A bill to extend for 10 years the statute of limitations on death sentences meted out by Belgian courts against persons condemned for major war crimes was introduced in Parliament here today by the Ministry of Justice. The bill would extend to 1975 the right to carry out the death sentences “for infractions or attempted infractions against the security of the State between May 9, 1940 and May 8, 1945.”
An explanatory statement appended by the Ministry declared: “The memories of atrocious crimes committed during Worl War II. cannot be forgotten because of their gravity and because of the great number of victims. Additionally, it is obvious from the behavior in exile of the principal condemned that they have shown no remorse. Thus, no impunity can be bestowed on them.”
The Ministry made it clear that the draft measure has a limited objective, does not affect the ordinary statute of limitations, and concerns only those who have been condemned to death for crimes committed during World War II. The Ministry stated it had the draft examined by the Council of State, the country’s highest judicial body, which, it stated, does not believe the bill would violate the Convention of Human Rights or any fundamental liberties.
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