Trial of Saddam Hussein: A host of complex issues involved
Barrister
Harun ur Rashid
The
US-picked interim Iraqi government came into existence on 28th June
and the first action of the interim government within two days was to
obtain the "legal custody" and not "physical custody"
of the former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein (67) and his top lieutenants.
Saddam Hussein continues to remain in the custody of the American troops.
On
1st July, former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein appeared before an unidentified
judge of the Special Iraqi Tribunal at a secret location within a maximum-security
complex to hear the outline of charges against him described by a government
official as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
It
is reported that Saddam Hussein was slimmer than before and arrived
at the Tribunal in an armoured military bus that was escorted by four
US military cars ( Humvees). The last vehicle in the convoy was an ambulance.
It
is reported that the specific charges against Saddam Hussein, among
others are:
-
Iraq's war and related crimes with Iran during 1980-88
- The use of chemical weapons in 1988 killing about 5,000 civilians
including women and children
- Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990
- Crimes related to the suppression of a Shi'te uprising in 1991 in
southern Iraq
At
the Tribunal, Saddam Hussein was defiant and demonstrated his old fiery
spirit. Insisting that he was still the President of Iraq, he questioned
the jurisdiction of the Tribunal. He reportedly said : " This is
all theatre. The real villain is Bush".
Reports
indicate that his defiance was a surprise to the interim government
and it may not bolster the standing of the interim government in the
eyes of many Iraqi people. It is reported that 41% of Iraqis (mostly
Sunnis) wanted him released. The poll seems to unnerve the interim government
and the Bush administration. It appears that the "show" may
not go the way the interim government and the US want.
Trial
of Saddam Hussein
The trial of Saddam Hussein will be the "mother of all trials"
from legal points of view. There are host of issues that need to be
considered. Many are legal and some are quasi- political. Below are
some of the issues that are likely to come up during the trial that
may possibly take place in the next year.
Why
the charges are being laid out against Saddam Hussein at this point
of time by the interim government?
For the interim government of Iraq, the first priority is security and
not to outline the charges against Saddam Hussein. However there is
a speculation that the interim government at the instance of the Bush
administration wants to put Saddam Hussein in the picture across the
world. This is because the Iraqi war was launched on the plea of the
existence of banned weapons of mass destruction and there were no weapons
of mass destruction in Iraq. So captured Saddam Hussein appears to get
all the attention to divert people from the publicly stated reasons
for war in Iraq.
The
Bush administration wants that the war, without the approval of the
UN, to be justified by highlighting that Saddam Hussein has been deposed
and a trial has begun of an 'evil' dictator. This seems to be taking
place, entirely to shore up the decline of popularity of President Bush
among the Americans who are increasingly at unease and unhappy with
the Iraqi war. More importantly the appearance of Saddam Hussein before
the Iraqi Special Tribunal was timed in such a way that it coincided
with morning TV news shows in America, so that all Americans can watch
the "show" and credit President Bush for the war, although
the war caused death of 860 American lives and 11,000 Iraqis, let alone
thousands wounded.
Legitimacy
of the Iraqi war
The first legal issue appears to be the legality of the Iraqi war by
the US-Britain. All wars are banned under the UN Charter except (a)
for defensive purposes or (b) have been authorized by the UN Security
Council under Chapter VII of the Charter. Until this date, two wars
were approved by the Security Council-one in 1950 against North Korea
for invasion of South Korea and the other against Iraq in 1990 for invading
Kuwait. In view of the clear provisions of the UN Charter, it may be
argued very strongly that the Iraqi war is illegal, unlawful and contrary
to the UN Charter and international law.
Furthermore,
the reason for invading Iraq was ostensibly to destroy the banned weapons
of mass destruction and for breaches of the Security Council resolutions.
At the time the neither the US nor Britain canvassed that the war was
launched to remove the dictator Saddam Hussein for his brutalities in
the country, otherwise known for humanitarian considerations. Virtually
every reason President Bush and Prime Minister Blair gave for going
to war has been discredited.
If
the above argument is pursued, then it is contended that the overthrow
of the Iraqi leader is illegal. No country has a right to invade a country
because it does not like the regime. If it is held, it is a re-introduction
of jungle law at the 21st century. There are many countries in which
the leaders are conducting themselves as despots and logic follows that
they too should be overthrown. The US wants a regime change in Cuba
for the last 46 years but it has not attacked the communist country.
Only sanctions have been imposed by the US on Cuba. One should not be
selective in waging a war to remove a dictator.
Legitimacy
of the Iraqi interim government
The interim-govern-ment of Iraq is not representative of the
Iraqi people. They have not been elected by the people of Iraq. They
are chosen by the US authority. The legality of the interim government
is on serious doubt. Both the interim President and the Prime Minister
have been in exile for a long time and very close to the American and
British intelligence agencies.
