Protests in Zagreb tonight over Seselj's acquittal

On the occasion of the acquittal verdict by the Hague Tribunal for Vojislav Seselj, accused of crimes against civilians in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Vojvodina, Platform 112 and the Centre for Women Victims of War are organising protests in Zagreb's Ban Jelačić Square tonight at 6 PM, reports Patria News Agency.

The protests are titled "SESELJ'S ACQUITTAL - A DEFEAT FOR JUSTICE, A SHAME FOR THE COURT, AN INJUSTICE FOR THE VICTIMS!".

- Platform 112 and the Centre for Women Victims of War call on citizens to join them in solidarity with all war victims and their families, who have been deeply affected by today's acquittal verdict for Seselj as yet another failure of justice and non-recognition of their suffering - reads the statement from Platform 112.

The statement from the non-governmental organisations further states that Seselj is a symbol of the spread of ethnic hatred and warmongering policies that resulted in the expulsion of tens of thousands of people and murders, as well as the destruction of entire villages and religious buildings, torture and rape of civilians and prisoners of war in Croatia, BiH and Vojvodina...

The confusing indictment by the prosecution, continuous obstruction of the court proceedings, and the inadequate procedural capacity of the trial chamber to neutralize such phenomena have resulted in the most devastating first-instance verdict by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to date.

We are shocked by the decision, which contradicts established international practice, and we particularly express solidarity with all victims of the war in Croatia and BiH - state Platform 112.

The Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia today acquitted Vojislav Seselj of responsibility for crimes in the former Yugoslavia.

Vojislav Seselj was charged on 9 counts, 3 for crimes against humanity (persecution, deportation, and inhumane acts or forcible transfer) and 6 for war crimes (murder, torture and cruel treatment, wanton destruction, destruction or damage to institutions dedicated to religion or education, plunder of public or private property).

He was accused of directly committing, inciting, aiding and abetting the crimes committed by Serbian forces between August 1991 and September 1993, or participating in their commission through his involvement in a joint criminal enterprise, writes Patria.