NNA – On behalf of the participating victims, the Legal Representatives of the participating victims at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (“Tribunal”) in Prosecutor v. Ayyash, Case STL-18-10, avail this opportunity to voice and convey the participating victims’ urgent request to secure sufficient funds for the continuation of the work of the Tribunal, consistent with the duty of the international community to end impunity and ensure that the victims have access to justice.
The participating victims have waited for more than fifteen years since a series of terrorist attacks to have access to justice through the case heard at the Tribunal, the only judicial institution capable of independently and appropriately addressing and hearing the victims’ concerns and end their quest for justice, truth, and reparation.
On 25 February 2021, the Tribunal’s mandate was extended from 1 March 2021 for a further period of two years, or until the completion of the cases before the STL, if sooner, or until the exhaustion of available funds, if sooner. On 26 March 2021, the United Nations General Assembly Fifth Committee passed a draft resolution, which appropriated almost $15.5 million to the Tribunal by way of a subvention. However, the amount approved was insufficient to secure the continuation of the works of the Tribunal to complete its mandate.
At the outset, if the funding of the Tribunal is not secured and Case STL-18-10 is abruptly terminated, this will be a negative message to the victims who have awaited justice and accountability for an extensive period of time. Moreover, it will be a message of encouragement to the perpetrators to commit further terrorist attacks without deterrence or fear. The termination of proceedings at the Tribunal will destroy the last hope for rule of law and justice in Lebanon and the commitment of the international community to uphold that.
In the interests of the participating victims, we, the undersigned, submit this urgent request to ensure that the Tribunal is able to continue its works in order to secure and uphold the victims’ right to truth and justice.
Annexed to this request are petitions of the participating victims in Case STL-18-10, echoing their urgent request.
A. Prosecutor v. Ayyash (Case STL-18-10)
There are currently 31 victims granted participatory status in the case of Prosecutor v. Ayyash (Case STL-18-10), and they are represented by the three undersigned Legal Representatives. The case is comprised of three attacks found to be connected to the attack against the former Lebanese Prime Minister H.E. Rafiq Hariri on 14 February 2005; the attacks against Mr Marwan Hamade, the late Mr Georges Hawi and Mr Elias El-Murr. In addition to the assassination of Mr Georges Hawi as the main and direct target, these attacks resulted in multiple casualties, including the death of Mr Ghazi Abou-Karroum and Mr Khaled Moura.
The proceedings of the STL-18-10 case is currently in the pre-trial phase. The trial is expected to begin on 16 June 2021. This comes after a period of more than one year of pre-trial proceedings, wherein participating victims’ expectations to finally have their voices heard were built up.
In this context, Excellency, we draw your attention to the fact that already at this moment some trial preparations are put on hold in light of the uncertain financial situation.
B. The Victims’ Right to Truth and Justice
Victims’ right to truth and justice is the crux of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. It is a right that the international community and the United Nations have recognised in any societal transition towards the rule of law, democracy and human rights.
For example, the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power promulgates the entitlement of victims “to access to the mechanisms of justice and to obtain redress”, whereby judicial and administrative mechanisms would enable victims “to obtain redress through formal or informal procedures that are expeditious, fair, inexpensive and accessible.”
The participating victims have emphasised the need for a Tribunal; they waited for more than fifteen years since the attacks before they were eventually permitted to participate in the proceedings in 2020, and they have the right to know the truth behind the attacks.
All the participating victims have universally voiced a similar concern: if the Tribunal is unable to complete its mandate prior to the final pronouncement of judgment in Case STL-18-10, the participating victims will have no access to justice and the truth behind the attacks will not be established.
Respectfully, Excellency, we refer to Security Council resolution 1664, which was drafted “[m]indful of the demand of the Lebanese people that all those responsible for the terrorist bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and others be identified and brought to justice”.
C. Ending Impunity
All the participating victims in Case STL-18-10 have expressed the importance of the existence and functioning of the Tribunal in contributing to the ending of a culture of impunity in Lebanon. The proceedings at the Tribunal not only symbolise hope, but they are a requirement for justice to be achieved.
As mentioned, the trial is expected to begin on 16 June 2021. To end the proceedings abruptly due to lack of funding would breach the rights of the participating victims, and result in the continuation of a culture of impunity in Lebanon.
The abrupt end to an ongoing case will convey a negative message to the international community that the rule of law need not be upheld, and impunity will prevail over accountability and justice. This disorder will lead to a slippery slope where contributing States may decide to halt their contributions to international judicial institutions and perpetrators of heinous crimes are not brought to justice. In Lebanon and the Middle East, this would indicate an encouragement to the perpetrators to pursue further acts of terrorism.
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is an institution that upholds the democracy and freedom of expression in the Arab world. The Tribunal’s legacy is not held only by Lebanon; it is the legacy of the contributing States and the international community. To abandon the work and efforts of the Tribunal and the international community to put an end to impunity thus far will be an indignity not just to the rule of law but also to the legacy of an institution that was established by and made possible through joint efforts of contributing States.
We, the undersigned, therefore submit this urgent request for your Excellency to ensure the works of the Tribunal is able to continue, and consequently, uphold the rights of the participating victims and put a stop to impunity in Lebanon.
D. Equality Among All Victims
All victims must be accorded equal rights and treatment at an international judicial institution, including the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The case of Prosecutor v. Ayyash et al. (Case STL-11-01, concerning the attack against H.E. Rafiq Hariri) has advanced into the appellate phase by the end of 2020.
It is unjust for the participating victims – who have waited for more than fifteen years – in Case STL-18-10 should the proceedings stop due to the lack of funding. All proceedings require finality in order for the victims to achieve the justice; a right that international law promulgates to protect, as highlighted above.
In STL-11-10, the harms suffered by the participating victims in that case, together with evidence presented by the participating victims, were recorded in the trial judgment. This presented a milestone for the participating victims and international justice in the ending of impunity. To refuse the same level of participation to the participating victims in Case STL-18-10 would be unfair and inconsistent with the notion of equality in international law.
E. Conclusion and Request
The urgent request for sufficient funding is consistent with the UN Security Council’s willingness – as enshrined in resolution 1757 – “to continue to assist Lebanon in the search for the truth and in holding all those involved in the terrorist attack accountable and reaffirming its determination to support Lebanon in its efforts to bring to justice perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this and other assassinations”.
Victims’ rights, including the right to present their views and concerns and the right to have access to judicial mechanisms must be upheld to the highest standards at international judicial institutions. To ensure that the continuation of the proceedings at the Tribunal are of high standards in Case STL-18-10, the funding shall be sufficient to cover the duration of all phases of the proceedings.
The participating victims and their Legal Representatives in Case STL-18-10 therefore respectfully request your full support in securing the necessary funding to ensure the proceedings at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon are able to continue to their finality.
As mentioned, annexed herewith are the petitions of the participating victims in Case STL-18-10 to urge the international community to support the continuation of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and ensure that it is financially able to conduct proceedings until their finality.—STL
Source: National News Agency