Attacks Targeting STL a Copy of Campaigns on Former Yugoslavia Tribunal

by Naharnet Newsdesk 25 October 2010, 13:57

The third day of the International Media Forum organized by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in The Hague has dropped the "conspiracy theory" which has long characterized Lebanon, sending those harmed by the Court to launch political and media campaigns targeting STL credibility and raising skepticism on the Court objectives.

Media representatives have noticed through the round table held at the headquarters of the Foundation of International Information in The Hague, Netherlands, that attacks against the STL -- accusations and skepticism on its establishment and its goals – are only a replica of the campaign against the Former Yugoslavia Tribunal.

Common ground was found between the positions of those harmed by the Former Yugoslavia and Lebanon tribunals in discussions and exchange of information regarding challenges facing the media covering the work of the International Tribunal, from the standpoint of objectivity in combining between the legal mechanisms involving the investigative work and trials on one hand, and between the positions of political parties on the principle of international tribunals:

1 - Opponents of the Yugoslavia Tribunal who condemned a 1993 U.N. decision to set it up, argued that the Court aimed to divide the former Yugoslavia after the fall of Communism and the Soviet Union to weaken the new independent entities emerging to allow the United States to get hold of the region, just as some voices in Lebanon accused the U.S. of fragmenting the region via the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

2- Opponents of the former Yugoslavia Tribunal believed upon its establishment that its work and the accusations it was going to issue would ignite sectarian strife between Muslims and Christians, which is what those Lebanese harmed by the Tribunal have been warning of.

3- Opponents of the Yugoslavia Tribunal considered that search for justice through the Court would lead to destabilization through multilateral war in an attempt to overthrow the court and prevent it from carrying out its work, which is actually what happened in the wars and battles of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro and others. In Lebanon, however, the equation of a choice between justice and stability is flourishing given that those who refuse and are harmed by the STL consider justice sought by the Court will destabilize Lebanon and push the country and the region into complicated wars.

4- During the phase of the investigation into war crimes in former Yugoslavia scathing personal campaigns against the General Prosecutor were launched to an extent of describing her as "a bitch." This scenario was repeated with international investigators particularly Detlev Mehlis, who was accused of using his job to ensure lavish spending and meet the invitations to banquets and night life in Beirut. Investigator Serge Brammertz and STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare also did not survive accusations.

5- Those harmed by the former Yugoslavia Tribunal work have accused investigators that they were working for the interests of American and international intelligence. The same scenario is repeated today with the probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri when those harmed by the STL have accused Tribunal managers of serving the interests of the United States and Israel.

https://naharnet.com/stories/en/577