WASHINGTON -- Hague (ICTY) Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz has said that the trial against Vojislav Šešelj is "not an example of how international justice should function."
Hague prosecutor on keeping defendant detained for decade
WASHINGTON -- Hague (ICTY) Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz has said that the trial against Vojislav Šešelj is "not an example of how international justice should function."
Source: Tanjug
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Speaking in Washington at an event organized by the Georgetown University, Brammertz noted that "it was not normal" for someone to be held in detention by an international tribunal for ten years without a verdict.
Šešelj is accused of war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the province of Vojvodina between 1991 and 1993.
"Šešelj has also done everything possible to make things difficult for the ICTY," Brammertz pointed out.
"He represents himself and has been found guilty three times of revealing the identity of protected witnesses," he added.
Commenting on the most recent acquittals, Brammertz noted he understood the victims' frustration and added he had desired guilty verdicts in all of the cases, starting with former Croatian generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markč to top officials of the Serbian National Security Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović.
The prosecutor said he wanted a guilty verdict in the case against former leader of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army Ramush Haradinaj, but added that it was "difficult to implement a witness protection program in Kosovo."
The ICTY will shut down between 2015 and 2016, Brammertz stated, describing the two decades of the tribunal's operation as relatively successful, but not completely.
"A lot has been done, and this is the first ad hoc tribunal since Nurnberg, but we cannot be satisfied with international justice," he said, adding that he expected "even less international justice in the future."
He commented on the years that former military and political leaders of Serbs in Bosnia, Ratko Mladić and Radovan Karadžić, spent in hiding by saying there had been many opportunities for their arrest, especially while they were in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but that the international community failed to do enough.
"The carrot and stick approach proved the best later on, he said. The U.S. did that in early 2001 by denying Serbia financial assistance unless it arrested Milošević, and the EU implemented in later as well, by using progress in EU integration as a way to force Serbia to arrest the remaining fugitives," he noted.
The process needs to be rougher - too many safeguards has lead to a slow process.
I advocate a different approach of an initial trial or multiple trials on particular single and relatively easily dealt with crimes prior to the deep and wide searching these current trials have sought to deal with.
I certainly support the idea that the kinds of criminality seen in the recent Balkan wars should be met with the strong threat of international courts. Good that it is prone to upset nationalistic locals - that is the intention - however, it would be better to get some more immediate results.
The US is sometimes questionable in the way it persues its policy, but we have to accept that it acts as the world's policeman and has done a hugh amount for peace in Europe through WW1, WW2 and the Cold War. It the case of the Balkans, the biggest mistake was delaying for three years before stepping in to stop the murder.
These trials are for the victims - they are more important that the criminals on trial.
(Bob, 21 June 2013 01:05)
But nothing to do with the false witnesses, the multiple changes in judges prosecutors etc no that had nothing to do with it
what a joke
(mia, 19 June 2013 04:22
There were a lot of things that caused the delay in the trial. Vulgar and abusive behavior of the defendant. Refusal to cooperate with the proceedings. Many claims of illness, hunger strike, claims of depression. Many, many. many. challenges by the defendant that had to be answered before the trial could be continued. The point he was trying to make is Seselj definitely a smart person has been able to manipulate the system to delay his conviction and thus transfer to a real prison instead of being a guest at the Hague Hilton.
(a New Day, 19 June 2013 21:21)
Those from NATO who set up this illegal kangaroo 'court' are the ones who should be on trial.
(Jim, 19 June 2013 05:00)
Curious as to what law makes this an illegal court?? Considering it was set up by the UNSC and not NATO, I don't think there is a law that could override it.
(a New Day, 19 June 2013 21:11)
Dont you love Brammertz comments so as he sees Seselj being held for ten years is because he revealed the names of 3 protected witnesses and represented himself.
But nothing to do with the false witnesses, the multiple changes in judges prosecutors etc no that had nothing to do with it
Ha-ha-ha...the usual sour grapes. And guys like Milosevic, Karadzic and Seselj were such angels, right? Maybe Wiki Leaks will reveal the CIA's dossier on Jovica Stanisic someday and we'll get a good inside look at the 1990s Belgrade war machine.
