European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 09, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday August 9, 1993 commentary the stars and stripes Page 15 . Stephens. Rosenfeld it s the right moment to be reminded by the human rights nags at Helsinki watch that the United nations has dithered on its pledge to set up an International tribunal to investigate and prosecute War crimes in the old  prosecutor has been appointed since the pledge was made in february no judge nominated no file opened and Rio defendant named meanwhile evidence disappears and witnesses and survivors scatter. Worse War crimes go on. The reminder is timely because something is coming along that threatens to throw an ultimate Monkey wrench into the United nations address of atrocities in this and future ethnic wars. Refer to the peace talks or to be More precise the carve up talk son Bosnia and Herzegovina. For Good reason the serbs Are usually singled out As the villain but the fact is that any of the serbian croatian and Muslim leaders who Are participating plus countless others could yet be accused of War , the self generated pres sure on those at the table to bargain out a Mutual amnesty and get on to other  Short they All May join bloody hands the serbs bloodiest of All the croats and even the suffer ing but not altogether innocent muslims and Grant each other political absolution. Nor will outsiders be Ina position As were the world War ii allies in respect to Adolf Hitler s Germany to impose a victors Justice. The hard part is that principle May be sacrificed no simply to individual evasion but to perceived National interest. It was right As goes the argument now unfold ing for the United nations to threaten War crime trials for deterrence purposes when the War in Bosnia was raging but it is just too complicated and perhaps a bit mischievous to follow through now that the losers Aswell As the winners Are talking about a settlement for even a belated and inadequate peace agreement will a least serve to head off new War crimes though it does not punish past  crimes Are among the grossest of human rights violations. But in almost any dispute the human rights dynamic changes when a denouement seems to be taking shape. Priorities change and moral absolute Start losing their Sharp Edge. Rights violations that ear Lier seemed unconscionable and deserving of the most rigorous condemnation Start to look fit for the bargain ing table. Fatigue and cynicism May contribute to this tendency. But a Faith in the future May also be at work. Who among us has a positive certainty or a general Rule about whether Justice or reconciliation is the Wisest course in these circumstances much remains to be sorted out in Bosnia and beyond but this spongy ground is where events Are mov ing now. It contributes to potential tension Between the yugoslav parties and concerned foreigners As Well Swithin each set. This development puts a heavy Burden on the inter National caretakers of human rights principles. It s not for them to make the agonizing compromises that National leaders and Public May be under pressure to weigh. Theirs is to serve the requirements of individual victims of wrong in Bosnia now. And in other times and places to come read the stomach churning details of eight cases that Helsinki watch researched to show up the United nations evasion of the murder rape torture and destruction of the yugoslav wars. Reflecting what Many people take to be a rough but fair distribution of group offence the eight cases include five perpetrated by serbs two by croats and one by muslims a these crimes cannot be left unexamined without mocking Justice in the places where they were committed and without inviting a repetition of such violations elsewhere. Moreover a Cave in on War crimes added to the United nations failure in Yugoslavia to keep the peace and to provide sufficient humanitarian Aid would tear even further at the standing of the world organization. Helsinki watch chips in that a War crimes tribunal is an essential component for defusing ethnic and nationalistic tensions in the former Yugoslavia. I am not so certain of that. Trials could Sharpen the tension top. But the human rights group is surely on the Mark in saying even if no defendant can Ever be brought to trial a thorough investigation of alleged War crimes will establish a historical record of the events which in turn will individualize what is now too often seen As collective  says Helsinki watch in addition regardless of whether defendants can be compelled to stand trial indictments atone will be a Sanction against the accused an indictment and the resulting arrest warrant would turn the individual into a political pariah subject to immediate detention if he Ever Steps outside the boundaries of his isolated  c Tho Washington Post / marijuana foes Are addicted to exaggerations a few weeks ago in this space argued that mounting evidence on the prosecution indeed the persecution of marijuana users increasingly substantiates a that medical evidence does justify treating marijuana As one would treat crack cocaine or prussic acid b that the time spent by Law enforcement tracking Down marijuana users is a wast of efforts that might have been used to keep Johnny from getting shot or Jane from getting raped and c the blood lust by the drug enforcement administration against marijuana users is being used to justify an abuse of civil rights and a Peno logy that surely in decades and centuries ahead will bring to mind not civilized la enforcement but inquisitorial practices. The column in question stirred the extensive objections of Wayne j. Roques of the  of the . Department of Justice. He is listed As demand reduction coordinator in  deserves the Courtesy of a pub Lic reply to his Public remonstrance Here undertaken on the understanding that it is not possible to Cope with All the questions raised about marijuana use in a sin Gle  begin by acknowledging that the National organization for the Reform of Marmana Laws Normal has never claimed that marijuana use is harmless rather that it is no More harmful than these of alcohol or tobacco or other Over the counter drugs available to any adult even in the presence of an Fri agent. Roques stresses the addictive Quality of marijuana and cites the work of Many scientists but gives Only one name that of or. Mendelson of Harvard University who has reported physical addiction with withdrawal to. Potent Marijuan  inquiry in Harvard elicited the following from or. Lester Grinspoon an enemy of the mar Ijuana Laws when i read him or. Mendelson the sentence from roques1 letter Jack laughed. I think he sees this report As somewhat aberrant inasmuch As 1 this woman smoked an enormous amount of marijuana and 2 one would suppose if there were an abstinent syndrome that there would be far More in the literature than this report of one patient. Published 10 years  exaggerations Are a severe addiction of the anti marijuana William f. Buckley cultists. Roques gave the names of five medical authorities whom he considers expert on the toxicity of marijuana. But four of the five authorities cited arc not associated with marijuana research. To ques writes there is Little doubt among legitimate scientists that marijuana is a very harmful drug at relatively Low Potency and that with the new More powerful strains the health risks will be greatly sex  but the current edition of the Merck manual of diagnosis and therapy tells us that there is still Little evidence of biologic damage even among relatively heavy users. Marijuana used in the . Has a higher the Content than in the past. Many critics have incorporated this fact into warnings but the chief opposition to the drug rests on a moral and political and not a toxicological  on the civil liberties front Roques Chal Lenges my assertion that sentences Given out to marijuana delinquents Are quite simply disproportionate to civilized assumptions having to do with consign punishment. But he confines himself to Feder Al penalties which Are severe enough. Here is a report published by Normal in its journal the leaflet March 1993 Jimmy Montgomery was sentenced by an Oklahoma jury to life plus 16 years imprisonment for having two ounces of marijuana in his bedroom and two Colt revolvers under his  judge and . Thought better of it. And the sentence was reduced to 10years. But the Beckham county prosecutor also filed papers to seize Jimmy smother s House. And apropos the question whether marijuana can be medically useful the balance of the Story the result of an Accident 20 years ago Jim Montgomery is paralysed from the Center of his Chest this feet and confined to a wheelchair. Thelma Montgomery Jim s Mother Testi fied that doctors at a spinal Cord injury Hospital recommended marijuana to Herson for Relief of muscle spasms. The spasms got so bad at times Jimmy could t sit in the wheelchair. When Jim smoked marijuana he did t have to stay belted to his chair " his Mother reported. The stories Are endless but the Merck people Are right. My own judgment is that it is As stupid for the person who does not use marijuana to Experiment with it As it is for the nonsmoker to take up tobacco. But those who Don t take my extra political advice should not be sent to sing sing. C Universal press Syndicate