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Dutch state 'liable' for 300 Srebrenica deaths Dutch state liable for 300 Srebrenica deaths
(about 1 hour later)
A Dutch court has ruled that the Netherlands was liable for the killings of more than 300 Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslim) men and boys at Srebrenica during the Bosnian war in July 1995. A Dutch court has ruled that the Netherlands is liable for the killings of more than 300 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) men and boys at Srebrenica in Bosnia-Hercegovina in July 1995.
It said that Dutch peacekeepers had failed to protect the Bosniaks when the town fell to the besieging Bosnian Serb army. More than 7,000 were killed. The 300 men and boys were among 5,000 Bosniaks sheltering with Dutch UN peacekeepers at their Potocari base.
Bosniaks who had taken refuge with the Dutch were handed over to the Serbs. The court said the state should have known they would be killed by Bosnian Serbs when they handed them over.
Srebrenica is considered Europe's worst massacre since World War Two. More than 7,000 men and boys were killed in the Srebrenica massacre.
Last year, a Dutch court ruled that the Netherlands was liable for the deaths of three Bosniak men at Srebrenica. It is considered Europe's worst since World War Two.
CompensationCompensation
In the latest ruling, launched by relatives of the victims under the name "Mothers of Srebrenica", the court said that Dutch peacekeeping forces, Dutchbat, did not do enough to protect 300 of the Bosniaks and should have been aware of the potential for genocide to be committed. The case was launched by relatives of the victims under the name "Mothers of Srebrenica".
The Hague district court said that Dutch peacekeeping forces, Dutchbat, did not do enough to protect 300 of the Bosniaks and should have been aware of the potential for genocide to be committed.
"It can be said with sufficient certainty that, had Dutchbat allowed them to stay at the compound, these men would have remained alive. By cooperating in the deportation of these men, Dutchbat acted unlawfully," the court added.
It said that the Dutch state must accept some degree of responsibility for what happened and pay compensation to the families of the 300 victims.It said that the Dutch state must accept some degree of responsibility for what happened and pay compensation to the families of the 300 victims.
But the court stopped short of holding the Netherlands liable for the fate of the majority of men killed in Srebrenica, saying that many of the male refugees at the time had not fled to the UN compound at Potocari but "fled to the woods in the vicinity of Srebrenica".
The BBC's Anna Holligan, in the courtroom, says it was a hugely significant ruling but a heart-breaking verdict for the women because the Dutch state was only found partly responsible for the deaths of 300 of the more than 7,000 men killed.The BBC's Anna Holligan, in the courtroom, says it was a hugely significant ruling but a heart-breaking verdict for the women because the Dutch state was only found partly responsible for the deaths of 300 of the more than 7,000 men killed.
This, she continues, means many of the relatives of the victims will not be entitled to compensation. This, she says, means many of the relatives of the victims will not be entitled to compensation.
During the 1992-1995 war, Bosniaks from the surrounding area sought refuge in the town of Srebrenica as the Bosnian Serb army carried out a campaign of ethnic cleansing, expelling non-Serb populations.During the 1992-1995 war, Bosniaks from the surrounding area sought refuge in the town of Srebrenica as the Bosnian Serb army carried out a campaign of ethnic cleansing, expelling non-Serb populations.
The UN declared Srebrenica a "safe area" for civilians in 1993. It fell in July 1995, after more than two years under siege.The UN declared Srebrenica a "safe area" for civilians in 1993. It fell in July 1995, after more than two years under siege.
Thousands of Bosniaks went to the UN base just outside Srebrenica at Potocari, where the Dutch peacekeepers were stationed.Thousands of Bosniaks went to the UN base just outside Srebrenica at Potocari, where the Dutch peacekeepers were stationed.
However, the Dutch soldiers told them they would be safe and handed them over to the Bosnian Serb army. However, the Dutch soldiers told them they would be safe and handed the men and boys over to the Bosnian Serb army.
While the women and young children were transported to a Bosniak-majority area, more than 7,000 men and boys were taken away from the UN base by the Bosnian Serbs, and killed.While the women and young children were transported to a Bosniak-majority area, more than 7,000 men and boys were taken away from the UN base by the Bosnian Serbs, and killed.
Many of their remains still lie in mass graves around eastern Bosnia.Many of their remains still lie in mass graves around eastern Bosnia.
The two key figures of the wartime Bosnian Serb leadership - one-time President Radovan Karadzic and General Ratko Mladic - are on trial for war crimes at the UN tribunal in The Hague.The two key figures of the wartime Bosnian Serb leadership - one-time President Radovan Karadzic and General Ratko Mladic - are on trial for war crimes at the UN tribunal in The Hague.
How are you affected by the ruling? Were you in Srebrenica during the war? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Srebrenica'.How are you affected by the ruling? Were you in Srebrenica during the war? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Srebrenica'.