(Nenad, 19 June 2013 02:34)
The current US president and the last two before him for a start should be locked up for crimes against humanity and war crimes, and so should their British and German bedfellows. There is no justice, the international criminal court is a joke and a farce.
(I AM, 18 June 2013 17:47)
===…==
It is not just the international court which is a joke but also the Nobel Prize institute. Imagine giving Obama a Noble Prize for peace. Wow, what has he done for peace?
See the corruption everywhere?
(Peggy, 18 June 2013 22:59)
What does anyone expect when the criminals in Washington DC are the ones pulling the strings here, this has nothing to do with the international community at all, this is the USA pushing it's political agenda of persecuting those it does not like and turning a blind eye and freeing those who dance to the US government's tune simple as that. Justice is a word the USA does not abide by at all and everyone who isn't blind knows it.
The current US president and the last two before him for a start should be locked up for crimes against humanity and war crimes, and so should their British and German bedfellows. There is no justice, the international criminal court is a joke and a farce.
(I AM, 18 June 2013 17:47)
Forever making excuses for the sorry mess the ICTY has put itself in, serving two masters, the ones who fund it and want their political objectives completed, and the joke they call 'international humanitarian law', which does not exist but is a justification for foreign policy actions that have no legitimate basis either in the UN or established law.
(It's Grandma's Fault, 18 June 2013 15:36)
Forever making excuses for the sorry mess the ICTY has put itself in, serving two masters, the ones who fund it and want their political objectives completed, and the joke they call 'international humanitarian law', which does not exist but is a justification for foreign policy actions that have no legitimate basis either in the UN or established law.
(It's Grandma's Fault, 18 June 2013 15:36)
What does anyone expect when the criminals in Washington DC are the ones pulling the strings here, this has nothing to do with the international community at all, this is the USA pushing it's political agenda of persecuting those it does not like and turning a blind eye and freeing those who dance to the US government's tune simple as that. Justice is a word the USA does not abide by at all and everyone who isn't blind knows it.
The current US president and the last two before him for a start should be locked up for crimes against humanity and war crimes, and so should their British and German bedfellows. There is no justice, the international criminal court is a joke and a farce.
(I AM, 18 June 2013 17:47)
The current US president and the last two before him for a start should be locked up for crimes against humanity and war crimes, and so should their British and German bedfellows. There is no justice, the international criminal court is a joke and a farce.
(I AM, 18 June 2013 17:47)
===…==
It is not just the international court which is a joke but also the Nobel Prize institute. Imagine giving Obama a Noble Prize for peace. Wow, what has he done for peace?
See the corruption everywhere?
(Peggy, 18 June 2013 22:59)
Dont you love Brammertz comments so as he sees Seselj being held for ten years is because he revealed the names of 3 protected witnesses and represented himself.
But nothing to do with the false witnesses, the multiple changes in judges prosecutors etc no that had nothing to do with it
Those from NATO who set up this illegal kangaroo 'court' are the ones who should be on trial.
(Jim, 19 June 2013 05:00)
Curious as to what law makes this an illegal court?? Considering it was set up by the UNSC and not NATO, I don't think there is a law that could override it.
(a New Day, 19 June 2013 21:11)
But nothing to do with the false witnesses, the multiple changes in judges prosecutors etc no that had nothing to do with it
what a joke
(mia, 19 June 2013 04:22
There were a lot of things that caused the delay in the trial. Vulgar and abusive behavior of the defendant. Refusal to cooperate with the proceedings. Many claims of illness, hunger strike, claims of depression. Many, many. many. challenges by the defendant that had to be answered before the trial could be continued. The point he was trying to make is Seselj definitely a smart person has been able to manipulate the system to delay his conviction and thus transfer to a real prison instead of being a guest at the Hague Hilton.
(a New Day, 19 June 2013 21:21)
The process needs to be rougher - too many safeguards has lead to a slow process.
I advocate a different approach of an initial trial or multiple trials on particular single and relatively easily dealt with crimes prior to the deep and wide searching these current trials have sought to deal with.
I certainly support the idea that the kinds of criminality seen in the recent Balkan wars should be met with the strong threat of international courts. Good that it is prone to upset nationalistic locals - that is the intention - however, it would be better to get some more immediate results.
