Dutch courts consider arrest of President Bush for war crimes during his visit to the Netherlands

Dutch courts have considered the demand that President Bush be arrested for war crimes and human rights violations, on his visit to the Netherlands in May 2005.

Click here for a recent news article on legal action in the Netherlands just before Bush's arrival in May.

Interesting to think of this in the context of the USA's declared willingness to attack and bomb the Netherlands, with the "American Servicemembers Protection Act" or ASPA, also known as the Hague Invasion Act.

Under ASPA, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush, the United States declared its willingness to use military force to oppose the International Criminal Court, located in the Netherlands. The USA effectively declared its willingness to bomb and kill Dutch people, in order to release Americans who are under arrest and held for trial at the international court hosted by the Dutch in Den Haag (The Hague).

One can only hope that Bush and his lackies be brought to trial someday.

Patti

Here is the original story that was associated to my first post:

"Court rules against arrest of US President

4 May 2005

AMSTERDAM — A Dutch judge has ruled that US President George W. Bush can visit the Netherlands as planned this weekend and should not be arrested.

The ruling in a court in The Hague on Wednesday comes after a group of Dutch nationals lodged legal action against the State in the lead-up to Bush's visit.

The activists demanded that Bush be arrested or a court order issued to block his entry to the Netherlands due to "numerous, flagrant breaches of the Geneva Convention".

However, the judge rejected the request on the grounds that such a refusal was a political matter and therefore not something the court could rule on.

Granting the request would also have had "far

reaching consequences for relations between the Netherlands and the US," the judge said.

The request was lodged by several peace organisations and city parties, namely Haagse Stadsparti, the Stichting Haags Vredesplatform, the Vereniging van Anti-Fascistische Oud-Verzetsstrijders Nederland, the Vereniging van Juristen voor Vrede.

Several individuals living in The Hague were also involved.

The activists claim that Bush is responsible for countless civilian casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, the torture of prisoners and the fact the US has refused to recognise the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Bush will fly into the southern Dutch city of Maastricht on Saturday night and stay at the nearby Château St Gerlach in Houthem.

On Sunday, he will attend a ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial at Margraten near Maastricht.

During his visit, Bush will meet with Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Queen Beatrix before departing again later on Sunday."

Bush must be brought to The Hague someday to answer for his crimes, hopefully soon!

Patti

Wouldn't that be something!! I might even start believing there was a God should that happen!!

Rose

I'm sorry..I don't agree with this. That is ridiculous. I hope to goodness he DOESN'T go if that's what they are planning.

Well ...there is always a chance he has no idea where it is and goes there by accident!

Well, the article did say that the dutch court ruled against holding him for trial. I think that they made the wrong decision. Brandonsgirl, I respect your beliefs, and at one time held to your views.

The fact of the matter is that Bush predicated an illegal war both under the U.S. Constitution and International Law, he must be forced to answer for his alleged crimes just as any other national leader would be. After all, President Clinton signed the treaty putting the U.S. under the jurisdiction of The International Criminal Court. Yes, Bush renounced that treaty, but I hold that a criminal does not respect the law anyway. At least, that is what the Judge who sentenced me said, and he is right, in one respect, if the United States does not respect International Law and holds that a body of law does not have jurisdiction that has been agreed upon by all civilized nations - then the U.S. does not have the right to expect me or anyone else to submit to it's jurisdiction.

The only difference is that I know that I will submit to U.S. Law whether I recognize it or not for I have this strong desire to live even if it is (or in my case was) in prison.

Hopefully, someday the rest of the world will have the gumption and the necessary weapons to force the United States to submit. The sooner the better, though I firmly believe it will take another World War to do it. I am proud that my son is in the German Air Force, for once we Germans will be fighting against oppression and evil.

And if you wish to contest my statement of oppression, think about the legal system today and what all of us have gone through, yes some of us deserved what we got, but the majority did not deserve the harsh sentences that now are given and some are truly innocent . If you want to know true freedom, live in my native Germany or almost any other country (with a few exceptions) for a year and see in reality the difference.

It is true that you cannot judge a country till you have experienced it. I used to think the United States had the most freedom in the world, when I first came to this country it did. Now - no more. Even my parents want to go back to Europe for they see the same things going on here that they did in Germany in the 1930s. Unfortuanately, they are too old and probably would not make the trip. They and the fact that I am on paper till 08 is the only reason why I stay, any other person if they had not naturalized like I did would be deported now. As I look back that was a mistake.

I pray that the Dutch Court or some other National Court whose nation conforms to the ICC Treaty refiles charges against the Bush administration and that if found guilty they are given the appropriate punishment.

Patti

The interesting thing is how many other US political figures are also liable....Henry Kissinger is still alive...