Arbitrary Action by U.S. Major
Developing into Diplomatic Scandal
SARAJEVO, May 13 (Reuters) — NATO officials acknowledged on Monday that U.S. troops blundered when seven men, presumed to be Muslims who surrendered to them in Serb territory, were handed over to Bosnian Serb authorities. "More time should have been taken to ascertain the facts and circumstances before making any decision about what to do with the seven men," a NATO officer who asked not to be named told Reuterss. "An American major on the ground took the decision without consulting any higher authority. General Nash (commander of U.S. ground troops in Bosnia) went ballistic and tried to get the men back from the Serbs but it was too late."The seven men, wearing fatigues and carrying a few pistols, hand grenades and knives were spotted by a U.S. artillery unit on Friday afternoon moving east on foot through rugged country towards the Serb-held town of Zvornik. A short while later, after the sound of some explosions and gunfire, they were seen moving west, back towards the American position, in an "agitated" state. By NATO account, the seven surrendered voluntarily to the Americans, were questioned and handed over to Serb police in Zvornick because they were on Serb territory and constituted an armed group in violation of the Dayton peace agreement.
In conversation with U.N. police on the scene the American major had evaluated the seven to be civilians, despite their dress, and insisted the matter was for Serb police to handle. Some refugees who survived in caves over the winter are still trickling into government territory and it is possibile significant numbers of people, unaware the ar is over, are still hiding in eastern Bosnia's thickly forested mountains. NATO sources say one reason the men were handed over to the Serbs is because they looked well-fed, wore clean uniforms and hadn't the appearance of men living rough.
But NATO officials admit they cannot explain why men, either bandits or soldiers, travelling behind "enemy" lines would not have been carrying long-barrelled weapons or would have surrendered so willingly to American troops. "We really don't know who these men are, but this incident has the potential to become a major diplomatic scandal," said a senior Bosnian government official who asked not to be named. "If these were refugees from Srebrenica then not only are they now in jeopardy but the Serbs will torture them and make them reveal the locations of others." Serb authorities say three of the captured men have confessed to killing Serb civilians near Milici.
Berserkistan, May 11 · Accused Muslim Soldiers Surrender to U.S. Troops
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