INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
H.E. Theodor Meron, President of the ICTY
On the occasion of the ICTY verdict against Jelena Rasic because of the contempt of the court we are expressing our protest.
One of the functions of the ICTY’s is punishment for the crimes committed and future prevention of the crime and it’s return. We believe that this judgment and sentence is incentive to continue CONTEMPT of the ICTY, and continuation of disrespect of regional and Supreme court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The only thing worse than a sentence against Jelena Rasic’s is definitely explanation of the verdict. We victims can not accept that the disorganization of the ICTY and the UN to provide adequate detention and prison space for WOMEN = detainees or prisoners be used as a Mitigating ELEMENT OF JUDGEMENT.
Dear President Meron, this is at least to say: SCANDALOUS!
We express our doubts about the intentions and expertise of dr.VERA PETROVIĆ about which the media from the region wrote a series of texts and proved that she works in favor of accused Serbs, and that she gives them instrukcions and directives how to behave in the ICTY in order to avoid liability. We will be more than happy to send you all the findings against Dr. Petrovic. We will ask the prosecutor to appeal the verdict and specifically request that an independent medical team to assigned to determine the health status of adjudicated Jelena Rasic. If Vojislav Seselj cam make cirkus with his health and if ICTY allows doctors from Serbia, then we have the right of victims to seek protection and to form a consulting team that would impartially determine the health status of Jelena Rasic.
Do you gentlemen, from ICTY know what message was sent us, victims who testify in courts in the region? What kind of message have you sent to criminals that have not yet been sentenced in this case, and are located in Bosnia and Herzegovina and lastly what kind of message have you sent to the ICTY and it’s lawyers?
Was this a message to us, wictims, not to testify before the ICTY in the cases of Mladic and Karadzic? If you believe that sufficent punishment of 78 days detention for the person who bribed witnesses to give false alibi for her client, and that the person whom she defended has received life imprisonment, then it is dusk on international community. If Jelena Rasic had not been stopped criminals Lukic’s might be at liberty or convicted of a lesser penalty. We are sure that honorable Judge Morrison had to have these arguments during the sentencing.
We, the wictims, strongly demand that you Mr. Meron as President of the Court reply to our letter and to take measures to rectify this injustice!
Bakira Hasecic,
President of Association Women Victims of War
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina