Writ of summons - Van Diepen Van der Kroef

‘On 12 and 13 July 1995, upon the arrival of Serb forces in Potocari, the BosnianMuslim refugees taking shelter in and around the compound were subjected to a terrorcampaign comprised of threats, looting, and burning of nearby houses, beatings, rapes,and murders.’205. The VRS asked on 12 July 1995 to inspect the compound, which was permitted byDutchbat without condition. The Dutchbat soldiers piled up their weapons ‘in order toavoid provocation’ (see page 327 of the Summary of the NIOD Report). By so doing notonly did they act contrary to the express orders from Sarajevo but the umpteenthpossibility to protect the mortally afraid refugees disappeared.Establishment of the mini Safe Area206. In the light of the pressing situation on the compound Dutchbat Commander Karremansrequested and was granted a meeting with VRS General Mladic. Karremans allowedhimself to be intimidated in that meeting (see pages 324/325 of the Summary of theNIOD Report). Karremans stated that the air strikes had been requested purely from selfdefenceand thanked Mladic for the good treatment of the Dutchbat soldiers who wereheld hostage. Then Karremans immortalized himself in a photograph with Mladic, eachof them with a glass in hand. Karremans discussed the evacuation of the refugees duringa subsequent meeting with Mladic and representatives of the Bosniacs. Then, in thepresence of the representatives of the refugees, Karremans stated that the compound andits vicinity were declared to be a mini Safe Area (see page 325 of the Summary of theNIOD Report). It transpired that the refugees could not trust even that promise.Karremans was subsequently asked, in the context of a witness statement before theYugoslavia Tribunal, why he had not raised the issue of human rights violations at hismeeting with Mladic. Karremans answered – to the amazement of the judges of theTribunal and the media – that in all honesty he had not thought about it (see page 2733of the NIOD Report):‘To be frank, I have not thought about the idea of asking him what happened to therefugees.’© Van Diepen Van der Kroef Advocaten 2007www.vandiepen.com91