Court threatens Milošević’s health

By Elizabeth Farrell

(New Worker, 8 July 2004)

THE SO-CALLED International Criminal Tribunal at The Hague will force former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević to appear in court next Wednesday despite his failing health. Milošević has accused the court, where he faces numerous counts of war crimes charges, of being directly responsible for his illness. “My health problems are a direct result of the court’s decision to not allow me to get better,” said the Serbian leader.

The court has ruled that, despite blood pressure problems that leave Milošević under imminent risk of a heart attack or stroke, he is fit to stand trial. But the judges added that “he may not be healthy enough to continue defending himself,” and threatened to force a “defence lawyer” upon the former president, “to cover for him while he unwell”.

They promised a “radical review” of the way the “trial” is conducted, saying: “It is in the interests of the accused and the broader interests of justice that this trial be conducted and concluded within a reasonable period of time.”

It is not the first time that the “Tribunal has made such a move. Vojislav Šešelj, leader of the Serbian Radical Party, also charged with war crimes, had counsel imposed of him. But Šešelj is refusing to work with his “defence lawyer” – and Milošević will do the same.

Milošević addressed the court on Monday accusing court official Patrick Robinson of forcing him to appear in court against doctor’s recommendations.

Milošević made it absolutely clear that he would not accept the imposition of a court-appointed defence lawyer. “As far as my statement is concerned, I will absolutely present it in person. I will also question all my witnesses and be present while they are questioned by others,” he said, adding: “Who is it that fears my being healthy during my defence? And are you aware of the fact that your behaviour towards me is the cause of systematic degradation of my health?”

The judges have now ordered a health examination by a new, “independent”  cardiologist, after the current one warned the former president may not be fit enough to stand trial. Milošević’s advisor Vladimir Kršljanin told the New Worker: “They have got a cardiologist already – why do they want to replace him? The current one won’t say what they want to hear, and now they will try to find one who is ready to say what they want.”

Kršljanin also said that the kangaroo court is now “achieving what they wanted to achieve from the start – to prevent him from saying what he wants”. But he assured us that Milošević – who has included Bill Clinton and Tony Blair on his long list of witnesses – has a strong fighting spirit and will not give up “until victory”.

Steven Kay, one of the court-appointed Amici Curiae, or “friends of the court” – who are supposed to ensure a fair trial – says that the judges should consider abandoning the trial and setting Milošević free. But that is the last thing the “Tribunal” would agree to.

It would of course suit imperialism perfectly well if Slobodan Milošević died during the trial – it would stop him from cross-examining those who led the aggression against Yugoslavia. And if the trial were abandoned, the imperialists would do everything to make sure that wherever Milošević went for treatment – it would never be Serbia.