A new report from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noting Senegal's continued failure to bring former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré to justice, vindicates demands that Senegal should swiftly extradite Habré to Belgium to face trial, Human Rights Watch and Chadian victims' groups said today.
In a report made public on June 20, 2012, Secretary Clinton said that, "After 20 years, the victims deserve justice and their day in court." Clinton urged the Senegalese government to take "concrete steps" to prosecute Habré in Senegal or extradite him to Belgium.
Habré is accused of responsibility for thousands of political killings and systematic torture when he ruled Chad from 1982 to 1990. He has been living in exile in Senegal for more than 21 years but has yet to face justice there. Habré is wanted by Belgium on charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture.
"Hillary Clinton has recognized the suffering of Habré's victims and the need for justice as swiftly as possible," said Jacqueline Moudeïna, lawyer for Habré's victims and the president of the Chadian Association for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights. "At this stage, the only realistic option for swift justice means Habré's extradition to Belgium, where he can be tried quickly. Otherwise we will be stuck in Senegal for many more years."
In December 2011, while approving US $50 million in development assistance to Senegal, the US Congress expressed "concern that Hissène Habré has not been extradited for prosecution" and asked the secretary of state to report on "steps taken by the Government of Senegal to assist in bringing Habre to justice." Clinton delivered her report to the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 6.
Clinton urged the Senegalese government to "move quickly" in bringing Habré to justice. "If progress is not forthcoming on efforts to extradite or prosecute, the Department of State will continue to press vigorously for expedient action by Senegal in finally holding Habré to account," Clinton said in the report.
Following Macky Sall's defeat of Abdoulaye Wade in Senegal's presidential elections in March, the new Senegalese government has indicated that it prefers to prosecute Habré in Senegal rather than extradite him to Belgium. However, victims' groups have expressed concern that a trial in Senegal would require several more years and would undoubtedly put justice beyond the reach of more victims, many of whom have already died.
Secretary Clinton's report noted that shehad sent a message to Wade, who was then the president, in September 2011 urging a trial in Senegal or extradition to Belgium but that efforts to hold Habré accountable had "effectively stalled." Clinton expressed the hope that the new administration "may help to catalyze action" to bring Habré to justice.
Habré was first indicted in Senegal in 2000. The country's courts said that he could not be tried there, however, so his victims filed a case in Belgium. In September 2005, after four years of investigation, a Belgian judge indicted Habré and Belgium requested his extradition, but a Senegalese court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to decide on the extradition request.
Senegal then turned to the African Union (AU), which called on Senegal to prosecute Habré "on behalf of Africa." President Wade accepted the AU mandate, but years of wrangling over the trial budget ensued. In November 2010, the international community pledged €8.6 million (US$11.4 million) for Habré's trial.
A ruling by the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in November 2010 required trying Habré before a "special ad hoc procedure of an international character." In May 2011, Senegal withdrew from negotiations with the AU over creation of the court.
In July 2011, Senegal threatened to expel Habré to Chad. The Chadian government then announced its support for extraditing Habré to Belgium to face trial.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to rule by the end of the year on a suit Belgium filed against Senegal in February 2009, alleging that Senegal has violated the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by failing to prosecute Habré or extradite him to Belgium.
Belgium submitted a new extradition request to Senegalese authorities in January 2012 following the dismissal of two earlier requests on technical grounds after the Senegalese government appeared to have failed to transmit the Belgian legal papers intact to the court. The latest extradition request is believed to be in the hands of the Senegalese national prosecutor's office, which has yet to transmit the matter to the courts for adjudication.
Secretary Clinton's report notes the new government's intention to try Habré in Senegal and to comply with the forthcoming decision from the International Court of Justice. The report calls on Senegal not to wait for an ICJ ruling but to move forward quickly with his prosecution in Senegal or his extradition to Belgium.
"Time is running out for the survivors who are dying in growing numbers each year," said Reed Brody, counsel and spokesperson at Human Rights Watch, who has worked with Habré's victims for 13 years. "Belgium offers the most timely and realistic option of ensuring justice for Habré's victims."
