ZAGREB, April 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Judges Association has stated that the government violated the Constitution, the constitutional law on cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the law
on criminal proceedings by delivering on its own, without the approval and instead of the Zagreb County Court, an indictment by the ICTY against General Janko Bobetko to his attorneys.
ZAGREB, April 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Judges Association has stated
that the government violated the Constitution, the constitutional
law on cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for
former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the law on criminal proceedings by
delivering on its own, without the approval and instead of the
Zagreb County Court, an indictment by the ICTY against General
Janko Bobetko to his attorneys. #L#
The statement, signed by the association's president Vladimir
Gredelj, notes that the Zagreb County Court informed the government
through the justice ministry that "due to General Bobetko's poor
and deteriorated condition it is unable to serve on him the ICTY
Prosecution's indictment and there are therefore no legal grounds
to deliver it to his attorneys either..."
"However, instead of forwarding the court's decision to the
tribunal, the government decided, without the court's approval, to
deliver the indictment itself," the statement notes, adding that
the government thus violated the Constitution, the Constitutional
Law on Cooperation Between the Republic of Croatia and the ICTY and
the Law on Criminal Proceedings. Subsequent comments by the premier
violated the European convention on the protection of human rights
and fundamental freedoms, it is noted.
The government's conduct is unprecedented and is a blatant act of
usurpation of powers which in the three-branches system of
government are held exclusively by the judicial authority, reads
the statement.
The association accuses the government of unquestioningly obeying
the ICTY's orders, demonstrating at the same time lack of basic
respect for domestic courts.
The premier is therefore expected to resign, the statement notes.
(hina) rml sb