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Van Anraat - Guilty Verdict in War Crimes Complicity Lethal Gassing Kurds ¶ Updated

by Oui
Fri Dec 23rd, 2005 at 07:36:04 PM EST

Update [2005-12-23 13:30PM PST by Oui]:

Killing of Iraq Kurds Ruled A Genocide

A court in The Hague has ruled that the killing of thousands of Kurds in Iraq in the 1980s was an act of genocide. The ruling came in the case of Dutch trader Frans van Anraat, who was given a 15-year sentence for selling chemicals to Saddam Hussein's regime.

He was found guilty of complicity in war crimes over a 1988 chemical attack that killed more than 5,000 people, but acquitted of genocide charges.

Halabja was one of the worst atrocities of Saddam's regime

It is the first trial to deal with war crimes against Kurds in Iraq and Iran.

'Intent to destroy'

Dozens of ethnic Kurds gathered in the packed courtroom to hear the verdict.

"The court has no other conclusion than that these attacks were committed with the intent to destroy the Kurdish population of Iraq" Court ruling

"The court thinks and considers legally and convincingly proven that the Kurdish population meets requirement under Genocide Conventions as an ethnic group," the ruling said.

The chemicals traded to Iraq did also originate in the United States.

«« click on pic for an “Embracing Saddam Hussein” »»

A Short History of Regime Change, Gassing People and WMDs

More below the fold »»

Dutch Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Aiding War Crimes

Dutch double agent jailed: sold US poison gas chemicals to Iraq

While the US, Interpol and the Dutch police force were trying to find him, the Dutch secret service AIVD was hiding van Anraat in one of their 'safe houses'. And now he anyhow got a 15 years jail term? Why did they sacrifice him? Isn't that strange?

Dutch Court Rules Genocide Occurred Against Iraqi Kurds

THE HAGUE (Radio Liberty Europe) Dec. 23 -- A Dutch court ruled today that the killing of thousands of Kurds in Iraq in 1988 was an act of genocide. The ruling came as part of a verdict in the case of Dutch chemicals merchant Frans van Anraat.

Van Anraat was sentenced to 15 years in prison today after the court found him guilty of complicity in war crimes for selling more than 1,000 tons of chemicals to Iraq used to carry out lethal gas attacks against Kurdish villages. He was acquitted of genocide charges.

Van Anraat maintained he was unaware the material would be used in chemical warfare.

It is the first court case to deal with the attacks against the Kurds.

Victims of Hussein-era attacks against Kurds being prepared for reburial in October
(AFP)

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

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Dutchman Van Anraat On Trial for Halabja Genocide
Thu Dec 1st, 2005 at 06:16:24 AM PST

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Van Anraat - Guilty Verdict in War Crimes Complicity Lethal Gassing Kurds ¶ Updated | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Wheels Of Justice Turning ... (3.50 / 2)

Verdict Today :: 15 Years Jail Sentence

Monument in Halabja, Iraq, to the victims of the gas attack against the Kurdish population
RNW - Dutch Radio

≈ Cross-posted from RubDMC's diary --
Iraq War Grief Daily Witness (photo) Day 150 ≈

Dutch Justice Not Perfect, But ...

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

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Warren Buffett Invests $4bn In ME Peace Effort

by Oui on Fri Dec 23rd, 2005 at 07:41:58 PM EST

I posted this on the front page... (none / 1)

... at dailyKos. Apparently, a lot of people hadn't heard much about "Chemical Frans" (click here for the post).

As for mustard gas, it is extremely nasty stuff, obviously. You can read about it here, including its effects, mode of action, etc.

For example:

Mustard gas is a powerful irritant and vesicant, used as a chemical warfare agent. The main risk of acute poisoning exists with the use of sulphur mustard vapour in war and occasionally during laboratory work. However, due to its persistence poisoning may occur at a later stage.
Target organs: Skin, eyes, respiratory tract, bone marrow.
[snip]
Nausea, fatigue, headache, eye inflammation with intense eye pain, lachrymation, blepharospasm, photophobia and rhinorrhoea, followed by reddening of face and neck, soreness of throat and increased pulse and respiratory rate develop at two to six hours post exposure.
Six to twenty four hours post exposure the above symptoms are generally increased in severity and are accompanied by skin inflammation followed by blister formation in the warmest areas such as genito-perineal area, buttocks, axillae and on the inner aspects of thighs.
In the next twenty four hours the condition generally worsens, blistering becomes more marked, coughing appears. Mucus, pus and necrotic slough may be expectorated. Intense itching of skin and increased skin pigmentation occur.