One
may argue that the interim government has no legal standing to put on
process the trial of Saddam Hussein. Only the constitutionally--elected
Iraqi government is competent to put on trial Saddam Hussein. The UN
resolution 1546 of 8th June envisaged that the constitutionally elected
government would be in place by 31 December, 2005. Prior to that a permanent
constitution for the country was to be adopted.
Judicial
independence of the Special Iraqi Tribunal is in question
The charges against Saddam Hussein are very serious and all
of them are crimes under international law. Genocide, crimes against
humanity and war crimes are not confined to national laws.
In
the past, it has been seen that persons charged with such heinous crimes
are tried by international criminal courts. Former Yugoslav's President
Milosevic is being tried by an ad-hoc international criminal court in
The Hague. For Rwandan genocide in 1994, an ad-hoc international criminal
tribunal in Tanzania has been set up and the accused persons are being
tried by that tribunal. Following the Second World War, the German and
Japanese military and civilian leaders were put on trial by the victors
of the war (US, Britain and former Soviet Union) before international
criminal tribunals at Nuremberg and Tokyo.
Many
international law experts hold the view that Saddam Hussein should be
put on trial at the existing International Criminal Court at The Hague
that came into existence on 1st July, 2002. or before an international
tribunal because both the US and Iraq are not parties to the International
Criminal Court. Some say that at least, a mixed tribunal, consisting
of independent foreign and Iraqi judges, should hear the Saddam Hussein's
case. This procedure is being followed in Sierra Leone for trial of
military and civil leaders accused of genocide, crimes against humanity
and war crimes.
Another
reason for an international tribunal is that one of the charges against
Saddam Hussein is launching wars against Iran and Kuwait. Therefore
Iran and Kuwait must present their side of story to a trial. This can
only occur at an international criminal tribunal and not at the Iraqi
Special Criminal Tribunal.
The
Special Iraqi Tribunal is being questioned for its judicial independence.
Many believe that it is difficult for most Iraqi judges to be impartial
to the case because most of the Iraqis including the judges are affected
directly or indirectly by the brutal activities of the former dictator.
Furthermore, the independence of judiciary in Iraq under Saddam Hussein
disappeared totally. For the last three decades, Iraqi judges were told
by the government what they should do in matters before them and consequently
a culture of subservience to government dictates has developed among
the judiciary in Iraq. The culture does not suddenly disappear from
the Iraqi judiciary.
In
the light of the situation, many law experts doubt whether the members
of the Iraqi Special Tribunal are independent and impartial enough to
hear the Saddam Hussein's case and do justice to him. There is a maxim
that "justice must not only be done but seen to be done".
The spirit of the dictum appears to be absent if the trial is held by
the Iraqi Special Tribunal. It is reported that Saddam Hussein's French
lawyer Emmanuel Ludot (one of a 20-strong team appointed by Saddam Hussein's
wife) told France Info radio that any judge sitting in the Iraqi Special
Tribunal would be under immense pressure to find Saddam Hussein guilty.
. It is reported that the request for foreign lawyers has yet to be
granted by the interim Iraqi government.
New
Iraq and the rule of law
Iraq has been paraded as the "New Iraq". If this is the case,
it means rule of law is to be adhered strictly by all organs of the
state. The new Iraq should not follow the arbitrary path of the former
dictator, although there is a temptation for it. The trial must not
be seen as a vengeance or settling old scores with Saddam Hussein for
his brutalities
Criminal
trial is a judicial process where all rules of fairness and impartiality
are to be scrupulously observed. It is in the interest of new Iraq that
the trial of Saddam Hussein should not be perceived as one by a "kangaroo
court". The world must acknowledge that a fair trial has occurred
for the dictator and that will enhance the standing of the new Iraq.
Both the interim government and its mentor, the Bush administration,
may ensure that the trial of the century may be conducted in a fair
and impartial manner and must provide Saddam Hussein all the rights
including the choice of his lawyers, even from foreign countries, to
appear at the criminal trial.
It
is alarming that the interim-government is proposing to re-introduce
death penalty. Whether or not death penalty in Iraq should be re-introduced
should be left to the constitutionally elected Iraqi Parliament and
government. Many argue that it is not the business of the interim-government
to re-introduce death penalty. Under the UN resolution, the principal
purpose of the interim government is to hold a direct democratic election
to a Transitional National Assembly by 31 December 2004 and to draft
a permanent constitution for the country.
Even
British leaders are not comfortable with the re-introduction of death
penalty in Iraq. ( death penalty is abolished in all the countries of
the European Union). May European leaders believe that the new Iraq
should follow the provisions of the 1950 European Convention on Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Proof
of Chain of Command
At the trial, it must be shown that Saddam Hussein personally gave the
orders of commission of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
It must be convincingly proved that local commanders committed the atrocities
under the orders of the Iraqi leader. Often it is difficult to pin down
by documentary evidence the chain of command for such orders to the
top. Enough evidence must be gathered, collated and examined so as to
prove that the order for such heinous crimes emanated right from the
top. It must be proved beyond reasonable doubt that Saddam in fact was
either responsible for or knew of the commission of the atrocities including
mass murders by chemical weapons.
