By Patrick Galey
BEIRUT: Survivors of the 2005 bomb attack that killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri will be able to participate in the trial of suspects, the U.N.-backed court probing the crime said Tuesday, as the tribunal president apologized to victims for the investigation’s slow progress.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon Victims’ Participation Unit said individuals who suffered “physical, mental or material harm” from the car bomb attack that killed Hariri and 22 others would be able to take part in court activities, including the cross-examination of witnesses and submission of evidence.
“Through this process the voices of victims will be heard. They will be able to fully participate in the trial before the Tribunal, which will seek the truth behind the attack on 14 February 2005 and also serve justice,” a court statement said.

STL President Antonio Cassese, in a newspaper column to be printed Wednesday, spoke of his regret over the time it has taken for the court to issue its first indictment, as it did earlier in July – over six years since the attack.
“I appreciate that this is a lengthy and sometimes painful process for people in Lebanon, in particular for the victims of the crimes,” Antonio Cassese wrote in The New York Times. “To them I apologize for how long this is taking and I thank them for their patience.”

Cassese called the indictment “a decisive moment for the Lebanese, their state and for international justice,” and said that authorities in Beirut were obliged to assist the court in apprehending suspects.
“I wish to remind the government of Lebanon of its international obligations, which are unambiguous,” he said. “They include the arrest and detention of those named in the indictment; the continued protection of our judges, staff and counsel; and the financial contribution of Lebanon to our work, which is essential to allow independent and fair judicial proceedings to take place.”

The court’s indictment is believed to contain the names of four Hezbollah operatives, among others, as suspects, raising doubt that Lebanon will continue to fulfill an agreement it signed with the STL, as well as a U.N. Security Council Resolution on the tribunal.
A judicial source told The Daily Star that there was no way of knowing the progress of security forces in their attempts to apprehend the accused.
“We haven’t received any word regarding the arrests,” the source said.
The court has been plagued by accusations of politicization since its inception in 2009. Cassese’s column responded to opponents.

“We are of course aware that in Lebanon, as elsewhere, justice has to operate within a political environment, which inevitably leads to baseless accusations of judicial bias,” the tribunal president wrote. “Some claim that our pursuit of justice will threaten the stability of Lebanon. This is wrong, for true stability can only be reached when those responsible for horrific crimes are called to account.”

While the STL’s victims program cannot itself provide compensation for victims, it has offered to pay their legal costs. If the suspects are convicted, individuals may approach Lebanese courts for remuneration.
The program allows victims that may be fearful for their safety to come forward anonymously, something a court spokesperson said would not disadvantage their application to participate in trials.

“It is too early to say how many victims will participate in the trial process. The Victim Participation Unit will provide them with the most accurate information and the best support to do so,” the spokesperson told The Daily Star. “For obvious security reasons we can’t discuss the mechanism in place to ensure the victim’s security.”