DATE=11/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241907
TITLE=SERBS / CHEMICAL WEAPONS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAUREN COMITEAU
DATELINE=THE HAGUE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP HAS CALLED ON INVESTIGATORS AT THE 
YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL TO LOOK INTO CHARGES THAT SERBS USED
CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST MUSLIMS DURING THE BOSNIAN WAR.  LAUREN 
COMITEAU REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE.

TEXT:   IN ITS REPORT RELEASED THURSDAY, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SAYS 
IT DOES  NOT  HAVE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE THAT CHEMICALS WERE USED 
-- SUCH AS PHYSICAL TRACES IN SHELLS OR CLOTHING.  THE GROUP SAYS
IT NEEDS INTERNATIONAL HELP TO PROVE THAT SERBS USED CHEMICAL 
WEAPONS AGAINST BOSNIAN MUSLIMS WHO WERE TRYING TO FLEE 
SREBRENICA. 

THE SO-CALLED U-N SAFE-HAVEN OF SREBRENICA WAS OVERRUN BY SERBS 
IN 1995.  THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM MEN AND BOYS ARE STILL MISSING AND 
BELIEVED DEAD.  THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WERE FORCED TO FLEE.

AFTER TALKING TO ABOUT 35 SREBRENICA SURVIVORS -- AS WELL AS TO 
INTERNATIONAL WORKERS IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA -- HUMAN RIGHTS 
WATCH SAYS IT BELIEVES THERE IS ENOUGH CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE TO
WARRANT FURTHER INVESTIGATION.  

SPECIFICALLY, IT SAYS, THOSE WHO SURVIVED SERB ATTACKS 
CONSISTENTLY DESCRIBED MORTAR SHELLS THAT PRODUCED A STRANGE 
SMOKE, ONE THAT SPREAD OUT SLOWLY.  SURVIVORS SAY THAT SOME 
PEOPLE THEN BEGAN TO HALLUCINATE AND ACT IRRATIONALLY, KILLING 
THEMSELVES OR THEIR FRIENDS. 

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SAYS IT BELIEVES THE CHEMICAL USED WAS B-Z -- 
A NON-LETHAL AGENT THAT INCAPACITATES PEOPLE.  IT IS A CHEMICAL 
THE GROUP SAYS THE ARMY OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA POSSESSED. 

IN ITS EFFORTS TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO 
DO ITS OWN INVESTIGATIONS, REPRESENTATIVES OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH 
MET THIS WEEK WITH DUTCH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, CHEMICAL WEAPONS 
EXPERTS, AND INVESTIGATORS FROM THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL.

 A TRIBUNAL SPOKESMAN SAID INVESTIGATORS WOULD LOOK INTO THE 
INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO AN ON-GOING INVESTIGATION.  TRIBUNAL
INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEEN EXHUMING MASS GRAVES WHERE SREBRENICA'S 
VICTIMS ARE BURIED, GIVING THEM ACCESS TO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT 
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH DOES  NOT  HAVE. 

A HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPRESENTATIVE SAID HE IS MORE OPTIMISTIC 
NOW.  HE SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OWES IT TO SREBRENICA'S
VICTIMS TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CHEMICALS WEAPONS USE.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/LC/JWH

19-Nov-98 12:53 PM EST (1753 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.