Massacre report blames U.N., Dutch

The report puts primary blame for the massacres on Mladic (left); Karadzic's involvement was not clear, it said

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- A new report on Srebrenica blames the Dutch army for handing over Muslim civilians to Serb forces despite fears of widespread killing.

The report also blames the Dutch government for sending troops into the war, and alleges the United Nations failed to give troops enough support to defend civilians.

But the report, commissioned by the government in 1996, says it found no proof that orders for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre came from Serb political leaders in Belgrade.

The 7,600-page report by the Netherlands Institute for War Documentation was designed as a full review of events -- including the Dutch political and military role -- leading up to the worst massacre in Europe since World War II.

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Its release ahead of national elections next month could have far-reaching consequences in the Netherlands, where the killings left a collective sense of guilt.

Institute director Hans Blom said the Dutch government sent 200 ill-prepared troops to Srebrenica, and that the United Nations -- which had pledged to protect all Muslims who sought sanctuary there -- disregarded the dangers once Serb troops overran the enclave.

"The broad circle of those involved with this policy, and particularly its advocates, must bear a considerable responsibility for disregarding the difficulties once the behavior of the warring factions got out of hand," Blom said in a speech before the report was released.

The report said Dutch troops had an impossible mission in Srebrenica but became collaborators to "ethnic cleansing" after the enclave fell.

"Humanitarian motivation and political ambitions drove the Netherlands to undertake an ill-conceived and virtually impossible peace mission," the report said.

The report criticised Dutch politicians, saying the cabinet, defence ministry and parliament "adopted an anti-intelligence attitude," refusing U.S. intelligence help because of "lack of interest and the negative attitude" of the military and political leadership.

About 7,500 Bosnian Muslims were killed in execution-like slayings during one week in July 1995 after Serb forces took over Srebrenica.

The report puts primary responsibility for the massacres on Bosnian General Ratko Mladic, Blom said, adding that the involvement of Bosnian wartime leader Radovan Karadzic was not clear.

"The events that occurred cannot be described as an act of vengeance that got out of hand. Although they occurred rapidly and in an improvised way, the scale and course of the murders clearly indicate they were organized. Places of executions were sought, transport was arranged and troops were ordered to carry out executions," Blom said.

"It is unclear whether (Karadzic) was informed in advance about the mass murders. Karadzic's relations with Mladic were poor and they did not communicate effectively. No evidence had been found that suggests the involvement of the Serbian authorities in Belgrade."

The U.N. war crimes tribunal at The Hague has indicted Mladic and Karadzic on genocide charges related to the events of 1995. Both remain at large.

Blom blamed former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for the disintegration of Yugoslavia but did not link him directly to Srebrenica. Milosevic is now on trial on war crimes and genocide charges.