Who
supplied the weapons of mass destruction to Iraq?
It is a common knowledge that Iraq did not produce weapons
of mass destruction on its own. It acquired from foreign countries.
Many European companies including US companies (with the approval of
their governments) have provided the weapons of mass destruction to
Iraq at the time of Iraq-Iran war (1980-88). The Western countries did
not approve the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979 because their "puppet"
ruler Shah of Iran was deposed and Islamic Iran did not "dance"
on the wishes of the Western powers.
Iraq
was perceived as a counter-weight by the West to Iran in the Middle
East and Saddam Hussein was the man they did business with. Many believe
that weapons of mass destruction were supplied to Iraq with the knowledge
that they would be used by Saddam Hussein against his enemies.
When
chemical weapons were used against Iraqi Kurds in Halabja in March 1988
and against Iranian troops, there were no protests from the Western
countries. In February, 1989, 11 months after Halabja massacre, the
US Assistant Secretary of State (John Kelly) reportedly flew to Baghdad
to tell Saddam Hussein that " You are a source for moderation in
the region and the US wants to broaden her relationship with Iraq."(
The Australian, July 22, 2002).
The
visit was interpreted as condoning the use of chemical weapons by Saddam
Hussein. Furthermore, it is reported that the present Defence Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld met Saddam Hussein in 1983 as a special envoy and sought
cooperation from him on Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After 20 years,
the same Rumsfeld is now believed to be one of the principal architects
of Iraqi war, overthrowing Saddam Hussein.
It
may be argued that the Western countries including the US are vicariously
responsible for the commission of brutalities in Iraq and those responsible
must be held to account. If a person gives a knife to another, knowing
that the person will kill an individual, both are responsible for the
crime of murder. The same logic applies in the case of Saddam Hussein
and the providers of weapons of mass destruction.
Use
of Chemical weapons in Vietnam and Iraq
Iraq's Saddam Hussein is not the only person to use chemical
weapons. During the Vietnam war in the 70s, the US used it against Vietnamese.
Even today in Vietnam, many suffer from the devastating effects of chemical
weapons. Hardly any US military or civil leader has been put on trial.
Why? Simply because strong powers make up all the rules and impose them
on other countries.
American
reporter and columnist, Christopher Hitchens in his book " The
Trial of Henry Kissinger" (2001) argued that Kissinger was a war
criminal. Kissinger, according to Hitchens, conducted aggressive war
in Vietnam and ordered the deliberate bombing of civilians in South
Vietnam. Later Kissinger started the aerial bombardment of the Ho Chi
Minh trail in Cambodia and Laos, resulting in the deaths of 600,000
and 350,000 people respectively in those countries. Kissinger remains
free in the US although it appears that he has stopped traveling overseas
because of fear that a warrant of arrest may be issued against him by
the families of the victims of war.
Detainees
at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba vs Saddam Hussein
It is noted that about 600 detainees from Afghanistan have
been languishing in camp for more than two years with no charges laid
against them. The Bush administration calls them "enemy combatants"
and they can be detained as long as the administration deems fit. But
the recent US Supreme Court decision declares that the President has
no unfettered power to keep them without due process of law and the
detainees come within the jurisdiction of American civil courts, although
they are held outside the US.
It
could be argued that the Bush administration has pursued a double-standard
policyone for the detainees and another for Iraqi leaders. If Saddam
Hussein and 11 of his close aides are being charged with crimes after
seven months in detention, why are the detainees are not being charged
even after more than two years?
Justice,
it is argued, is universal and applies to all individuals. However this
standard does not seem to apply in the eyes of the Bush administration.
The lawyers for Saddam Hussein may argue that the trial of Saddam Hussein
is political, engineered by the US administration and pushed by US-picked
interim government. It is reported in the media that by September the
details of atrocities carried by Saddam Hussein will gradually be publicized
just in time prior to US Presidential election so that President Bush
is able to claim that war in Iraq was justified and is re-elected in
November.
Conclusion
Saddam Hussein must be put on trial for his alleged brutalities. There
is no question about it. However the trial must be fair and impartial
by a court that enjoys judicial independence. It is appropriate that
he should be put on trial before the international criminal court so
that the judicial process is transparent and just.
Criminals
are also human beings and they have a right to a proper judicial process.
Article 11 (1) of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides
that " Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be
presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial
at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence".
The Iraqi interim government together with the Bush administration will
gain worldwide commendation for the proper judicial process consistent
with the Human Right Declaration. History will judge whether the US
and the new Iraq have done the right thing.
Barrister
Harun ur Rashid is a Former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.
