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Monday, June 24, 2002
The Hague's Peace Palace
By Atty. Fritz V. Quiñanola
IBP LINK
I recently visited the Peace Palace at The Hague, in the Netherlands, where three great international institutions— the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Permanent Court of Arbitration and Library of International Law and Law of Nations majestically sit.
It is not merely a venue of proceedings of worldwide importance, it is also known as a temple of peace.
Nations all over contributed towards its construction by making available characteristic products of their soil, art or industry. There are many rooms and areas in the palace that contain a variety of international designs. Its name, Peace Palace, was given to express the great importance attached to the endeavor to solve disputes and so to maintain world peace.
The Philippines may not have contributed its local art or resources to the Peace Palace, but the IBP Cebu City chapter may well have contributed in a very small way through this writer who donated some copies of his law books to its library during his recent visit. Lawyer Ingrid L. Kost, LL.M., deputy director of the Peace Palace Library graciously received the books. The books will form part of the myriad of references available at the library.
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Two important cases are now pending before the ICJ. They are the trial of Slobadan Milosevic, erstwhile ruler of Yugoslavia, for war atrocities and the dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia over a disputed island.
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A portion of the palace that may amaze some Filipino lawyers is an imposing statue of Lady Justice at the lobby. In the Philippines, we see Lady Justice as a shapely and beautiful lady clad in a white gown holding a sword and a scale with her eyes blindfolded. Her looks may personify Rizal’s Maria Clara. The blindfold means that litigants who are her suitors before her are treated without discrimination and that is what justice means.
The blindfold symbolism is not however without detractors. Some local legal smarts claim that justice on the contrary should be an open eye to clearly see and dispense justice. But our Supreme Court was quick to say: “Lady Justice may be blindfolded, but she is neither blind or naïve. She can distinguish chicanery from wisdom, fallacious argument from common sense.”
The statue of Lady Justice at the Peace Palace is different. It is a depiction of a muscled but still good looking lady dressed in working clothes with eyes clearly open. She looks like the rough version of TV’s Xena, the Warrior Princess. She may personify the local version of Gabriela Silang. It was explained that the strong physique of this Lady Justice means that she is able to crush anybody, man or woman, who transgresses or tinkers with law or justice.
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Q-Quote. “The clear and limpid voice of justice is incessant and tireless in telling the conscience of man to give everyone what belongs to him and in admonishing us to give what is due to God.” (Taken from the book, Jewels of the Spirit).
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Humor. Lawyer: You say you’ve a perfect answer to this wife parricide charge? What is it? Client: she wasn’t my wife.
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This writer can be reached at email: fritzquinanola@hotmail.com. |
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