HOUSE OF COUNTIES: MPS OBJECT TO ICTY'S WORK

ZAGREB, Feb 2 (Hina) - Members of the Croatian Sabor House of Counties presented numerous objections to the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) during Tuesday's discussion about a report on Croatia's cooperation with the ICTY. The MPs objected that it was mostly Croats who were detained in The Hague and that promises on speedy trials had not been fulfilled. The competence of the Tribunal is questionable, the MPs said adding that no indictments have been issued for crimes committed in Skabrnja, Dubrovnik (southern Croatia), Celije and Borovo Selo (eastern Croatia). The ICTY is being used for political objectives and is becoming more and more a political and not a judicial institution, the MPs said. The Social-Democratic Party (SDP) bench joined in the criticism of the Tribunal's work. However, the SDP believes that the Government should have sent to Parliament a report on measures it has taken so far and obstacles to its cooperation with the ICTY, and then propose measures the Sabor should take as legislative authority. The SDP also believes Croatian judicial organs should exhibit more agility so that war crimes suspects could be brought before justice. Croatia has completely accepted cooperation with the U.N. and The Hague Tribunal and maybe it has done more than it should have by adopting the Constitutional Law, Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) MPs said. By having adopted the law, Croatia took over commitments it now has to fulfil. However, one should have thought about that before the law was adopted, HSS representatives said. The Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) believes that the Tribunal is an instrument of pressure and intimidation against Croatia. The ICTY has double standards, which are aimed at limiting Croatia's sovereignty and independence, HSP representatives said adding they hoped that "this kind of cooperation with The Hague will be terminated or at least modified". Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) representatives expressed reserves towards ICTY's work as well. They too believe that the Tribunal has been politicised and object that it is slow. No indictments have been issued for crimes committed against Croats, they said demanding to know why the Tribunal has not issued indictments against Zeljko Raznatovic Arkan and Vojislav Seselj, leaders of paramilitary groups from Serbia, which committed numerous crimes. If the Tribunal requests further extradition of Croats, one should not accept it until the already initiated trials are completed and until the Tribunal proves that it is fair, the HDZ bench said. Some HDZ MPs believe that Croatia should review the Constitutional Law and determine, like the United States or Great Britain, that its citizens cannot be extradited to any country or any court but be tried in Croatia. An appointed MP, Slobodan Lang, proposed that information on criminals against whom Croatia issued indictments and requested that they be tried by the international community, be presented. A number of MPs commented on the verdict pronounced for Ante Furundzija. If Furundzija received a ten year prison sentence for witnessing a case of rape and doing nothing to prevent it, what will happen with international representatives who witnessed various crimes in Croatia and did nothing to prevent them, asked HDZ MP Drago Papac. The report on Croatia's relations with the ICTY was supported by appointed MP Jovan Bamburac, who believes that too long trials are one of ICTY's worst failures. "I too want to know who were the people who ordered the shelling of Dubrovnik, Zadar...", said Bamburac adding that it was no relief whatsoever for the Serb people that indictments against criminals were not being issued. (hina) jn mrl