The US is sometimes questionable in the way it persues its policy, but we have to accept that it acts as the world's policeman and has done a hugh amount for peace in Europe through WW1, WW2 and the Cold War. It the case of the Balkans, the biggest mistake was delaying for three years before stepping in to stop the murder.
These trials are for the victims - they are more important that the criminals on trial.
(Bob, 21 June 2013 01:05)
Ha-ha-ha...the usual sour grapes. And guys like Milosevic, Karadzic and Seselj were such angels, right? Maybe Wiki Leaks will reveal the CIA's dossier on Jovica Stanisic someday and we'll get a good inside look at the 1990s Belgrade war machine.
(Nenad, 19 June 2013 02:34)
Ha-ha-ha...the usual sour grapes. And guys like Milosevic, Karadzic and Seselj were such angels, right? Maybe Wiki Leaks will reveal the CIA's dossier on Jovica Stanisic someday and we'll get a good inside look at the 1990s Belgrade war machine.
(Nenad, 19 June 2013 02:34)
But nothing to do with the false witnesses, the multiple changes in judges prosecutors etc no that had nothing to do with it
what a joke
(mia, 19 June 2013 04:22
There were a lot of things that caused the delay in the trial. Vulgar and abusive behavior of the defendant. Refusal to cooperate with the proceedings. Many claims of illness, hunger strike, claims of depression. Many, many. many. challenges by the defendant that had to be answered before the trial could be continued. The point he was trying to make is Seselj definitely a smart person has been able to manipulate the system to delay his conviction and thus transfer to a real prison instead of being a guest at the Hague Hilton.
(a New Day, 19 June 2013 21:21)
Those from NATO who set up this illegal kangaroo 'court' are the ones who should be on trial.
(Jim, 19 June 2013 05:00)
Curious as to what law makes this an illegal court?? Considering it was set up by the UNSC and not NATO, I don't think there is a law that could override it.
(a New Day, 19 June 2013 21:11)
What does anyone expect when the criminals in Washington DC are the ones pulling the strings here, this has nothing to do with the international community at all, this is the USA pushing it's political agenda of persecuting those it does not like and turning a blind eye and freeing those who dance to the US government's tune simple as that. Justice is a word the USA does not abide by at all and everyone who isn't blind knows it.
The current US president and the last two before him for a start should be locked up for crimes against humanity and war crimes, and so should their British and German bedfellows. There is no justice, the international criminal court is a joke and a farce.
(I AM, 18 June 2013 17:47)
The process needs to be rougher - too many safeguards has lead to a slow process.
I advocate a different approach of an initial trial or multiple trials on particular single and relatively easily dealt with crimes prior to the deep and wide searching these current trials have sought to deal with.
I certainly support the idea that the kinds of criminality seen in the recent Balkan wars should be met with the strong threat of international courts. Good that it is prone to upset nationalistic locals - that is the intention - however, it would be better to get some more immediate results.
The US is sometimes questionable in the way it persues its policy, but we have to accept that it acts as the world's policeman and has done a hugh amount for peace in Europe through WW1, WW2 and the Cold War. It the case of the Balkans, the biggest mistake was delaying for three years before stepping in to stop the murder.
These trials are for the victims - they are more important that the criminals on trial.
(Bob, 21 June 2013 01:05)
The current US president and the last two before him for a start should be locked up for crimes against humanity and war crimes, and so should their British and German bedfellows. There is no justice, the international criminal court is a joke and a farce.
(I AM, 18 June 2013 17:47)
===…==
It is not just the international court which is a joke but also the Nobel Prize institute. Imagine giving Obama a Noble Prize for peace. Wow, what has he done for peace?
See the corruption everywhere?
(Peggy, 18 June 2013 22:59)
Forever making excuses for the sorry mess the ICTY has put itself in, serving two masters, the ones who fund it and want their political objectives completed, and the joke they call 'international humanitarian law', which does not exist but is a justification for foreign policy actions that have no legitimate basis either in the UN or established law.
(It's Grandma's Fault, 18 June 2013 15:36)
Dont you love Brammertz comments so as he sees Seselj being held for ten years is because he revealed the names of 3 protected witnesses and represented himself.
But nothing to do with the false witnesses, the multiple changes in judges prosecutors etc no that had nothing to do with it