The Dutch Battallion (“Dutchbat”) of the U.N. Peacekeeping Forces had the responsibility of protecting the U.N. “safe haven”, Srebrenica, but the then Dutch Minister of Defense Voorhoeve recommended that the offer of evacuation be declined, in consideration of the safety of the Dutch troops.
The Dutch Foreign Minister at the time, van Mierlo, however, advised that “Dutchbat” should indeed evacuate Srebrenica, but Prime Minister Kok followed the advice of Voorhoeve and refused the Mladic offer.
On July 11, 1995, the enclave Srebrenica, an official safe area of the UN, fell in the hands of the Bosnian Serbs. That same evening, General Mladic asked the UN, in the person of “Dutchbat” Commander, Colonel Ton Karremans, if they wished to organize the evacuation of the approximately 20.000 Muslim men, women and children who stayed in and around the “Dutchbat” compound in Srebrenica.
The same evening, Commander Karremans discussed with another Dutch officer, General Nicolai, Mladic’s offer (“Can the UN arrange the buses?”). Other high ranking officials of the Dutch Ministry of Defense also knew about the situation but they also chose to ignore the Mladic offer.
The IKV points out that the separation of men and women would have been prevented by an internationally organized evacuation. The men, who were hiding in the forests, would have had a chance to join the evacuation and thereby stay out of the hands of the Bosnian Serbs.
The Dutch Foreign Minister at the time, van Mierlo, however, advised that “Dutchbat” should indeed evacuate Srebrenica, but Prime Minister Kok followed the advice of Voorhoeve and refused the Mladic offer.
On July 11, 1995, the enclave Srebrenica, an official safe area of the UN, fell in the hands of the Bosnian Serbs. That same evening, General Mladic asked the UN, in the person of “Dutchbat” Commander, Colonel Ton Karremans, if they wished to organize the evacuation of the approximately 20.000 Muslim men, women and children who stayed in and around the “Dutchbat” compound in Srebrenica.
The same evening, Commander Karremans discussed with another Dutch officer, General Nicolai, Mladic’s offer (“Can the UN arrange the buses?”). Other high ranking officials of the Dutch Ministry of Defense also knew about the situation but they also chose to ignore the Mladic offer.
The IKV points out that the separation of men and women would have been prevented by an internationally organized evacuation. The men, who were hiding in the forests, would have had a chance to join the evacuation and thereby stay out of the hands of the Bosnian Serbs.