| The Daily Star |
BEIRUT: President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Antonio Cassese’s call for the four men suspected of involvement in the 2005 assassination of statesman Rafik Hariri to take part in trials was part of efforts to reach the accused, the court’s spokesman told The Daily Star.
Cassese, who previously urged the accused to come forward and defend themselves, repeated Monday night his call for the four suspects to take part in trials.
“Judge Antonio Cassese reminds the accused of their right to participate in the proceedings. By participating, the accused can fully defend themselves against the charges and evidence presented against them,” the STL said in an audio announcement on its website.
Meanwhile, victims of the 2005 bomb attack will have until the end of October to register for participation in trials, a senior judge in the U.N.-backed court probing the crime said Tuesday.
STL’s Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen ruled that, “barring exceptional circumstances,” those injured or who lost loved ones in the attack had until Oct. 31 to indicate their interest to get involved with court proceedings.
“This deadline for filing the participation requests is aimed in particular at allowing those persons who have been granted the status of a victim [to participate] in the proceedings, [in order] to make known ‘their views and concerns’ from the start of the pre-trial stage of the case,” a court statement said.
The STL is the first international criminal court that allows victims to participate in trials.
Court Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare issued his first indictment against four Hezbollah members in June. Although Lebanon is obliged to assist the STL – including providing more than $32 million of funding in 2011 – Lebanese security forces have been unable to apprehend any of the suspects, who are also the subject of international arrest warrants. Hezbollah, which has called for a boycott of the court, has vowed that security services will not get their hands on its members.
“The Lebanese people – and especially the victims of this attack – deserve to know the truth about what happened on Feb 14, 2005,” the public announcement added.
The court stressed that the trial proceeding would be conducted to the highest international standards and that the “tribunal’s judge will never convict an accused unless guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt.
Cassese himself has come under fire from Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who accused the Italian judge of favoring Israel – much to the private chagrin of court staff.
Monday’s message by Cassese followed the passing of deadlines of 30 days for Lebanese security forces to arrest the men. Cassese subsequently issued a 30-day public advertisement, calling for the suspects to turn themselves in.
“This is one of the efforts to reach the accused and is part of the 30-day public advertisement,” STL spokesperson Marten Youssef told The Daily Star.
“As for when trials begin, that is a decision that will be determined by judges alone. The date will clearly depend on if [the] accused are apprehended, preliminary motions such as dealing with in absentia proceedings if the accused are not arrested, the amount of evidence submitted during disclosure and the amount of time granted for the defense team to build their own case and review the material submitted by the prosecution,” he added.
The court has previously suggested that trials may begin by mid-2012. Prime Minister Najib Mikati this week indicated that Lebanon would pay its share of court running costs.
Cassese, who previously urged the accused to come forward and defend themselves, repeated Monday night his call for the four suspects to take part in trials.
“Judge Antonio Cassese reminds the accused of their right to participate in the proceedings. By participating, the accused can fully defend themselves against the charges and evidence presented against them,” the STL said in an audio announcement on its website.
Meanwhile, victims of the 2005 bomb attack will have until the end of October to register for participation in trials, a senior judge in the U.N.-backed court probing the crime said Tuesday.
STL’s Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen ruled that, “barring exceptional circumstances,” those injured or who lost loved ones in the attack had until Oct. 31 to indicate their interest to get involved with court proceedings.
“This deadline for filing the participation requests is aimed in particular at allowing those persons who have been granted the status of a victim [to participate] in the proceedings, [in order] to make known ‘their views and concerns’ from the start of the pre-trial stage of the case,” a court statement said.
The STL is the first international criminal court that allows victims to participate in trials.
Court Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare issued his first indictment against four Hezbollah members in June. Although Lebanon is obliged to assist the STL – including providing more than $32 million of funding in 2011 – Lebanese security forces have been unable to apprehend any of the suspects, who are also the subject of international arrest warrants. Hezbollah, which has called for a boycott of the court, has vowed that security services will not get their hands on its members.
“The Lebanese people – and especially the victims of this attack – deserve to know the truth about what happened on Feb 14, 2005,” the public announcement added.
The court stressed that the trial proceeding would be conducted to the highest international standards and that the “tribunal’s judge will never convict an accused unless guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt.
Cassese himself has come under fire from Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who accused the Italian judge of favoring Israel – much to the private chagrin of court staff.
Monday’s message by Cassese followed the passing of deadlines of 30 days for Lebanese security forces to arrest the men. Cassese subsequently issued a 30-day public advertisement, calling for the suspects to turn themselves in.
“This is one of the efforts to reach the accused and is part of the 30-day public advertisement,” STL spokesperson Marten Youssef told The Daily Star.
“As for when trials begin, that is a decision that will be determined by judges alone. The date will clearly depend on if [the] accused are apprehended, preliminary motions such as dealing with in absentia proceedings if the accused are not arrested, the amount of evidence submitted during disclosure and the amount of time granted for the defense team to build their own case and review the material submitted by the prosecution,” he added.
The court has previously suggested that trials may begin by mid-2012. Prime Minister Najib Mikati this week indicated that Lebanon would pay its share of court running costs.
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