************************************************************** INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE TO DEFEND SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC ICDSM Sofia-New York-Moscow www.icdsm.org ************************************************************** Velko Valkanov, Ramsey Clark, Alexander Zinoviev (Co-Chairmen), Klaus Hartmann (Chairman of the Board), Vladimir Krsljanin (Secretary), Christopher Black (Chair, Legal Committee), Tiphaine Dickson (Legal Spokesperson) ************************************************************** 17 February 2006 Special Circular **************************************************************
Attack on the Milosevic-Defence reaches new stage SUPPORT URGENTLY NEEDED As ICDSM reported several times, the German section of the ICDSM is under attack by the German authorities. In mid-July 2005, the attack reached a peak when the tax police broke into the private apartment of Peter Betscher, the treasurer of the German section of ICDSM. His computer and documents were taken, the donations bank account frozen. In a written document authorizing the police to enter Mr. Betscher's flat, the purpose of the operation was outlined as: to investigate the use of the money and to find out the names of the donors! The document states that Mr. Betscher is under suspicion of an offence against the German federal law incorporating European Commission Regulation 2488/2000 into German Law. Already around one and a half years earlier, the donations account as well as the personal account of a member of the German section of the ICDSM were frozen on basis of the very same regulation: the EU sanctions against President Milosevic, his family and closest associates. At that time, a German local court decided in favour of the ICDSM: that the EU regulation cannot be interpreted as overruling the basic right of any accused to have a legal defence. In the meantime, German ICDSM and its lawyers learnt that the German state authorities have asked the European Commission for interpretation of its own regulation already some longer time ago. The Commission stated its view that collecting of funds for President Milosevic's legal defence indeed constitutes an offence against the regulation's provision against "activities ... to circumvent the provisions of this Regulation". The German section is the most effective segment of ICDSM in achieving fundraising for the defence. Most of the donations collected were used to cover imminent expenses of the assisting members of President Milosevic's assisting team at The Hague. Some time after the July attack, the consequences were visible. Donors were afraid to further contribute, the account was frozen etc. As a result, Cathrin Schütz, assistant to President Milosevic's Legal Associate at The Hague, was no more able to stay constantly at The Hague. Mr. Betscher in the meantime was asked to pay a fine of 11.465,70 Euro. Branko Rakic, one of the Legal Associates of President Milosevic, and Ms. Schütz informed the authorities of the Registrar of the ICTY several times about the attack and the consequences. No help was offered. The German government is obviously trying to criminalize the defence and the supporters of President Milosevic by interfering in a defence. The German ICDSM went to court against the measures and the fine. The case is still pending. After the last attacks, no German accounts were used any more. The Vienna-based Yugoslav-Austrian Solidarity-Movement was hosting an account to secure the continuation of a fundraising campaign for President Milosevic's defence. This very account was frozen by the Bank Austria few weeks ago! The bank referred to the same EU Regulations as the German authorities. We ask you to not allow the blockade of the defence work and to direct your generous donations to the following still untouched account: COMMITTEE INTERSOL Amsterdam (1e Hugo de Grootstraat 11-3,1052 KK Amsterdam) Postbank N.V. BIC/Swiftcode: PSTBNL21 IBAN: NL07 PSTB 0004766774 "Legal Aid" *********************************************************************** URGENT FUNDRAISING APPEAL ****************************** President Milosevic has the truth and law on his side. In order to use that advantage to achieve his freedom, we must fight this totally discredited tribunal and its patrons through professionally conducted actions. The funds secured in Serbia are still enough only to cover the expenses of the stay and work of President Milosevic's legal associates at The Hague (one at the time). After the unlawful attack of the German financial authorities on the ICDSM fundraisning in Germany, that lead to freezing of the ICDSM account in Germany, the simmilar attack took place recently in Austria, where the account of the Yugoslav-Austrian Solidarity was frozen. These unlawful acts, aiming to undermine and block the President Milosevic's defence, will be fought back legally. *********************************************************** To carry on the normal defence work - 3000-5000 EUR per month is our imminent need. Please send your donations to the following account: Committee Intersol Postbank N.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands Accountnumber 4766774 IBAN NL07 PSTB 0004766774 BIC/Swiftcode: PSTBNL21 *************************************************************** For truth and human rights against aggression! Freedom for Slobodan Milosevic! Freedom and equality for people! On behalf of Sloboda and ICDSM, Vladimir Krsljanin, Foreign Relations Assistant to President Milosevic ************************************************************* SLOBODA urgently needs your donation. Please find the detailed instructions at: http://www.sloboda.org.yu/pomoc.htm To join or help this struggle, visit: http://www.sloboda.org.yu/ (Sloboda/Freedom association) http://www.icdsm.org/ (the international committee to defend Slobodan Milosevic) http://www.free-slobo.de/ (German section of ICDSM) http://www.free-slobo-uk.org/ (CDSM UK) http://www.icdsm-us.org/ (US section of ICDSM) http://www.icdsmireland.org/ (ICDSM Ireland) http://www.pasti.org/milodif.htm (ICDSM Italy) http://www.wpc-in.org/ (world peace council) http://www.geocities.com/b_antinato/ (Balkan antiNATO center) Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
