BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Twelve former Dutch United Nations soldiers return to Srebrenica for the first time since they were stationed there in 1995

Twelve former Dutch UN soldiers arrived on Tuesday (October 16) in Potocari where were stationed at the time of the massacre of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys twelve years ago. The former soldiers were returning for the first time as part of a three day visit to Srebrenica. The trip was organised by the Dutch Kamp Westerbork Memorial Centre and the Pax Christi organization. Dirk Mulder, director of the Dutch Kamp Westenbork Memorial Centre said some of the Dutch soldiers wanted to return not just because of their history there but also to see how Srebrenica is today. For many of the returning soldiers the first impressions at the Memorial Centre in Potocari were very emotional. "I have witnessed the fall of Srebrenica and I have come back in order to show my respect to the women who lost their fathers, brothers and sons," said Henry van der Belt standing at the cemetery, "I feel a great sadness here but it cannot be compared with the sadness of women of Srebrenica," the former soldier added. Bosnian Serb troops massacred up to 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys after capturing the former eastern Bosnian Muslim enclave. During their visit the group was expected to meet with women from Srebrenica who lost relatives and to visit more of their former military postings.

ITN Source | October 17, 2007

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