Nairobi — Coming so soon after the International Criminal Court's indictment of Sudanese President Hassan al-Bashir, the capture on Monday of former Serbian President Radovan Karadzic reinforces the message that leaders everywhere must ultimately be called to account.
Karadzic was captured in his own country after 11 years as a fugitive, and now faces almost certain extradition to The Hague where the UN War Crimes Tribunal will be glad to receive him.
Karadzic is the most prominent Balkan war crimes suspect arrested since former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic was captured and taken to The Hague on genocide charges in 2001. Milosevic died in custody.
That a group once so dominant and virtually untouchable in the European tribal conflicts was reduced to being hunted like common criminals is powerful testimony to the role an international justice system can play.
As we in Kenya watch to see whether one of our neighbours, President al-Bashir, will be slapped with an arrest warrant over the Darfur genocide, let us not forget that some of our own leaders, too, have stoked ethnic warfare.
The impunity displayed is based on the premise that some are untouchable. But fortunes change, and in the end Karadzic and Milosevic were ousted, captured and turned over for trial by their own people.
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Your editorial piece on the capture of Karadzic is very educative but misses on one fact; the arrest and prosecution of corrupt and genocidal leaders requires transparency and moral cooperation of the local government and courts, NOT international! The people and citizens themselves have to unite in the fight against the criminals with one voice, the judiciary must be corruption-free so that there is no cover-up of friends and cohorts, and the media have to be proactive in exposing the evils. But how many times do we see leaders go Scot-free within our own Kenyan government even when obvious criminal charges have been starkly brought against them? The most you can get is short-lived drama in courts then the `suspects' go either underground or get back into public offices!. In fact, Karadzic may have been cautious enough to camouflage and at least disguise himself from the public but our own `Karadzics' in Kenya end up going back to hold public offices and shamelessly have the audacity to even hold both local and international press conferences to defend their behavior. Can you name one single member of the cabinet or civil service who has been prosecuted and jailed over the Anglo Leasing scam or Kamleshi Patni saga?
Take note you dictatorial leaders Africa who abuse the civil rights of and butcher the citizens hoping to escape the long reach of the accountability requirements by perpetuating yourselves in power! You can run and hide but not for ever.
SUrely you had maverick bloodstained illegitimate President Mugabe in mind when filing this warning!
Great that Africans start calling our leaders to account for.
"SUrely you had maverick bloodstained illegitimate President Mugabe in mind when filing this warning! Great that Africans start calling our leaders to account for." How in hell can you be an illegitimate president when 85% of the voters vote for you? You're letting western propaganda go to your head, dolt.
Dsjoser-35;Am sure you're the most highly paid Bobs spokesperson. How can you defened Mugabe fro what he has done? you dare even write 'How in hell can you be an illegitimate president when 85% of the voters vote for you?'You read the herald too much I dont know news channel you watch;and nayway the guilty are always afraid.How did you know they were referring to you small god-Bob in the article.style up. I think tjhe best proffession fro you is to immigrate to your neighbour botswana and become a cattle herder.
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