12.07.2015 Views

Writ of summons - Van Diepen Van der Kroef

Writ of summons - Van Diepen Van der Kroef

Writ of summons - Van Diepen Van der Kroef

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

single shot being fired and OP-F was abandoned. The crew members <strong>of</strong> the OP wereallowed to depart upon leaving their weapons behind. The frustration over theabandonment <strong>of</strong> this observation post without any struggle and the departure <strong>of</strong>Dutchbat by APC (an advanced infantry fighting vehicle) was so great that a soldier <strong>of</strong>the ABiH threw a hand grenade at the departing APC, as a result <strong>of</strong> which a Dutchsoldier died.96. Dutchbat Comman<strong>der</strong> Karremans had requested Close Air Support on 8 July 1995 at13.00 hours, at the time that the VRS made visible preparations to attack OP-F. TheVRS had not then fired on the observation post. The UN Report states to the reply <strong>of</strong> the(Dutch) UNPROFOR Chief <strong>of</strong> Staff Nicolai to Karremans’ request (see number 252 <strong>of</strong>the UN Report):‘During the early afternoon, the Dutchbat Comman<strong>der</strong> appears to have spoken to theUNPROFOR Chief <strong>of</strong> Staff in Sarajevo, again requesting close air support in responseto the attack on Foxtrot. As before, the Chief <strong>of</strong> Staff discouraged the request, favoringinstead the option to withdraw the personnel from the post.’The paper work for an air strike was done in Sarajevo even before Dutchbat had left theobservation post at 15.20 hours. At 15.52 hours, after the observation post wasabandoned, NATO aircraft appeared in the airspace above the Safe Area. NATO hadmade the aircraft available in the light <strong>of</strong> the problems that had arisen. These did notactually go into action because General Nicolai had previously decided not to forwardKarremans’ request to Zagreb. Nicolai justified his course <strong>of</strong> conduct with theproposition that the situation had stabilized itself, which stood in stark contrast to theactual situation. The statement that the ABiH Comman<strong>der</strong>, Delic, received from GeneralNicolai when he was asked was that the criteria for Close Air Support had not been met(see page 2122 <strong>of</strong> the NIOD Report). In response to the refusal <strong>of</strong> Nicolai to grant CloseAir Support Karremans responded as follows (see page 2123 <strong>of</strong> the NIOD Report):‘it is disappointing to receive no support at all un<strong>der</strong> those circumstances. I now realisethat the interests in the higher echelons are engaged in a completely different realm© <strong>Van</strong> <strong>Diepen</strong> <strong>Van</strong> <strong>der</strong> <strong>Kroef</strong> Advocaten 2007www.vandiepen.com49

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!