The fight for justice
The case of Dragan Vasiljković, Daniel Snedden – better known as Captain Dragan, is not just a story about one man and his fight for justice. This is a universal example of the dangers that threaten every individual on the planet if justice systems become a tool of political persecution, and human rights are threatened by procedural abuses. If such a fate can befall a hero of millions and an unsurpassed humanist, no one in the world can feel safe.
Captain Dragan Fund: A symbol of humanitarian work
Immediately at the beginning of the war, Dragan Vasiljković founded the “Captain Dragan Fund” in the territory of the former Yugoslavia with the aim of providing assistance to the victims of the war, regardless of their nationality. The fund has become synonymous with humanitarian action, achieving significant results and leaving an indelible mark:
• Aid to children: More than 14,000 scholarships were awarded to children of wounded and dead soldiers until they came of age, including more than 1,500 children born after the death of their fathers.
• Support for health facilities: Donations to hospitals, rehabilitation centers and humanitarian organizations during sanctions, including medical equipment, medicines and fuel.
• Technological inclusion: The public computer center in Belgrade provided free computer training for more than 16,000 citizens.
• Assistance to people with disabilities: Speech synthesis in the Serbian language was developed, enabling blind and partially sighted people to use digital technologies.
During the most difficult periods, the fund was a key support for communities affected by war, sanctions and poverty. His actions are documented and available in the archives of the Hague Tribunal, confirming his selfless commitment to helping people.
Legal battle: Unsuitable precedents
Captain Dragan was arrested in Australia in 2006 on the basis of a warrant from Croatia, which accused him of war crimes, without credible evidence. His case soon became a symbol of the abuse of the justice system:
• Record-long detention: More than 12 years spent in detention without indictment, verdict or verifiable evidence, in conditions that violated basic human rights.
• Procedural abuses: The alleged “losing” of his case in the archives of the UN Human Rights Committee additionally indicates the seriousness of political pressures and abuses.
• Refusal of immunity: Dragan refused the status of a protected witness and the immunity offered to him in exchange for his testimony, thus showing his consistency in the fight for the truth.
These precedents not only called into question the credibility of judicial institutions but also created a dangerous model that could threaten human rights around the world.
Global Significance: A Warning to Humanity
Captain Dragan’s fight has universal significance. If abuses of justice can happen to a man whose actions are undeniably humanitarian, no one is safe from similar abuses. This is not just a matter of justice for one man – it is a matter of preserving basic human rights.
• Comparison with Gandhi and Mandela: Like the struggle of Gandhi and Mandela, the struggle of the Captain goes beyond local conflicts and is a global resistance against injustice.
• Universal danger: His case proves that the worst abuses happen precisely in the so-called “democratic” societies: Australia, the USA – Guantanamo… thereby endangering every individual regardless of nationality, religion or political orientation.
• Symbol of resistance: Captain Dragan becomes a symbol of the fight against the abuse of judicial systems and the global threat to human rights.
Why is this important to every human being on the planet?
The normalization of arrest and detention without evidence or judgment could threaten the foundations of justice and human rights:
• Erosion of legal systems: Political repression under the guise of justice turns all individuals into potential victims.
• Universal danger: This precedent can open the door to abuses that threaten the basic rights of people around the world.
• Wake-up call: This is the moment when humanity must recognize the seriousness of the situation and stand up for the basic principles of justice.
The case of Captain Dragan is not just a legal problem – it is a test of our collective ability to protect human rights. His fate is a warning to all: when justice becomes a weapon of politics, the freedom of each individual becomes endangered.