The Cover-up General

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 film roll of Srebrenica depicting war crimes, which was misdeveloped by a navy photo laboratory.[3]

The Cover-up General
Second edition cover
AuthorEdwin F. Giltay
Original titleDe doofpotgeneraal
CountryThe Netherlands
LanguageDutch
SubjectMilitary intelligence
GenreNon-fiction thriller
Set inDelft and The Hague
Published
  • 1st edition: 26 Nov 2014
  • (censored: 14 Dec 2015)
  • (book ban lifted: 12 Apr 2016)
  • 2nd edition: 16 Sep 2016
PublisherSpeakEasy Publisher & Agency, De Blauwe Tijger
Media typePrint (paperback)
Pages263 (2nd edition)
ISBN978-94-92161-21-5
OCLC960019892

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.[5]

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.[6] 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,[9] 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.[7]

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

The Cover-up General — Edwin F. Giltay

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