The Cover-up General explained

The Cover-up General
Border:yes
Author:Edwin F. Giltay
Title Orig:De doofpotgeneraal
Publisher:SpeakEasy Publisher & Agency
Publisher2:De Blauwe Tijger
Media Type:Print (paperback)
Pages:263 (2nd edition)
Isbn:978-94-92161-21-5
Oclc:960019892

The Cover-up General is a non-fiction thriller by Dutch author Edwin F. Giltay, first published in 2014. The book describes an espionage scandal he witnessed first-hand, within military intelligence of the Armed forces of the Netherlands.[1] [2] At the root of it all was the infamous Srebrenica Massacre depicting war crimes, which was misdeveloped by a navy photo laboratory.[3]

Publication prohibited

A year after its publication, a former secret service agent filed a lawsuit against the author. She claimed she was depicted unjustly in the publication and demanded it to be censored.[4] Subsequently, the book was banned by a district court.[5] Giltay was also prohibited to talk about the contents of The Cover-up General in public.

Book ban overturned

In 2016 however, the book ban was overturned by the Court of Appeal in The Hague.[6] It ruled the accuracy of the publication is not in doubt and affirmed its importance for the public debate on the Srebrenica drama.The Dutch Ministry of Defence, which had expressed doubts regarding the book’s contents, refrained from commenting on the verdict.[7]

Extended edition

An extended edition of The Cover-up General was published later that same year.[8] In their lawsuit against the Netherlands, the Mothers of Srebrenica use the book as supporting evidence.[9] It backs their notion of the Dutch military obscuring proof regarding the 1995 genocide, whose aftermath still leaves questions unanswered.

Press freedom

The banning of The Cover-up General was rather unique, as books are hardly ever prohibited in The Netherlands.[10] This restriction on freedom of the press was condemned by journalists and politicians alike.[11] Despite extensive media coverage and Parliamentary questions,[12] many elements raised in the book have yet to be addressed.

External links

The Cover-up General — Edwin F. Giltay

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jasmin . Agić . Holandija prikrila fotografije mrtvih Bošnjaka iz Srebrenice . 21 Jul 2018 . . Serbo-Croatian . The Netherlands concealed photos of dead Srebrenica Bosniaks . 2 May 2019.
  2. Web site: Signalementen . 22 Oct 2016 . . Dutch . Details . 2 May 2019.
  3. Web site: Alosman . Husejnović . Zataškane srebreničke fotorolne štite holandske veterane da bi u miru popili čašu piva! . . 30 Sep 2016 . 2 May 2019 . Bosnian . Srebrenica photo roll withheld so Dutch veterans can drink beer in peace!.
  4. Web site: Brenno . De Winter . Brenno de Winter . Ex-inlichtingenmedewerker wil verbod boek 'fotorolletje Srebrenica' . . 4 Aug 2015 . 2 May 2019 . Dutch . Former intelligence officer wants to ban book on Srebrenica photo roll.
  5. District court The Hague, . ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2015:15050 . 11 Dec 2015 . https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/inziendocument?id=ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2015:15050 . Dutch.
  6. Court of Appeal The Hague, . ECLI:NL:GHDHA:2016:870 . 12 Apr 2016 . . Dutch.
  7. Stam . Jeroen . Summer 2018 . Dutch Defence Ministry keeps bumbling . Forum of EthnoGeoPolitics . 6 . 1 . 51–53 . 2 May 2019.
  8. Web site: Dick . Van der Veen . Geheime diensten en legertop op de pijnbank . Hebban . 24 Nov 2016 . 2 May 2019 . Dutch . Secret services and army brass chastised.
  9. Web site: Memorie van grieven van de Moeders van Srebrenica tegen de Staat der Nederlanden . 23 & 25 . 7 Jul 2015 . Dutch . Grounds of appeal of the Mothers of Srebrenica against the Dutch State . 2 May 2019 .
  10. Web site: Холандија одговорна за смрт око три стотине Сребреничана . Mladen . Kremenović . 27 Jul 2017 . . Serbian . Holland responsible for the death of about 300 Srebrenica victims.
  11. News: Žana . Božinovska . Холандскиот суд забранил книга за Сребреница по барање на бивша шпионка . 28 Dec 2015 . 1–3 . . Macedonian . Dutch court bans Srebrenica book on request of former spy.
  12. Web site: Klokkenluider Edwin Giltay vecht tegen Defensie voor eerherstel . 16 Sep 2017 . . Dutch . Whistle blower Edwin Giltay fights against the Armed forces for rehabilitation . 2 May 2019.

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