Should Milosevic trial continue?

Judges at the Hague have announced that Slobodan Milosevic's trial will resume on July 14.

It was suspended indefinitely on Monday due to the defendant's poor health.

He was due to defend himself against charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the 1990s in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.

It's believed that any ruling the judges make will set precedents for future trials.

What do you think of war crimes tribunals such as this at The Hague, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda at Arusha in Tanzania, and the one in Sierra Leone? Will Saddam Hussein's and these others become just show trials? Will justice ever be served?

This debate has now closed. Thank you for your comments.

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Your comments:

Once again a leader sent to trial might get off. How can the world take these courts seriously if they do not follow through? If this had been an average civilian person we would not be questioning the fact if the trial should continue.
Brigitte, France

All the crying by lawyers about the righteous of international courts is malarkey Jim Nickerson, Fort Worth

The International Tribunal is a farce, and Milosevic's trial proves it. Can you imagine being a judge having to waste your life listening to all the rubbish in that trial? Milosevic should have been tried at home as it appears Saddam Hussein will be tried. All the crying by lawyers about the righteous of international courts is malarkey, and the International Court just gives more tax payers' monies to lawyers.
Jim Nickerson, Fort Worth, USA

All this talk about illness has obscured the fact that the prosecution has produced no evidence substantiating any of the charges against Milosevic. Were he in perfect health, the court would have no (legal) option but to find him not guilty. Milosevic is a symbol of resistance. His integrity and determination are commendable; however, they may cost him his life.
Natalia, Sydney

Two years gone, prosecution case still muddy, defence potentially explosive, nations blaming each other for their own adventures, and do we really expect any increased trust in justice? There are already too many twisted arguments - so stop spending money needed elsewhere. Presiding judge and two equally-to-be indicted presidents already gone - do we need some more?
Joe, London, UK

Trials of leaders are always a farce. Only those who lose war are tried, with a pre-determined guilty verdict. Those who win war are never brought to justice for their crimes. When was the last time a Brit or American was punished for his atrocities?
Rita, Egypt

Only permanent tribunals such as the ICC have a chance of giving people a fair trial because the countries who have ratified the ICC treaty have integrated the tribunal within its domestic laws. Ad hoc tribunals, such as the one for crimes in ex-Yugoslavia, Rwanda and the new Iraqi tribunal for Saddam Hussein are dependent on foreign funding and can be disbanded at any time by its financiers. Ad hoc tribunals make a mockery of the notion of a fair trial. All of these tribunals should be disbanded and their jurisdictions transferred to the ICC.
Jovan Ivosevic

Even if they have to bring him to court in a bed it should continue Martin, Sarajevo

Even if they have to bring him to court in a bed it should continue. Do you think the old men in Vukovar, Srebrenica and Landovice were allowed to be excused because they had a doctor's note?
Martin, Sarajevo, Bosnia

The trial to Milosevic should never have started.
Anteo Sergovich, Istria

Milosevic should be on trial for what he did in Serbia not what Nato propaganda says he did.
Alex, Russia

I would venture to guess that stepping into a courtroom and coming face to face with victims' faces and testimony would make even the most cold hearted criminal wheeze, pant and the blood pressure soar. This is no excuse for delay. Carry on, as this has gone on far too long in itself. Try him in absentia, his army of lawyers will be there to serve his interests.
Lisa, USA

I doubt whether Milosevic was greatly concerned about the blood pressure and heart condition of his victims. Milosevic does not run the risk of having to hide in a wood, soaked to the skin, in sleet and ice, with no food, hearing machine gun fire and screams in the next field, with no food or water, knowing that his parents have been tortured and shot, worrying that his aunt who is mentally retarded might be lying in a ditch or being abused by blood thirsty soldiers.

Did anybody worry about the frailty of his victims? Why should we be so concerned about dear Slobodan's blood pressure? When I next get a parking ticket should I tell the court that if I have to pay the fine they run the risk of my passing away from the shock of having to pay it? What is all the fuss?
MZ, Portugal

I question true justice being served bringing former dictator's to trial in either an international court or a court in their own country. In either case the courts are biased against the defendant and the outcome is predetermined as in both Milosevic and Saddam cases the prosecuting party will only allow the case to heard where victory for the prosecution is assured.

