The prosecution in
the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) has promised that it still
has some hidden cards to play, the most prominent of which is a long list of
witnesses that has been leaked to Al-Akhbar.
Since its inception in 2005, the investigation into the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri has been considered suspect on many fronts. Questions were raised as to who really controls the process and the background of the individuals carrying out the investigation.
After the STL was formed to conduct the trial, these suspicions were not allayed, particularly given that the indictment was based on the testimonies of hundreds of witnesses and based on evidence related to cell phone networks.
The color-coded phone communications networks that the case centers on were developed by Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) officers in 2005, indirectly implicating Hezbollah in the crime.
According to the official schedule, the tribunal is set to begin its proceedings in March, when the prosecution will lay out their case, backing it up with evidence and witnesses.
The defense team is currently studying its options, given the short amount of time provided to examine the case and develop a strategy, not to mention the pressures they have been subjected to in order to force them to provide “legal cover” to what is essentially a political trial.
The tribunal’s rules grant the defense team as much time as needed to develop their case, in addition to requiring the Lebanese government to cooperate with them just as it did with the prosecution’s office.
But close observers of the tribunal say there is no comparison between the kind of resources made available to the prosecution and the defense. For all purposes, the prosecution (and the preceding investigative committee) have been working on the case since 2005.
The defense has the right to request postponing the
trial – and in fact they are considering such an action – but the head judge is
under pressure from countries funding the tribunal that they want to see results
soon or the money will stop.
In past years, Al-Akhbar, along with Lebanese, Arab, European, US,
Canadian, and Australian media outlets, have revealed much of the internal
proceedings of the case, publishing leaked documents from both the investigation
and the STL.
Al-Akhbar has gained access to a list of
witnesses that the prosecution plans to present at the trial to help prove their
case. A sample
of the list can be found on the Arabic-language website. The roster of witnesses
shows the nature of the prosecution’s evidence, which is circumstantial at
best.
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!
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