Four to stand Hague trial over poll violence this year

The ICC is working towards using the Kenyan case as a deterrent to other African countries against use of violence as a means of getting into power. Photo/ FILE

By COSMAS BUTUNYI AND PETER LEFTIE
Posted Friday, October 22 2010 at 22:37

ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo said on Friday that at least four ODM and PNU officials would appear before him by the end of the year.

“I will present my first two cases this year against two to three individuals from the two different sides,” Mr Ocampo said in an interview with the France24 international news channel.

Mr Ocampo said the cases, which would be based on evidence, could involve senior government officials. The ICC is working towards using the Kenyan case as a deterrent to other African countries against use of violence as a means of getting into power.

Already, officials from the ICC have been to Guinea, which is planning its elections, and Cote d’voire to impress upon the leaders to hold peaceful elections.

“Kenya’s case is a signal that if you produce massive violence it is not a ticket to power, but to The Hague,” the ICC prosecutor said.

Mr Ocampo, however, admitted that he is working against ‘strong elements’ who still perpetuate the idea that committing atrocities is a way of gaining power.

On the claims by critics that the ICC has focused more on the continent, instead of its global scope, Mr Ocampo said that he took up some of the cases he is handling, such as Uganda, Congo and the Central African Republic upon invitation by the country’s leaders.

Mr Ocampo described the case of Sudan President Omar Al Bashir as the ‘most complicated’ that he is handling. He added: “When the international community is united, it is part of the solution. When it is divided, it is part of the problem.”

Record statements

Meanwhile, top security officials in charge of post-election violence hot spots will have to wait a little longer before they can appear before the ICC investigators, it has emerged.

Lawyers representing PCs, DCs and provincial police bosses on Friday said their clients would only appear before ICC detectives once the rules governing the recording of statements are published and the registry set up.

One of the lawyers, Mr Evans Monari, noted that the advocates will need time to consult with their clients before recording statements after the registry is set up.

He said the lawyers expect to have a meeting with the judge appointed by the government to preside over the recording, Justice Kalpana Rawal. “We expect her to call us for a meeting to discuss house keeping issues,” the lawyer stated.

The rules state how evidence from witnesses, in this case the top security chiefs, is to be gathered and how notices summoning them to appear before the ICC detectives are to be made.

Justice Rawal is expected to witness the recording of statements from the security chiefs before certifying and handing them to the Attorney-General.