18 November 2008
The first suspect to face war crimes charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC) - Congolese rebel leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo - is now scheduled to go on trial next January.
The court announced Tuesday that it had lifted the stay on the proceedings it had imposed in June, and that judges had suggested a provisional commencement date for Lubanga's trial of January 26.
Lubanga is described by the court as the founder and leader of the Union des Patriotes Congolais (UPC), one of several groups involved in conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He is accused of conscripting child soldiers into the UPC's military wing and of deploying them in fighting in Ituri between September 2002 and August 2003.
He was arrested in March 2006 and transferred to face trial at The Hague in the Netherlands - the seat of the court. However, the court imposed the stay on proceedings when it found that the prosecution had incorrectly failed to share with the defence confidential evidence it had obtained from the United Nations and non-governmental organizations.
The prosecution was acting under a provision in the Rome Statute, which set up the court, which allowed it to receive confidential documents, not for using in a trial but for generating new evidence.
The court announced on Tuesday that the trial chamber hearing the case believed the reasons for imposing the stay "have fallen away." It said judges would explain their reasons fully in a written decision still to be released.
The court also decided that Lubanga should remain in custody until January.
Background: What Went Wrong With Historic War Crimes Case?
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 allAfrica.com. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
One down and more to go! Praise GOD! There needs to be an International Law that states any country who knows children are being abused (raped, tortured, mamed, murdered, put in military service left destitude) should be put to death! Any country that harbors criminals like this would be removed from the World Community and be labled as a criminal counrty. They would not have a say on the world stage because they lost there Humanity. Africa, you should be ashamed, yes ashamed. Grown men allowing or I should say forcing children to do there biding. Look at Kony and how long he's been destroying humanity, what is even worse his own people. All the african leaders do is take aid build luxury homes for themselves and supporters and forget about the people who are the most in need expically the children. Everytime I read about Africa it's rape, murder, disease, conflict after conflict. Jail is way to good for these criminals! Africa stop playing games and do the right thing hunt these creeps down and shoot them on the spot! Anyone who would put a child in harms way should be dealt with swiftly! Please exterminate anyone who would hurt a child. May GOD shed his light on the darkness of those hidden from justice! Africa wake up and save something more precious than all your natural resources (gold, silver, copper, etc.) save the children! They are the future of Mighty Africa if given a chance.
The Gate Keeper
This is a sterling reminder to the warlords that none of the war crimes committed will go unpunished. There won't be any excuse or any amesty for what is happening in Eastern Congo.