Nice, huh?

If you look at my dailyKos post, you'll see my comment at the end that van Anraat saw footage of the Halabja attacks, and still wanted to sell thiodiglycol to Iraq.

The man has no remorse. Too bad the law doesn't allow for a longer sentence.

by Plutonium Page (page dot vlinders at gmail dot com) on Sat Dec 24th, 2005 at 03:16:04 AM EST

WTF The Hague? (none / 0)

We don't want him! (4.00 / 6)

Send him to The Hague, where the ICC is ;-)

No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of.

by Plutonium Page on Fri Dec 23, 2005 at 03:00:47 PM PDT

He would be a prize ghoul in a cell next to Milosevic or indeed Saddam chemicals runner Frans. Apparently the AIVD safe house in Amsterdam is vacant at the moment. Perhaps even the U.S. Embassy to be built like a Guantanamo bastion would suit as prison.

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY

Warren Buffett Invests $4bn In ME Peace Effort

by Oui on Sat Dec 24th, 2005 at 04:16:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You took my comment out of context (none / 0)

I was referring to Rumsfeld, and I was being snarky.

Don't take my comments out of context, please.

by Plutonium Page (page dot vlinders at gmail dot com) on Sat Dec 24th, 2005 at 05:35:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I Understood You Meant Rumsfeld (none / 0)

.
I was just trying to connect to your excellent HR diary @dKos.

The Hague would welcome him to stand before the ICC, there is no misunderstanding. I was just proposing some places to stay while Donald was on trial. Scheveningen prison during WWII was referred to as Oranje Hotel.

Kissinger escaped, but he hasn't been in Europe since Spain caught up with Pinochet temporarily.

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY

Warren Buffett Invests $4bn In ME Peace Effort

by Oui on Sat Dec 24th, 2005 at 06:46:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Donner Politician of the Year (none / 0)

.
Is well deserved. Personally I find the work done under the years of Justice Minister Donner has taken a turn for the better. Many difficult aspects of Dutch society had to be resolved, especially in a period of social unrest in the Netherlands, after the van Gogh murder in Amsterdam. The Hofstad Islamist group has been tackled.

How do you like your mayor Job Cohen, a very amiable person.

«« click on pic for story Minister Donner

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY

Warren Buffett Invests $4bn In ME Peace Effort

by Oui on Sat Dec 24th, 2005 at 04:48:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Bush Spreading Terror and Chaos (none / 0)

Spain Holds 10 Suspects over Iraq Attacks: radio

MADRID (Reuters) Jan. 10 -- Spain arrested 10 people today, suspected of helping to recruit Islamist militants to carry out attacks in Iraq, Spanish state radio reported.

The early morning arrests were carried out in the Madrid and Barcelona areas and in the Basque region, the radio said.

A Muslim woman goes inside a building inspected by police in Malaga, Spain recently. Spanish police arrested 14 people Dec. 19 on suspicion of recruiting and indoctrinating fighters for Iraq's insurgency. AP Photo

No officials were immediately available for comment on the report.

The radio said those arrested included the imam of a mosque and that one suspect might be linked to an attack on an Italian military police base in southern Iraq.

Suicide bombers devastated the Italian base in November 2003, killing 18 Italians and nine Iraqis.

In The Netherlands alone ::
● Cause: US-UK Invasion of Iraq Blowback ● more specifics --
● Theo van Gogh Murder ● Hofstad Group ● Chechnya ● Kashmir ● Iraq Fallujah bomb ● Indonesia

● UK Faces Terror Risk Because of US Alliance ¶ Chatham House Report
● Belgian Woman Suicide Bomber in Iraq

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

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Warren Buffett Invests $4bn In ME Peace Effort

by Oui on Tue Jan 10th, 2006 at 04:49:07 AM EST

Van Anraat - Guilty Verdict in War Crimes Complicity Lethal Gassing Kurds ¶ Updated | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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