SESELJ TRIUMPHS IN THE HAGUE

THE SECURITY COUNCIL MUST SUPPORT THE TRIBUNAL
AND THE PRONOUNCEMENTS OF THE JUSTICES
IF THE UNITED NATIONS WANT TO HAVE A LEGALLY FAIR SET OF TRIALS

THE REGISTRAR OF THE TRIBUNAL IS NOT A JUSTICE,
HE IS A CLERC WHO QUESTIONS THE REASONING
OF A TRIAL CHAMBER OF THE TRIBUNAL
AND HE HAS TO BE FIRED RIGHT AWAY


The Registrar (Griffier, Bursar) an ordinary bureaucrat, a public servant of the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, the ICTY, REFUSED to obey a court order of the Trial Chamber composed of three judges of the Tribunal appointed by the Security Council of the United Nations. Further to his refusal to disburse 50% of the funds otherwise allocated to all the penniless defendants brought for trial before the Tribunal - the registrar, in a brazen demonstration of arrogance QUESTIONED before the Appeal chamber the reasoning of the Trial Chamber.

For my ignorant in judicial matters - this behavior is unheard. The man, was he somebody called Holthuis or not is irrelevant, litigates the decision, the ruling of the Trial Chamber claiming that the justices trespass their authority, he also publicly belittles their reasoning, their acumen, their concern for fair justice and so on and so forth. In short, he refuses to provide the accused Vojislav Seselj the funds badly needed to cover parts of the costs for his defense.

Vojislav Seselj in turn refuses to cooperate with the tribunal untill the arrogant registrar is forced to obey the court order and disburse the allocated funds.

This situation is very indicative of the general climate within the ICTY.

Thousands of millions of dollars (that is billions) have been spent by the UN for the establishment, upkeep and the work of the ICTY. The Tribunal was scheduled to wind up its sittings and one of the reasons for its extended activity (and the fat big monthly salary plus expenses and perks for the haughty registrar) is the speedy wrap up of the trial of Vojislav Seselj. There is no doubt that the longer this trial goes - the longer will Mister Registrar collect the salary from the Tribunal.

Instead of pranking the registrar with a fine for contempt of court, the appellate justices will deliberate now (they have done so) whether the registrar or the Trial chamber were right.

The registrar claims that Mr. Vojislav Seselj refuses to provide SUFFICIENT documentation that he does not have the funds to pay for his defense counsels. The Trial Chamber overruled that excuse extended by the registrar. He has to obey and pay. But he further to refusing, enters THE REASONING of the justices. He behaves as a bully and he has to be brought up to the book. He has to be fired because he is not a justice. He is an administrator. The Security Councul MUST support the Tribunal and the pronouncements of the justices if the United Nations want to have legally fair set of trials. Screw the administration.
The reasoning of the international justices of the Tribunal is above reproach.

It quite another story how openly provocative is the registrar in his reasoning about the defendant's financial status and treshold above which a defendant cannot get financial help by the Tribunal. The registrar provides a "formula" that is composed as to insult the individual, a formula devised to mock the level of cultural and social standards of all the defendants from former Yugoslavia, a formula that is a red rag in front of the eyes of a capable, intellectually and legally literate raging bull like d-r Vojislav Seselj.
The registrar has to resign or be fired.
Right now.