KING TO LAUNCH FRIDAY KUALA LUMPUR FOUNDATION TO CRIMINALISE WAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- The King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, will
launch the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War Incorporated at a royal
charity dinner at the Putra World Trade Centre here on Friday.

Held under the joint patronage of Tuanku Mizan and Queen Tuanku Nur
Zahirah, dinner organising committee chairman Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali said it
hoped to raise about RM3 million to fund the foundation's activities.

This includes acquiring a building here for its headquarters and the
establishment of the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal.

Foreign Minister Utama Rais Yatim and Unity, Culture, Arts and
Heritage Minister Shafie Apdal have also been invited to attend the
dinner.

The foundation, a non-govermental organisation established under Malaysian
laws, was founded by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on March 12,
2007.

Dr Mahathir had said that war was not an option in this modern world, not
just because of the massive deaths and destruction that modern weaponry can
inflict, but also because the cost of war had gone up so much that even rich
countries like the U.S. could be bankrupted.

Among the foundation's principal objectives are to undertake all
necessary
measures and initiatives to criminalise war and energise peace, and to provide
relief, assistance and support to individuals and communities suffering from the
effects of war and armed conflict wherever they occur and without discrimination
on the grounds of nationality, racial origin, religion belief, age, gender or
other forms of impermissible differentiations.

It will also promote the education of individuals and communities suffering
from the effects of war or armed conflict and foster schemes for the relief of
human suffering as a result of war or armed conflict.

Dr Siti Hasmah told a news conference here that there would be cultural
performances by children who had been affe cted by armed conflicts and a
multimedia presentation during the
dinner.

She said seats were still available for the dinner and donations to the
foundation would be tax-exempted. Details are available from tel. No. 03-8885
8900.


Elaborating on the activities of the foundation, its secretary-general and
one of its trustees, Dr Yaacob Hussain Merican, said it had four
departments -- the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Commission, Kuala Lumpur War Crimes
Tribunal, Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Legal Team and Kuala Lumpur War Crimes
Secretariat.

Under the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Legal Team, it would have four divisions
for investigation, prosecution, defence and victims.

Dr Yaacob said persons identified for prosecution would be notified
directly
or through their embassies or high commissions.

If they refused to attend the trial in Kuala Lumpur, they
would be tried in absentia and all the principles of international law would be
applied. Accused persons would also be assigned defence lawyers of international
standing.

Dr Yaacob said that while the tribunal had no legal powers under
international laws to enforce its verdict, the convicted persons would bear the
stigma of being labelled war criminals.

He said several retired judges and law professors from abroad and
locally
had volunteered to serve in the foundation.

Dr Yaacob said the foundation would be looking at war crimes committed
after
the Second World War.

-- BERNAMA