The Nuremburg trials were the first trials
to indict principle figures of an overthrown national administration for crimes
not only against individuals, but for crimes against humanity itself. They were
an historic statement that would insure every despot and dictator knew the
forces of law covered not only their subjects but themselves as well.
Nuremburg was the first step a trial not
just because ethics demanded it but because the public wanted and needed to see
justice was being done. During Nuremburg over 158 Nazi officials were tried
before an international court and because of its precedent since 2001 twenty six individuals have
been or are being tried at The Hague, charged with breaching the Nuremburg
accords.
The Hague is the last bastion of justice
for the forgotten; it and its mandate (created by the Nuremburg accords) remain
one of the most important checks and balances in westernised world.
But what good is The Hague when it carries
no force to implement its warrants outside of the westernised world. What good
is The Hague to Africa and the Middle East were the dictator is common place and
the despot not exactly rare. What good is The Hague when it only holds leaders
to account after they have been overthrown and not before?
Never has a leader of a sovereign nation
been held to account by any international court and this will ever be so. But it
is not because the international court lacks the power to pursue them or that
the international court is so underfunded and understaffed.
The problem lies in the idea itself, the
voice of the people is why Nuremburg was recorded for broadcast in 1949 and why
The Hague is televised today. Leaders of regimes guilty of committing war
crimes require swift and decisive action. Allowed to live they may mount
counter insurgency or even counter revolution but one thing is certain there
continued existence will unquestionably lead to the destabilisation of the
fledgling free nation.
Justice must be done against the adjutant
and the adviser and The Hague excels at this. But because The Hague is a
western court it does not report quickly or hastily. It will insure justice is
done but will never force it. Justice takes time and time is something new
administrations don’t have. New administrations that have been born out of war
or rebellion must ensure stability and that their government stands separately
from the old regime, but most importantly they must placate the people’s anger.
The the anger of those affected by a now
defunct regime must be heard in its entirety which is why it is rare a
rebellion or revolution can be concluded without the people themselves exacting
the ultimate censure on their despot or dictator.
Weather the new administration likes it or
not, they cannot restore confidence and security until the previous leader is
censured, and well The Hague just takes too long....