With Milosevic the case has become a circus and to avert a repetition in Saddam's case it must be heard in his own country. Suffice to conclude the Americans would never have handed him over without a guaranteed conviction. A real mess for all in the name of justice.
Rob Capon, Oslo, Norway

Milosevic just took some drugs pulling up the blood pressure for avoiding the court. This is just a farce!
Jan Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden

Absolutely yes. We'll hear the other side of the story. The world must know the full truth before continue to misjudge Serbian people and its role in the events of 1999 and before and after.
Milos Milisavljevic

Definitely! Why should it not continue? He showed no pity to his victims. Let him die in the dock if this is what his fate is.
Leduc Jean-Francois, Bangkok, Thailand

The trial should continue, because we need to know the truth. In wars, you only find devils, there is no place for angels.
Chadi, Lebanon

I profoundly dislike Mr Milosevic for the things he did to the Serbian people. There were dogs of war on all sides. By all means the ill and deeply disturbed monster who killed civilians in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo should face trial and should be sentences accordingly. But please, stop blaming the entire nation (Serbs) for what a couple of hundred very sick people have done (on every side!)
Dragi¿a, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

The trial must go on, just as life must go on too - as we were told Karmen, Johannesburg

Milosevic was the main chef in the Balkan kitchen full of explosives. What a pity the other two assistants died in the meantime. We could have watched their deteriorating health too. The war in the Balkans was nothing but a big opportunity for theft and grabbing power at the expense of us - thousands scattered around the world that lost jobs, homes, property, families, friends and the comfort of every day life. The trial must go on, just as life must go on too - as we were told.
Karmen, Johannesburg, South Africa

Is this not a case of Pinochet syndrome? Ruthless dictator faces charges in open court and this naturally makes him feel unwell. The very real possibility of being convicted and imprisoned for life makes former dictators and other mass murderers unwell. It's a well known medical condition. Treatment is easy - just ignore him. If he insists on defending himself then he is an even bigger fool, if the trial is abandoned what then? He returns to Serbia in triumph as he believes? What would the consequences be if he was released because he's feeling unwell? Does International Law provide for the unwell being excused to face charges for against humanity?
Toby Hallidie, Sintra, Portugal

Absolutely! If we allow him to delay in this fashion, he will never be tried. If he cannot represent himself due to health issues (and he had better have a note from his doctor) he should have representation assigned to him. End of story.
Kevin Barr, Ottawa, Canada

The Hague is suffering from the incompetence of its floundering in overly legalistic bureaucracy Richard, Bath

The Hague is suffering from the incompetence of its floundering in overly legalistic bureaucracy. More concern is given to minutiae of the law than to its spirit of establishing justice. In cases of such public, extensive and damaging evidence the requirement for good health should be waved. It is in Milosevic's interest to have the trial abandoned due to health than continue, since he will prefer to be unwell and free than in prison for life. He should have a lawyer imposed on him and the trial continues. If his health fails the trial should continue in his absence.
Richard, Bath

Please be aware of just one fact: Mr. Milosevic could have saved about 7,000 people with just one call. And now we are talking about his high blood pressure!
Edo, Sarajevo

The trial should continue and he should be allowed to defend himself, if he chooses so. Buy not allowing him to defend himself, under any excuse, the tribunal may end up being perceived as afraid of what he might say. The world has a right to hear what he has to say.
Roman, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

I think Milosevic should walk free if he is in risk of heart attack.
Alexs, Croatia

The Milosevic trial must continue, even though it has already become a sham. The Milosevic and Rwanda trials are perfect examples why Saddam should not be tried internationally. These trials become a circus where the only winners are the army of lawyers and staff that profit personally. These trials are endless affairs where the accused and victims die of old age before some anaemic verdict is brought down.
Paul, Saskatoon, Canada

The trial must continue - to take any other action is to deny justice to all parties and will leave the ICC without an ounce of credibility.
Roger , Sittingbourne, UK

I find this situation unacceptable. Milosevic is responsible for genocide of people who never asked anything but only to live. And he alleges poor health? This is incredible and this shows a lack of respect for the people who suffered this genocide. This is absolutely pitiful.
John C, Taipei, Taiwan

I don't think it makes much difference. If he's approaching the end of his days then he got the life sentence he probably deserved.
Matt, Amsterdam, Netherlands (ex UK)

No mercy with Mr Milosevic because he is the worst war criminal since Hitler. He wants to make a farce on the trial and this should not be allowed. He should receive the punishment he deserve and this would be too less for the victims of his fascist crimes. The trial should continue.
Thomas, Germany

High blood pressure, now I really have heard it all. Europe is a failing society, doomed by political correctness.
PM, NY,US

Milosevic's victims were not spared for illness or old age - give him time to recover, if you must, but finish the trial!
Matthew, Northampton, USA

You've got to love bureaucracy. Milosevic engineers mass-genocide and due to his high blood pressure he isn't fit to stand trial. It's a good thing the thousands of people he murdered were fit to have their lives deprived from them. If we're so concerned about Milosevic's health then why even consider a trial? In fact, why not put him back into power. Losing power in Yugoslavia has no doubt been stressful to Milosevic as well. Maybe when The Hague actually demonstrates that actions such as Mr Milosevic's will be severely punished, the world will look up and take The Hague seriously. They obviously don't in Darfur as of now.
Paul, Philippines

