Seselj Still on Hunger Strike

Vojislav Seselj, on trial at the ICTY in the Hague, is in his third week of a hunger strike and refuses to allow local doctors to examine him. Along with his decision to stop eating, Seselj has also stopped taking his medications for blood pressure and asthma. Court officials say they have tried to meet Seselj's demands, but he keeps changing them.

Seselj's death could cause a big anti-Western backlash in Serbia. He is the head of the Radical Party which controls the largest number of seats in the Serbian Parliament. The group is vehemently opposed to NATO and the EU. It does not appear that Serbia will come in line with Western ideals any time soon and Seselj's death will only drive the two further apart. The acting leader of the party is calling Seselj's situation an "execution".

I am not sure what the tribunal can do. They appear to have taken reasonable steps to appease Seselj, but he wants more and more. I do not think that he should be allowed to impose his will upon the tribunal. However, if the court lets Seselj die the political fallout could be messy.

For more check out some previous posts on Seselj here and here.