Gideon Nkala
23 October 2009
The family of the Botswana soldier who was killed in Darfur, Sudan by rebels might get justice as the case against his killer got underway at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
Major Gaolathe Tiro of Manyana was killed in September 2007 while serving in the African Union Peace Keeping Force in Darfur. The 40-year-old soldier was a pilot in the army. He joined the BDF in 1993. He died in Sudan together with nine other soldiers from Senegal, Mali and Nigeria after their base was overrun by rebel forces in Haskania, Sudan.
Last Monday, Abu Garda the commander of the rebel group that allegedly killed the peace-keepers appeared before the ICC in the case that is now known as the Prosecutor versus Bahr Idriss Abu Garda. The ICC said Abu Garda arrived voluntarily in the Netherlands. His case is the first where the ICC judges issued a summons to appear rather than a warrant of arrest.
Abu Garda faces three charges of war crimes allegedly committed on 29 September, 2007 against African Union peace keeping mission in Sudan. He is charged with posing violence to life in the form of murder, whether committed unintentionally or intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units, or vehicles in peace-keeping mission and pillaging.
ICC prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo said because of the attacks on the peace-keepers, the soldiers had to withdraw leaving thousands of civilians unprotected. This had grave consequences for delivery of humanitarian aid as well as safety and security. Although Abu Garba's trial is on-going, Botswana government officials say they have not been notified by the ICC.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs acting head of public relations, research and information Daphne Mlotshwa said that she could only surmise that the matter could have been taken to the ICC by the African Union (AU).
ICC public information officer, Sonia Robla said he was unable to confirm the victims alleged to have been killed by Abu Garda and his rebels.
She said at this stage, they are not allowed to talk about the victims nor their nationalities.
The Abu Garda case will continue until October 29.
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