To Mr. Claude Jorda
Mr. Richard May
Mr. Steven Kay
Mr. Branislav Tapuskovic
ICTY, The Hague
In concern for the life and health of Slobodan Milosevic
Dear Sirs,
Reports from news agencies show that the trial in the “case Milosevic” has repeatedly been halted due to the health situation of Mr. Milosevic. According to these reports, the court brought up the question of whether the trial can be completed.
According to our information, the state of health of Mr. Slobodan Milosevic led to a detailed medical examination last summer. The reports and suggestions that resulted from that examination were discussed in Trial Chamber III on July 25 and August 26, 2002.
It is most disturbing that the measures proposed by physicians have not been applied or have been applied only in part. Instead, the recommended time for rest was greatly shortened, the trial has increased to full-day procedures – in contradiction to the advice of the physicians. The ongoing deterioration of Mr. Milosevic’ state of health seems to be a direct consequence of the violation of the measures suggested by the physicians.
Further, it is not only incomprehensible, but outrageous, that Mr. Milosevic is not under constant medical observation and check-ups and does not get adequate medical treatment.
This way of dealing with a person whose life is – with all consequences – in your responsibility, can only be called irresponsible and leads to the question of motives. It is in total contradiction to various documents and resolutions of the United Nations concerning the treatment of imprisoned persons. Those regulations should be fully recognized by representatives of UN institutions.
In the ongoing situation for which the ICTY is fully responsible, the only possible solution is to free Mr. Milosevic from that health-and life-threatening situation and to release him in order that he may receive the necessary medical treatment in Belgrade from physicians who have treated him for several years.
Sincerely,
Matthias Jochheim, Frankfurt am Main
Physician and psychoanalyst
Member of the leadership of the German section of International Physicians for the prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW – Nobel Peace Prize 1985)
Dr. med. Uta Mader, Koeln
Physician
Member of the German section of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) Member of Democratic Physicians (VDAA)
Prof. Dr. med. habil. Ilse Eisen-Hagemann, Berlin
Physician
Dr. phil. Hans-Peter Brenner, Bonn
Psychoanalyst
Member of the board of directors of Kassenaerztliche Vereinigung Koblenz member of Kassenaerztliche Bundesvereinigung (KBV)
Prof. Dr. med. habil. Ingeborg Rapoport, Berlin
Physician
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. phil. Dr. hc. mult. Samuel Mitja Rapoport, Berlin
Physician
Dr. med. Christa Anders, Berlin
Physician
Dr. med. Ernst Bellmer, Erzhausen
Physician
Dr. med. Iris Jonkanski, Brinckheim (France)
Physician
