Arnhem court rules out criminal prosecution of Dutchbat commander and staff officers

Col Thom Karremans, RNA (Ret)

Under Article 12 of the Netherlands Code of Criminal Procedure, the Arnhem Court of Appeal has authority to overturn decisions by the Public Prosecution Service not to prosecute charges. This morning the court ruled that criminal proceedings should not be brought against retired Col. Thom Karremans and two other Dutchbat officers as a result of the Bosnian Serb massacre of Muslim civilians in Srbrenica. The decision has no effect on the earlier determination that the Dutch state is liable for the deaths. Details appear here. The plaintiffs could now file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights.

The judgment is available in Dutch here. Readers are respectfully invited to comment on this high-profile case.