A chara, - Patrick Smith's article (December 7th) on the international War Crimes Tribunal document and Kofi Annan's UN report on the Serb atrocities at Srebrenica in July 1995, makes shocking reading. The total impracticality of setting up designated "safe areas" was forecast in 1993 at the UN by Pakistan and Venezuela. The horrific slaughter of 7,000 Muslims in such an area at Srebrenica followed. The pathetic response of 110 Dutch soldiers guarding the area, who fired not a single shot, was matched only by the inaction of UN officials. The latter refused to process one request for air support by the Dutch contingent because it was made on the wrong form.
This holocaust happened with the full knowledge of the world community. Sometimes force must be met with greater force, and sooner rather than later. - Yours, etc.,
Anthony Jordan, Gilford Road, Dublin 4.