I think it is a good thing some of the Kenyan Leaders were taken to the
ICC. If you look at the pattern, all, except one have been found guilty on various charges. Though their process is
long, justice is inevitably delivered.
These are some of the cases the ICC has overseen and all were found
Guilty. Apart from the Rwandan due to insufficient evidence.
1)
Thomas Lubanga(Congolese rebel leader)ICC started investigation in March
2004, verdict was passed on 17 March 2006
2) Germain
Katanga(leader of the Patriotic Resistance Force in Ituri, in Congo)
Trial started on 2 July 2007, and verdict passed on 17 October 2007
3) Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui(a colonel in the Congolese army and a
former senior commander of the National Integrationist Front (FNI) and
the Patriotic Resistance Force in Ituri (FRPI)) Trial begun on 6 July
2007 and verdict passed on 7 February 2008
4) Jean-Pierre Bemba
(leader of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), a rebel
group turned political party) His trial started on May 22, 2007 and
verdict passed on July 3, 2008. Moreno Ocampo was prosecutor in chief
for this case. He was charged with five counts of war crimes (murder,
rape, torture, pillaging, and outrages upon personal dignity) and three
counts of crimes against humanity (murder, rape and torture)
5)
Callixte Mbarushimana (a Hutu Rwandan) was indicted for crimes against
humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo in 2009. ICC trial started on January 25, 2011. he was
later He was released on 24 December 2011 as it was found there was
insufficient evidence to convict him. (Pre-Trial Chamber declined to
confirm the charges against him)
6) Laurent Gbagbo (President of
Côte d'Ivoire) Arrested on 11 April 2011 and a guilty verdict passed on
November 30, 2011. Luis Moreno Ocampo was the chief prosecutor in this
case as well.
7) Charles Taylor (President of Liberia) trial
started on 20 June 2006 and verdict passed on 26 April 2012
really the road to justice on this world takes quite sometime, i wonder why. i do hope justice will be found for the Kenyan case though, that the people who were displaced will see the end of their struggle and pain and a light at the end of the tunnel.
ReplyDeleteAlthough having the charged imprisoned would bring the affected some closer, I do not think it will change their living conditions in the country.
DeleteKenya generally has management problems. For instance how thousands can starve yet food is rotting in reserves. Another case is the annual flooding in western Kenya-why not tap the water? Have water reserves to help and enhance farming in Northern and North Eastern provinces...instead of having the pastoralists come all the way into the city looking for meals for their cattle?
well the four who had their charges confirmed will undoubtedly go through the process as it is out of Kenya's hands to interfere with the process. However, the ICC process should not be seen as replacement for action from Kenyan courts on lesser crimes committed by laymen. ICC is just but the first step towards seeking legal redress for the crimes...
ReplyDeleteI do believe if it were left to Kenyan courts, nothing would happen, look at the past cases, goldenberg. The dude stole millions from Kenyans and now he own a church and still among the richest persons in Kenya. Even while in court, he was signing autographs...really? is that a way to treat a criminal?? The same way when the ICC dudes returned from their hearings, at the airport they were welcomed back as though they were heroes!
Delete