The trial should continue, but only to show once and for all that the only guilty persons, are the ones being brought in as witnesses. How on Earth can anyone with a mind justify the bombing of then Yugoslavia let alone all the other things that were done to that country and the Serbian people. All Yugoslavia was doing then is fighting the very same war on Terror that the Aggressors are today. The difference is, they were bombed for it, and the terrorists were aided by these very same aggressors. Wake up Sheeple!
Ernesto, Cuba

The system should change to permit trials to continue in absentia Jon E, France

This may be a good place to vent one's emotions, but let's be realistic. Comparing Milosevic's health to that of his alleged victims is completely irrelevant, if one accepts the basic principle that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty. At least this court has some semblance of international credibility, unlike last week's farcical, US-organised show trial of Saddam. However, in future, the system should change to permit trials to continue 'in absentia', when the accused is too ill to continue.
Jon E, France

Very interesting that just at the point where Milosevic is to begin his defence, the whole trial is in jeopardy? What does someone or many want to keep disclosed?
Richard, Canada

I wonder who's paying for this farce?
Steve, Germany

How many of us could get off the hook for what Milosevic did in our own country? Perhaps when leaders are persecuted for their crimes they will take the justice system as seriously as the rest of us do. High blood pressure has never gotten me off from a speeding ticket.
Paul Devendorf, New York, USA

It's funny how just stepping in a court room suddenly makes dictators, torturers and mobsters sick to death. Yes, in my opinion the trial should continue, of course under the flag of truthfulness and fairness.
Clara, Monza, Italy

First Klaus Barbie, then Pinochet... "poor health" is no excuse to stop a trial.
Sebasien, Twickenham, UK

Truly a blow to the idea that justice can be served by a world court James, UK

Truly a blow to the idea that justice can be served by a world court. Whilst I am not an eye for an eye person, it seems to appear that this man is being shown biased treatment.
James, UK

The trial should stop, until such time as the tribunal decides to be even-handed and bring charges against the NATO generals and politicians who ordered the bombing of civilian facilities such as TV studios, and the cluster-bombing of market-places, in 1999. If justice is not even-handed it cannot be taken seriously. There was never a serious case against Milosevic - the NATO leaders just want to demonise him to cover up their ghastly bombing of Yugoslavia.
John, London, UK

This whole trial has been one giant mess. Milosevic's witness list is 1,600 people, in one swoop he has "out smarted" The Hague. Could you imagine if Saddam was tried as the Hague (thank God the Americans won't let that happen). I still can't come to grips as how anyone people can put their faith in institutions like the ICC and the UN. They are corrupt elitist "clubs". I hope Europe takes note of this-I got a feeling that the EU is going into the same direction.
Dalo, Coral Gables, FL, USA

He should be allowed to talk Anna, Canada

If he is healthy enough to stand the trial he is healthy enough to conduct his own defence. Truth requires cross-examination and accused has a right to defend himself. As it stands, after first half of the trial judges are split 2:1. I consider that a big blow to prosecution -that they did not have better result after their part. Where is that overwhelming evidence that did not convince Judge Kwon? That is why I can not help but feeling that he is being silenced. He should be allowed to talk.
Anna, Canada

Absolutely, He should be removed and the court should allow a lawyer to continue. He is responsible for the slaughter of thousands of people young and old and did not show any mercy to anyone with a medical condition.
Marco, New York, USA

Yes, the trial should continue. The world (and one's responsibility) does not stop at "high blood pressure and the risk of heart attack." Ask the rest of humanity who continue to struggle on day after day in spite of (because of) these problems. Most folks prefer the struggle to the alternative!
Julie, New Hampshire, USA

It is meaningless for many people, including me, whether Milosevic's case continues or not. Ad-hoc tribunals are institutions more of a political nature than a truly international body that guarantees the world's law and order.
Edel Calvar, Detroit, USA

Trials must be fair but also swift Miguel Gonzalez, California, USA

This is an example of why so many people don't have faith in the ICC. Trials must be fair but also swift, and the international court system, much like many other international institutions, is unable to function efficiently and at a reasonable pace. Reforms are needed at all levels.
Miguel Gonzalez, California, USA

I wish it would make a difference. Although it is necessary to prosecute international criminals once they are captured, it still remains a mystery whether this will deter coming or existing criminals from committing atrocities. It is also true that for the multitude of people killed, there is only so much justice one can be served.
Omid, Houston, USA

What message does this send the world, if the trial takes so long, it only stops because of poor health? The international criminal court, like the UN, have proved they wait far too long to act.
Chris Hunt, Detroit, USA

Of course the trial should continue. Did he let any of his victims off because of poor health? Justice must be served.
Tom, Belfast, N. Ireland

The ICC has proven to be a sluggish anachronistic mess Sharon Schafer, USA

The ICC has proven to be a sluggish anachronistic mess. If the man had been given a speedy trial it would all be over and his health would not be an issue.
Sharon Schafer, USA

This is a prime example why The Hague should not have control over the Saddam Hussein trial. God forbid Saddam should have high blood pressure, indigestion or a broken fingernail...
Steve, New York