Furious activists criticise state for supporting Ocampo Six

Saturday, 09 April 2011 00:03 BY NZAU MUSAU

STOP spitting on the wounds of the victims.This was the message civil society leaders attending a conference at the Hague told MPs yesterday. The civil society leaders, who were clearly not amused by the manner in which MPs have taken over the court since Wednesday, said both the government and MPs had demonstrated that they don't care about the victims.
They said the MPs supporting the suspects have never been as vocal on the concerns of the victims whom they represent. “The government and politicians must stop spitting on the wounds of the victims; no political statements, rallies, cheering squads or ethnic balkanisation can bring justice to the victims,” they said in a statement read out at the entrance of the ICC yesterday.
The human rights activists made the statement before Uhuru Kenyatta, Francis Muthaura and Maj-Gen Hussein Ali appeared at the court yesterday afternoon.
They included Kenya Human Rights Commission’s Esther Waweru, COVAW’s Lydia Munyiva, Kituo Cha Sheria’s Martin Ouma, International Centre for Policy and Conflict’s Kasiva Muli, ICJ’s Stella Ndung’u and ICTJ’s Christine Alai. They chided the government allegedly pulling all stops to derail the post-election cases.
Attorney General Amos Wako, Solicitor General Wanjuki Muchemi and Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko attended the ICC hearings. "The inadmissibility challenge is another attempt by the government to impede accountability efforts. It is calculated to derail the ICC process," they said.“It is alarming that the government has chosen to stand on the side of its political allies expending time and resources through shuttle diplomacy to pursue deferral of the cases, an intention to provide time and resources to the suspects and now an application challenging the ICC jurisdiction,” they said.
The civil society leaders are at The Hague for a roundtable meeting with court officials.Some were also conducting study tours at the court which they believe is shaping the course of justice in the country.