague as the venue, but I suspect a ruling from that court will have the full force of law and morality than U.N. resolutions do, and about the same relevence. |
| Posted by: badanov 2003-11-9 10:52:02 AM |
| #1 ...file suit against the UN and the Netherlands before appropriate courts f... Just curious where are these courts and who will enforce the rulings? Dorf |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-11-9 9:02:03 AM |