| The Daily Star |
BEIRUT: The U.N.-backed probe into the 2005 assassination of statesman Rafik Hariri has asked Interpol to assist in apprehending suspects, a court spokesperson said Sunday.
“I can confirm that based on a request by the Pre-Trial Judge [Daniel Fransen] we’ve submitted international arrest warrants to Interpol,” Special Tribunal for Lebanon spokesperson Marten Youssef told The Daily Star.
Youssef said that STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare had requested a “red notice” for accused individuals, which would allow Interpol to contact authorities in member states and issue arrest warrants that are closed to the public.
“The reason for that the indictment remains confidential,” Youssef said.
“The STL has a memorandum of understanding with Interpol that allows us to share information. Once the indictment becomes public, the red notices given to Interpol will be made public,” Youssef added.
The court issued its first indictment to authorities in Beirut earlier this month, in a document believed to contain the names of several Hezbollah members. Lebanon is now obliged, according to agreements it signed with the U.N. and The Hague, to apprehend accused individuals.
Judge Fransen ruled that the indictment would be “sealed” – or confidential – and hence did not name suspects publicly.
The court’s statute dictates that if suspects are not arrested within 30 working days of an indictment being issued, their names will be made public.
The Daily Star has received information that the STL’s indictment contains the names of non-Lebanese individuals. The court’s agreement with Interpol would allow warrants it has issued to be distributed to any country believed to be harboring suspects.
Although Youssef declined to be drawn on whether all accused individuals are in Lebanon, he said Interpol’s involvement would increase the likelihood of catching the men.
“The idea of sharing [warrants] with Interpol is that through its agreements with member states we can get them to communicate information [on suspects]. This means [suspects] would not be allowed to travel and hopefully they can be arrested,” he said. “If these individuals are outside Lebanon or try to leave Lebanon, they would be arrested.”
The debate over the STL held up Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s Cabinet policy statement, which stopped short of expressly promising that Lebanon would abide by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1757, an agreement stating that Beirut must cooperate with the court and help with its running costs. The vague reference to the court led France and the EU to express their concern that some politicians in Lebanon may be trying to discredit the court.
Following the indictment, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made a televised address vowing that party members would not be turned over to the court. Nasrallah had previously called for a Lebanese boycott of the court, which he labeled an “Israeli project.”
Chafik Masri, professor of international law at the American University of Beirut said the tribunal had asked for Interpol assistance as a precaution.
“The court cannot wait to start moving, and they need these precautions immediately,” he told The Daily Star. “In principle, a red notice is issued to individuals who are suspected of unlawful killing or terrorist acts.” “According to bilateral agreements between Interpol and member countries, when they [countries] receive a list of suspects – and this does not mean they are criminals as they are innocent until proven guilty – they must act.”
Hariri’s killing was initially blamed on Syria. Although Damascus has always denied involvement in the crime, reports have suggested that individuals thought to be connected to the assassination are residing in Syria. Since Syria is an Interpol member state, Masri said its authorities would have to act on any warrant they received.
“Syria is within the member states of Interpol and they are supposed, according to treaties, to respond if there is any possibility,” he said. “Of course, [Interpol] does not have police powers to be invoked but it can communicate with member states and this means that suspects should be stopped from escaping.”
“I can confirm that based on a request by the Pre-Trial Judge [Daniel Fransen] we’ve submitted international arrest warrants to Interpol,” Special Tribunal for Lebanon spokesperson Marten Youssef told The Daily Star.
Youssef said that STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare had requested a “red notice” for accused individuals, which would allow Interpol to contact authorities in member states and issue arrest warrants that are closed to the public.
“The reason for that the indictment remains confidential,” Youssef said.
“The STL has a memorandum of understanding with Interpol that allows us to share information. Once the indictment becomes public, the red notices given to Interpol will be made public,” Youssef added.
The court issued its first indictment to authorities in Beirut earlier this month, in a document believed to contain the names of several Hezbollah members. Lebanon is now obliged, according to agreements it signed with the U.N. and The Hague, to apprehend accused individuals.
Judge Fransen ruled that the indictment would be “sealed” – or confidential – and hence did not name suspects publicly.
The court’s statute dictates that if suspects are not arrested within 30 working days of an indictment being issued, their names will be made public.
The Daily Star has received information that the STL’s indictment contains the names of non-Lebanese individuals. The court’s agreement with Interpol would allow warrants it has issued to be distributed to any country believed to be harboring suspects.
Although Youssef declined to be drawn on whether all accused individuals are in Lebanon, he said Interpol’s involvement would increase the likelihood of catching the men.
“The idea of sharing [warrants] with Interpol is that through its agreements with member states we can get them to communicate information [on suspects]. This means [suspects] would not be allowed to travel and hopefully they can be arrested,” he said. “If these individuals are outside Lebanon or try to leave Lebanon, they would be arrested.”
The debate over the STL held up Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s Cabinet policy statement, which stopped short of expressly promising that Lebanon would abide by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1757, an agreement stating that Beirut must cooperate with the court and help with its running costs. The vague reference to the court led France and the EU to express their concern that some politicians in Lebanon may be trying to discredit the court.
Following the indictment, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made a televised address vowing that party members would not be turned over to the court. Nasrallah had previously called for a Lebanese boycott of the court, which he labeled an “Israeli project.”
Chafik Masri, professor of international law at the American University of Beirut said the tribunal had asked for Interpol assistance as a precaution.
“The court cannot wait to start moving, and they need these precautions immediately,” he told The Daily Star. “In principle, a red notice is issued to individuals who are suspected of unlawful killing or terrorist acts.” “According to bilateral agreements between Interpol and member countries, when they [countries] receive a list of suspects – and this does not mean they are criminals as they are innocent until proven guilty – they must act.”
Hariri’s killing was initially blamed on Syria. Although Damascus has always denied involvement in the crime, reports have suggested that individuals thought to be connected to the assassination are residing in Syria. Since Syria is an Interpol member state, Masri said its authorities would have to act on any warrant they received.
“Syria is within the member states of Interpol and they are supposed, according to treaties, to respond if there is any possibility,” he said. “Of course, [Interpol] does not have police powers to be invoked but it can communicate with member states and this means that suspects should be stopped from escaping.”
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