CONTINUES TO RESIST KANGAROO COURT: CONCERN GROWS FOR MILOSEVIC'S HEALTH
By John Catalinotto
November 11, 2002--Is former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's life in danger? On Oct. 31, Milosevic had a sudden increase of high blood pressure that often comes with his illness--malignant hypertension plus angina pectoris.
Since then, the proceeding in the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at The Hague, Netherlands, have been postponed.
Milosevic's supporters pointed out in a statement soon after that "such an event can cause his death." The Serb official who led Yugoslavia during the aggression on that country by the U.S./NATO war machine has been defending himself against spurious war-crimes charges in the court set up by NATO since last February.
Since the trial began in mid-February, Milosevic has managed to turn the case around on NATO, exposing the criminal actions of the U.S. and its European allies, first for plotting to bring about the war and destruction of Yugoslavia, and then for bombing the civilian infrastructure and killing thousands of Yugoslav civilians. He has been so successful that the imperialist media has chosen to ignore what at first was designed to be a show trial of the Yugoslav leader.
The Hague authorities are holding him under onerous conditions. His cell is small, without access to natural air. He attends the trial every weekday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and is confined to the ICTY basement during the lunch break, where he can eat only a sandwich. He goes through humiliating searches when in transit. Back in detention by 6 p.m., he must choose between dinner and a short walk in fresh air, then must prepare until late at night for the next day of trial.
The former president faces mountains of papers to review without facilities to prepare his extraordinary courtroom battle. He also has absolutely no medical care. By the end of the prosecution's case, which is scheduled to conclude in May 2003, he has to review over 100,000 pages of text and over 600 videotapes submitted by the prosecution.
Milosevic's supporters in Serbia and worldwide are using a seven-day hiatus proclaimed by the court to campaign to get him specialized medical treatment in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. They want him seen by doctors who have taken care of his health for years, until his full recovery.
They ask that people send faxes to the ICTY at 31-70-512- 8637 and demand this treatment. Lawyers are invited to fax ICTY President Claude Jorda and President of Trial Chamber III Richard May at the same number.
URGENT MESSAGE TO NATIONAL COMMITTEES, PROGRESSIVE PARTIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL
The "tribunal" at The Hague has received an outrageous "motion" from Carla del Ponte, demanding that President Milosevic should be silenced by imposing to him defense counsels against his will. So the message of NATO justice is that President Milosevic should either die or shut up! The "tribunal" is hiding from media dozens of your appeals, motions, petitions! Only Carla can be heard! And the final "decision" of the "tribunal" can be made already tomorrow! So please, continue sending them your thoughts. And, as much as possible, address the public and media. LIFE OF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC, TRUTH ABOUT YUGOSLAVIA AND FREEDOM OF SERBIAN PEOPLE HAVE TO BE PROTECTED! WE DEMAND THAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ALLOWED TO OBTAIN SPECIALIZED MEDICAL THERAPY AND A PERIOD OF RECOVERY IN BELGRADE UNDER SUPERVISION OF PHYSICIANS WHO FOLLOWED HIS HEALTH FOR YEARS. AFTER THAT HE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE HIS BATTLE FOR TRUTH AT THE HAGUE OUTSIDE OF PRISON. HE ALREADY STATED THAT FROM THAT BATTLE HE WOULD NEVER FLEE!
Belgrade, November 10, 2002
SLOBODA - ICDSM
Yugoslave Federal Parliament: ON RELEASE OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO BE CURED IN YUGOSLAVIA
On the basis of Article 77 Para 1 and Article 78 points 4 and 5 of the Constitution of the FR Yugoslavia, the Federal Parliament, in the session of the Chamber of Republics on November 13, 2002, adopts the following D E C L A R A T I O N ON RELEASE OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO BE CURED IN YUGOSLAVIA:
1. The Chamber demands from the Federal Government to perform all necessary measures in order enable Slobodan Milosevic to return to the country for medical treatment;
2. The Chamber demands from the Federal Government to submit urgently appropriate guarantees to the Hague Tribunal in order to make possible defense of Slobodan Milosevic from freedom after successfully finished medical treatment;
3. The Chamber demands from the Federal Government, in order to secure the human rights of Slobodan Milosevic, to make all measures on its disposal for the protection of Slobodan Milosevic as one suspected by the Hague Tribunal;
4. This Declaration shall be published in the "Official Gazette of FRY".
To join or help this struggle, visit:
http://www.sps.org.yu (official SPS website)
http://www.belgrade-forum.org (forum for the world of equals)
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Milosevic)
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http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/index.htm
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