Amnesty International is calling for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to be given enough time and resources to establish the truth and to secure justice for the victims of war crimes in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The statement by Amnesty was issued following the capture of Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic, who is due to be handed over to the ICTY in the coming days. Amnesty called Karadzic's arrest a "major victory."
"The UN Security Council must review the arbitrary deadline of 2010 set for the tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to complete its cases," Amnesty said. "Of the 161 people charged by the tribunal, cases against 115 have been concluded, but there are still ongoing proceedings against a further 46. Two of those charged also still remain at large -- Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. The court must be given the necessary time to process all these cases."
Amnesty says it is concerned the tribunal will not be able to try all those who have been charged but whose cases are ongoing by the 2010 deadline. As a result, indictments may be dropped due to a lack of time to consider all charges or appeals may not be considered.
The statement by Amnesty was issued following the capture of Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic, who is due to be handed over to the ICTY in the coming days. Amnesty called Karadzic's arrest a "major victory."
"The UN Security Council must review the arbitrary deadline of 2010 set for the tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to complete its cases," Amnesty said. "Of the 161 people charged by the tribunal, cases against 115 have been concluded, but there are still ongoing proceedings against a further 46. Two of those charged also still remain at large -- Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. The court must be given the necessary time to process all these cases."
Amnesty says it is concerned the tribunal will not be able to try all those who have been charged but whose cases are ongoing by the 2010 deadline. As a result, indictments may be dropped due to a lack of time to consider all charges or appeals may not be considered.