“Pink Army is relieved and happy that the former American General Sheehan regrets his allegations that the fall of Srebrenica was contributed by the presence of openly homosexual troops in the Dutch army. Sheehan: “To be clear, the failure on the ground in Srebrenica was in no way the fault of the individual soldiers.’
Although Sheehan referred to Van den Breemen , the former commander and chief of the Dutch army, as his source, Breemen denied this. He called it “complete nonsense”. In a letter to Van den Breemen Sheehan writes: ‘I’m sorry that my recent recollection of those discussions of fifteen years ago inaccurately reflected your thinking on some specific social issues in the military.’ Further Gen. Sheehan writes “that it is a pity” that he has involved Van den Breemen in a public debate.
“The reactions and the publicity in the Netherlands and in the United States have obviously put so much pressure on him that he’s had to retract his words” says Peter Schouten, founder of Pink Army.
‘The way things developed around this incident shows that the fight for human rights not only is a cause for government but that interest groups and individual citizens have a role to play in it. This enhances the chance of success against injustice. We have to find a way of getting along with one another.’ says Schouten.
The most important thing for Pink Army was to get the apology of Gen. Sheehan and that he acknowledge he had given a wrong statement. Now that he has expressed regret, the need to start legal proceedings has vanished. Tomorrow Pink Army will discuss this with the COC (the largest organization for gay rights in the Netherlands) and the Organization for homosexuals in the Dutch Military.
As you know Pink Army had started preparations for a class action suit involving seven gay military personnel at the federal court in California. To progress it was necessary to obtain a deposition from Gen. Van den Breemen . Pink Army had to first find out who was telling the truth in this case.
Pink Army expresses the hope that the new statement from Sheehan will receive the same attention as his early remarks before the American Congress, because his words deeply offended gays in and out of the military. ‘With his letter Sheehan has, as far as we are concerned, confirmed that his earlier remarks were incorrect.’ said Schouten.
Pink Army wants to especially commend the homosexual members of the military who took a brave step forward. They deserve the fullest respect because they had the courage to stand up no matter the consequences.
Further information: Telephone 0031-6-41358881 or 0031-765206005
The Dutch foundation Pink Army mobilizes to bring retired US-general John Sheehan before a judge to face charges of slander and defamation. The largest gay rights organisation in Holland (COC) and a foundation of gays in the military are supporting this claim.
Last week general Sheehan testified under oath before Congress, that the presence of openly gay Dutch soldiers, was one of the causes of the Srebrenica massacre in 1995. This outrageous claim was met with disbelief and disgust in the Netherlands. Prime Minister Balkenende said it was “shameful” and “disrespectful of anyone in the military”. The Dutch defense minister called it “damaging” and “not worthy of a soldier”. And the former chief-of-staff van den Breemen, the man who supposedly gave Sheehan this information, labeled it “total nonsense” and denied discussing this.
For Pink Army these verbal rebukes were not enough. They want Sheehan to publicly retract his statements and make an apology via a number of international newspapers and a press conference. They also feel that the former general might benefit from a sensitivity course. Additionally there will be a demand for court costs and attorney fees.
Currently an effort is being organized to file a class action lawsuit in California Federal court. Gay military personnel are enlisting to be named in the suit. Through the website pinkarmy.nl, which will be available in the English language, the funds are raised needed to pay for this action. Pink Army will also reach to other gay groups in the United States for their advice, help and support.
“What happens is larger than the pain this slander caused Dutch gay and heterosexual soldiers”, Pink Army’s founder Peter Schouten (52) says. ‘Sheehan’s comment dishonors and cheapens the sacrifice that brave gay men and women have made in military service to the Netherlands. They are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice every day and this should not be smeared with such a lie. There is also the fact that the gay rights movement in the US is at a fragile juncture and there are far too many people who might believe this nonsense. Gay rights are human rights and therefore a matter of civility, says Schouten.’
Contact our American press officer:Elizabeth Byars at info@pinkarmy.nl or +31627885201
Gays can shoot straight too
On Thursday March 18th, 2010, retired United States General John Sheehan testified, under oath, to a Senate Armed services Committee in Washington DC that it was because of openly gay soldiers serving in the Dutch military that the massacre at Srebrenica occurred. In the days that followed the Dutch Military and Government made clear their rage at this claim that comes ‘out of the realm of fiction’. But is that enough?
It stands to reason that if the military in Holland disputes his claim that one or the other is lying. The Netherlands was the first country to allow homosexuals to serve openly since 1974. Given that fact our money is on the side of Sheehan slandering the name of gay military personnel in Holland – and all gays in the world – in an attempt to keep homosexuals in the United States from enjoying the same rights.
Help us to set the record straight. Show General Sheehan and the rest of the world that gay men and woman have as much fight in them as anyone else. Pink Army is starting a class action lawsuit in the US Federal Court of California, with the goal of making Sheehan admit that his remarks were untrue and defamatory. We will demand in Court:
1.A full apology by General Sheehan to be printed on at least a half a page in every major newspaper.
2.That he hold a press conference for the world’s media to retract his statements and say he’s sorry.
3.Lastly we feel that General Sheehan would benefit from a sensitivity training course, so that he might better learn how to deal with people who are different from himself.
4.The Court costs and attorney fees.
What do we need from you to make this happen?
Right now we need at least seven gay military personnel to step forward and be named in the class action suit so that we may proceed with the filing process. LATEST NEWS: Three registered on the first day.
Sadly with all things money is needed as well, but we know if everyone who cares would chip in ten euro (or pocket change if that’s what you have handy) we can pay the litigation costs. Volunteers are also needed for the unglamoroustasks that go with an undertaking this big.
If Sheehan comes clean beforethe trial, or if there are any leftover funds or refunded Court costs, they will be donated to the Foundation Gays and the Army (Stichting Homosexualiteit en Krijgsmacht) .Show the world that this minority will no longer play the underdog.
