After a long wait, the court proceedings of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) finally kicked off on Jan. 16 in The Hague. The STL is trying the alleged killers of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and some of his companions. This event is highly unusual and historic for a number of reasons.
First, the Lebanese people — having experienced years of institutional disruptions and paralysis — are unaccustomed to scenes symbolizing justice and the rule of law. Lebanon's judiciary has traditionally self-annulled, succumbing to the de facto forces and surrendering to the logic of carrots and sticks. If Lebanon had a functioning justice system, there would be no need for the STL. The UN Security Council resorted to its formation with Resolution 1757 (2007) after Lebanon's culture of violence took hold of the country, and the central state authority could no longer deter crime.
