April 17, 2010 - Naharnet - Von Hebel Says STL Determined to Achieve Justice Despite Fears of Violence

The Acting Registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Herman Von Hebel, stressed that the investigation in the 2005 murder of ex-PM Rafik Hariri is making steady and positive progress.He told the Associated Press Friday, after a 5-day visit to Lebanon, that the tribunal is determined to achieve justice in spite of fears that the indictments may spark violent repercussions, adding that, in the long run, there can be no stability without justice.In an interview with An Nahar newspaper Saturday, von Hebel revealed that a witness protection program for the STL had been established.The witness protection program is very important because of the vital role the witnesses play in the work of the tribunal, An Nahar quoted von Hebel as saying.Commenting on reports that Hizbullah may have been involved in Hariri's assassination, he said that the tribunal is a judicial institution which only monitors what is being said in the newspapers and the political sphere without participating in it.He continued that the investigation is concerned with uncovering Hariri's murderers and it does get involved in the political discourse on this matter.Meanwhile, in an interview with As Safir newspaper on Friday, von Hebel said that any of those accused may bring up the issue of the tribunal's legitimacy and that STL's judges will address their concerns.However, von Hebel added that the system of the tribunal was agreed upon after thorough talks between Lebanon and the U.N. and therefore questioning its legitimacy will be very difficult through the judicial means.He also revealed that the courtroom where the trial will take place will be ready for use by next month, adding that it will be equipped with the highest technologies which are apt to guarantee the highest degree of efficacy for the judicial measures.