David was pleased to see some familiar faces and some new comers to East Moreland. He'd read a lot about King Karlis and on paper he was a man deserving of respect. Queen Atalanta was someone he'd meet before and had found interesting. That then brought his good friend Piripi whose display of respect brought a smile to David's face. He would have the Priestesses of Jekar retrieve the club he had offered and have it prominently displayed somewhere for the public to see. Freya too had enjoyed seeing old friends and was now looking forward to showing off her new axe. David meanwhile suspected her knew what Stein wished to talk about but that would wait.
"I asked you all to meet me here because of the significance of this spot. As you are all, I hope aware of this places significance" The King smiled hopefully. "This place can be thought of as the birthplace of East Moreland. It was a day that changed the world for us and began a process of bringing to justice people who had acted as oppressors and tyrants for years. In the aftermath of the battle that took place here a total of 31 people who had ruled the lands prior to that day found themselves put on trial for crimes such as murder, corruption, heresy, and a vast array of others. While the manner of their court cases were very different to the ones we use today the concept of not allowing time to be a way of escaping justice was cemented into our nation here. Of those 31 people all were found guilty of their crimes and on spots across the vista before us were beheaded or hanged depending on their crime. Justice was served. Fast forward some 1000 or more years and we now have a whole collection of people who engaged in criminal acts able to live in safety and security. As a historian I know that the passage of time does not always bring progress but in this case it should. No one who has committed the worse crimes against humanity should be permitted to have a safe haven. They should forever be looking over their shoulders fearful of the next knock on the door being the one that will drag them into a court room. With this in mind I have asked you all here because you, like us belonging to the Cult of Helus, have faced great tragedies in living memory. While there will be other nations on Mundus who will no doubt be interested in these matters we will be the ones to start the ball rolling." David lead them to a large stone building that was the visitors centre and in its boardroom, a place usually used by the Greenflowers Preservation Committee, the Heads of State, their accompanying advisers and a gaggle of civil servant gathered around the long table.
"I believe we have three problems to overcome in pursuit of justice. For each I think, or hope at least, that I have a solution that will lead to the creation of a global campaign to ensure justice. The first problem is finding these people for potential cases. The Otikoro Muhali Foundation(OMF)
[1] set up in the Unified Iwi is a great example, they have a fantastic track record of investigating crimes during the Seleucid occupation of their lands, gathering evidence and helping secure convictions. I would like to suggest that we invite Mr. Muhali and his staff to take a lead on establishing a global equivalent. Their techniques, their practices and methodology is an excellent example of what we would like to achieve. I therefore propose the creation of the Historic Crimes Investigation Centre (HCIC). Each of us will provide funding, and I am sure certain groups may also wish to donate knowing how OMF have attracted funding from victims who have made a success of businesses. This organisation will hunt down those connected with various incidents such as the slaughter of Cultists within Royal Seleucid. Once we have the names, details and evidence of the individuals this brings me to the second problem."
"The second problem is getting hold of the person. We have seen issues with nations like Royal Seleucid being unwilling to extradite suspects even when significant evidence is produced. This has lead to the Unified Iwi for example taking matters into their own hands. All a person has to do is sit peacefully in their homeland to escape justice. While I think this may always be an issue we can make their life difficult. I would like us to examine a multi-national agreement that would see each of us, if capable within the confines of existing laws, make arrests of anyone who the others wish to see on trial. Knowing that a network exists that will lessen their choices of travel will make their life more difficult. I also would like this agreement see us impose sanctions on individuals named and seize their assets. The harder we can make their situations the better. While this is a potentially useful tool the issue though is getting them to trial."
"The trial itself is a problem. We have nations around the world that will not extradite to nations with the death penalty. We also have nations that have dragged out extradition proceedings for considerable periods and many of these wanted for their crimes are no longer spring chickens. Time is critical. We've also seen some nations critical of things such as the Maori method of sentencing. What I therefore propose is that the method used to bring the latest Seleucid criminal to justice. Having managed to get to Rokkenjima there were issues getting him to trial as Rokkenjima refused to extradite and so instead we stepped in and hosted the trial. Should we get a situation where a nation has the suspect in custody and won't extradite we establish a court here in East Moreland with rules that will ensure that the individual can be extradited and face a fair trial."
David took a quick sip of green tea before waving at the waiting Quinn Germaine, his Chief of Royal Household, who presented a document to each person around the table. "This is what I have so far."
Aware that throughout living history crimes have been committed that have gone unaddressed by any lawful authority.
Concerned that perpetrators of these crimes have utilised time and geography as a means to escape justice.
Determined that those who have committed these crimes will face justice
Understanding that there exists since 2015 a mechanism for trying many crimes considered by this treaty
The undersigned nations have agreed to work together by committing to the following Articles
Article 1 - The Historic Crimes Investigation Centre (HCIC)
1. Each nation that has signed this treaty shall support the creation of the Historic Crimes Investigation Centre, hence force referred to as The Centre.
2. The Centre shall be located in Hunters Bay in the Commonwealth of the Unified Iwi and its first Director-General shall be Otikoro Muhali.
3. Each nation shall contribute whatever funds it feels appropriate to maintain the Centre. The Centre may also accept charitable donations from other sources but must publish annually details of any single donation of more than $10,000.
4. The Centre shall be tasked in investigating any crime committed with the following limits
a) It must have taken place within the last 80 years.
b) It must have a reasonable chance of bringing a conviction for something that was a crime at the time of the alleged offence.
c) It does not interfere in the mechanisms of the Uppsala Convention.
5. After 12 months a formal interview process will take place to name a Director-General for the next four years.
6. The Director-General position will be interview for every four years. Each nation having contributed funds to the Centre shall have a vote on the appointment. There shall be no impediment to the serving Director-General reapplying.
7. Should a majority of nations bring a vote of no confidence against the Director-General then the interview process may take place before the four years limit is reached.
8. Each nation shall appoint a Chief Investigator who shall be the centres point of contact for their nation.
9. Nations are to make available to the Centre any and all materials needed for effective investigations so long as doing so does not break any national law or impede national security.
10. The Centre shall once they have collected sufficient evidence for a prosecution present this to the Legal Panel which shall be made up of a legal expert from each signatory nation. Should a majority of this Panel believe their is a likelihood of gaining a conviction the case shall be passed to the Historic Crimes Commission Panel.
Article 2 - The Historic Crimes Commission Panel (HCCP)
1. The Historic Crimes Commission Panel shall comprise one official from each signatory nation. Hence forth the Historic Crimes Commission Panel shall be referred to as The Panel
2. The Panel shall be tasked with working with law enforcement, national governments and other relevant bodies to acquire the individual identified by the Centre for trial.
3. The Panel shall present evidence from the Centre to authorities in order to gain an extradition to the nation in which the crimes were committed.
4. Upon receiving a case from the Centre the Panel shall issue a HJT Warrant, this shall carry the same weight as a police arrest warrant in signatory nations.
5. Signatory nations agree that they shall arrest anyone a HJT Warrant is issued for.
6. Should the individual be in a non-signatory nation the Panel shall work to aid local law enforcement to apprehend the individual as far as required.
7. Should a nation not act upon a HJT Warrant the Panel are instructed to present to signatory nations governments proposals for packages of sanctions and/or seizures these may include, but are not limited to
*Sanctions against national governments
*Sanctions against Heads of State/Government
*Travel restrictions of citizens
*A ban on sale of certain items related to law enforcement and military matters
*Seizure of individual property of the alleged criminal or their businesses.
8. Once a person with a HJT Warrant is arrested the Panel shall undertake work to secure if needed an extradition. If extradition is refused they are permitted to undertake work to establish a Historic Crimes Tribunal
Article 3 - The Historic Crimes Tribunal
1. There shall be established at Northfort Barracks Military Prison a Historic Crimes Tribunal, henceforth known as the Tribunal.
2. The Tribunal shall be made up of a judge nominated by each signatory nation.
3. The Tribunal shall be utilised if a nation that has arrested an individual with a HJT Warrant refuses extradition yet recognises the need for a trial.
4. Upon a defendant being brought to the Tribunal the role of Lead Judge shall be determined by drawing lots. Any judge from nations directly involved in the case shall be excluded. Two additional judges, also drawn by lots, shall act as Assistant Judges.
5. The Lead Judge shall be responsible for ensuring that the court case follows as far as possible the legal system of the nation in which the crime was allegedly committed.
6. If a jury is required this shall be formed from remaining judges in the first instance. Nations directly involved in the case shall have their judges excluded from the jury.
7. Any jury must be made up of at least seven individuals and must be an odd number. Should there not be sufficient judges remaining from the Tribunal nations shall appoint additional judges.
8. Verdicts of juries shall be accepted on a majority vote. Verdicts using non jury trials will require a majority of the judges.
9. Sentencing shall be guided in the first instance by the recommended sentence at the time the crime was committed.
10. For death sentences to be handed out the following conditions must be meet.
a) That no agreement on the matter was reached as part of extradition.
b) Unanimous guilty verdicts were returned.
c) The nation which has brought the case would normally utilise the death penalty for the crime.
11. The manner of execution shall be hanging for civilian convictions and firing squad for crimes committed while part of a military.
12. Executions shall be undertaken by members of the East Moreland Royal Military Police unless those convicted agree to the use of executioners from the nation in which they committed the crime.
13. Prior to execution anyone convicted may appeal their case to a panel of thee randomly selected judges excluding those from nations involved in the case or those who sat as judges in the first case.
14. Should a person be found not guilty they shall be returned to their country of residence at the earliest oppurtunity.
15. Any individual sentenced to a custodial sentence shall serve it in the Northfort Barracks Military Prison in accordance with East Moreland's prison service regulations.
16. Any parole hearings are to be heard by The Tribunal utilising three randomly selected judges.
Article 4 - Membership
1. Any nation willing to abide by the terms of this treaty may become a member.
2. Any nation withdrawing from this treaty are expected to abide by any warrants issued while still a member and understand failure to do so may bring about action as suggested by the Panel.
3. Any nation withdrawing from this treaty with individuals imprisoned accept that the individual will serve to remainder of their sentence according to conditions set at the time of sentencing. The withdrawing nation may still be involved in parole and appeal hearings in the future.
Article 5 - Miscellaneous
1. Signing this treaty does not prevent nations concluding their own extradition treaties with other nations.
2. No nation shall knowingly enter into an arrangement that would interfere with an individual accused of a crime escaping justice.
3. There shall be an annual conference of the Centre to give a report on the progress of their work.
4. This charter may be amended with approval of the majority of voting members.
The undersigned nations have agreed to all contained above.
"I believe this document could bring a great many people to justice and also will ensure international incidents are lessened in the future. Please give me your honest thoughts. I would like though to thank King Piripi for working with me on aspects of this document. The cause of justice for the Maori has brought me to understand a great many of you will have similar desires as His Majesty and I as I steadfastly support his cause I will support yours."