Habré was deposed by President Idriss Déby Itno in 1990 and fled to Senegal. His one-party regime was marked by widespread atrocities, including waves of ethnic campaigns and systematic torture. Files of Habré's political police, the Direction de la Documentation et de la Sécurité (DDS), which were discovered by Human Rights Watch in 2001, reveal the names of 1,208 people who were killed or died in detention and 12,321 victims of different human rights violations.
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By now Africa should know that we in the Caribbean are black.Africa should stop propping up western democracies.Then seek the freedom that only Africa's people could give.Africa should raise a loud voice against:Whites who come to rob graves,and desecrate shrines,and holy places.The white man being a false profit.I am asking Africa to build a monument remembering the men and women.Forceably taken from African shores.to labour in the new world.Africa should legally reinforce the right to speak any of its hundreds of languages.Then have the grammars and literatures of these languages documented.As a project.Let the profits of Bal go under.Peter Carlos Hinds.
"LISTEN TO THE DRUMS BEATING FROM THOSE WHO CAN NOT KEEP THIER RED LITTLE NOSES OUT OF AFRICAN POLITICS. I WOULD LOVE HER TO STOP ARMING AND CREATING THESE VILE MASSACRES COMMITTED BY THE FREE SYRIAN ARMY SO THE WEST CAN INTERVENE". WHEN WE HEARD THE THREATS RECENTLY BY THE WEST WE KNEW THEY WERE GONNA DO SOMETHING TO INFLAME THE SITUATION THEY ATTACKED DAMASCUS THEN ASSAASI NATED THE THRE SENIOR OFFICIAL WHO DIED. LET ME REMIND READERS THE ONLY PEOPLE CAPABLE OF EXECUTING SUCH MILITARISM IS THE WEST. NO SPECIAL FORCES HAVE DEFECTED FROM THE SYRIAN ARMY, THOSE WHOM HAVE DEFECTED ARE LOW CALIBRE ARMY OFFICERS WHO PROBABLY WERE POSTED AT THE GUARD HOUSE OR WORKED IN THE KITCHEN. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE WESTIS INTENT ONCREATING THIS GREAT SUNNI SHIITE DIVIDE, WHILST IN THE PROCESS THEY KILL MANY CHRISTIANS WHOVE REMAINED LOYAL TO THE REGIME. "I AM FOR A REVOLUTION AT EVERY SPECTRE BUT "I AM NOT FOR ASKING SATAN HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN". THIS WAS PHASE 2 OF THIER PLANS FOR THE ENTIRE REGION INCLUDING ALL AFRICA, THIS WE KNOW AS AFRICANS , FAR FROM SLEEPING. "THEY UNDERESTIMATE THE AFRICANS MIDSET FOR INDEPENDENCE AND DECIDING THIER OWN DESTINIES. THEY SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT WE ENJOY BEING SLAVES AND LACKEYS !!THIS WOMAN SEEMS TO WANT TO HAVE HER NOSE AS THE REST OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IN AFRICAS EVERY SINGLE STEP. SHE WAS PART OF THE ENTOURAGE WHICH DISRESPECTED THE AFRICAN UNION DURING THE LIBYAN CRISIS, MAING LEADERS TO LOOK LIKE LITTLE MBWAYS FRONT OF THE WORLD. THEY THE AMERICANS ARE SO CLEVER THEY ARE PUSHING SO MUCH VIOLENCE IN SYRIA; THEY HAVE SAS CIA FRENCH FOREIGN LEGIONS ON TRHE GROUND TO MAKE SURE THAT MR. ANANNS PLAN FAILS FLAT, WHY ? SO THEY CAN LOOK AT THE WORLD WITH CLEAR CONSCIENCE , ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY SPEAK TO AFRICA ,WHEN WE AKSED FOR THESE VERY THINGS; THE PEACE ROADMAP IN LIBYA THEY OPTED FOR WAR; DELIBERATELY OFFENDING AFRICAN LEADERS TALKING DOWN TO THEM MAKING THEM LOOK THE FOOLS. TODAY THEY WANT TO MAKE IT APPEAR AS THOUGH THEY WERE RIGHT, SEE! WAR IS THE ONLY ANSWER> THEY ARE NOT RIGHT , IF WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE IRAQ 2,3,4 AS WE DO , THEN INTELLECT RULES "TOO MUCH CONFLICT IS GOOD FRO NOTHING ; BUT MORE OF THE SAME" THERE WILL COME TO SOME STANDING AFTER THE CONFLICT DOING IT THE AMERICAN WAY THY WILL EMPOWER ONE SET WHILE DRIVING THE OTHER TO SEEKREVENGE AND DISTABLSING THE ENTIRE REGION. THESE WERE THE SAME THINSG THEY DIDI TO AFRICA AFTRE THIER BRUTAL ENSLAVEMNET AGANDAS TRHEY GAVE TO THOSE A MINORITY THE POWER AND CREATING WHAT WE SEE TODAY SO WE MUST SEARCH FRO THE BETTER WAY THIER WAY HAS NOT CHANGED IN FIVE HUNDRED YEARS OF USING THE SAME POLICIES. THERE AGAENDA IS OUTDATED ANTIQUATED AND HAS NO ROOM FOR A MODERN WORLD A 21ST CENTURY WORLD. TO ENCOURAGE THIER WYA IS TO STAY STUCK INTIEM STAY INFERIOR AND TRULY AFRAID AS THEY SEEK TO MAKE THE WORLD THIER WORLD FULL OF TERROR " AS THE MOST WEALTHIEST OF ALL NATIONS( IN MILITARY ONLY); BUILDING, AFTER THIER MISUSE OF THE AFRICAN" BUILDING AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX BASED SOLELY ON DEATH THE MANUFACTURING OF WEAPONS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH MURDER. THEY HAVE BECOME THE MOST MURDEROUS REGIME ANYWHERE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH SINCE WEVE HAD CIVILIZATION,THEY HAVE NOTHINHG CONSTRUCTIVE TO SELL TO THE WORLD EXCEPT MURDER DEATH CONFLICT AND MORE DEATH. THIER EVERY WAKING MOMONET IS FILLED WITH THE WORD SECURITY.THE WORLD IS SECURE BUT;; NOT WITH YOU!!! THEY FERMENT CONFLICTS LL OVER AFRICA ASIA, DRIVING THIER AGENDA FEEDING STROKING FIRES THEN IMPLIMENTING PHASE 2 SECURITY WEAPON SLAES AND THEN TROOPS. DESTRUCTION THEN FOLLOWS THEN THEY COME IN FOR THE KILL REBUILDING AND PROVIDING SECURITY; THIS IS THE GRAND SCHEME OF THE AMERICAN PENTAGON CIA FOR THIER WORLD HEGEMONY. THERE IS NO PRESIDENT JUST TOW IDEOLIGOCALY BASED PARTIED VYING T APPEASE THE MILITARY SEEING WHICH ONE CAN SELL THE MOST TYRANICAL CORRUPT SYSTEM OF THE TWO TO THIE IGNORANT VOTERS. MOST AMERICANS DO NOT HWERE ANYTHING IS ON THE MAP WE LEARNED THAT DURING THIER PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES THEY WERE MOSTLY A BUCH OF IGNORANT REDNECKS WHO EMBARRSSED ANY TRULY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE IN AMERICA; WHICH IS VERY FEW. THE ORDINARY PEOPLE TODAY ARE WISING UP IN AMERICA AND THEY SEE THE GOVERNMENT FOR WHAT IT IS. LOOK AT THE GREAT TRAGEDY IN COLORADO WITH THE MURDERS IN A THEATRE , THIS GOES ON DAILY IN AMERICA THE DIFFERNCE WAS THIS WAS A PLACE WHERE ANY ONE COULD'VE BEEN. AMERICA LIKES DICTATING GIVING ORDERS WHILE THEY HAVE THIER 5TH FLEET IN BAHRAIN WATCHING HUMAN ATTROCITIES BEING PRACTICED LIKE A SIDE SHOW .THE SUADIS AND BAHRAINI MONRACHY MURDERING PEOPLE DAILY . THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CRYING OFR FAIR FREE INDEPENDENT ELECTIONS YET THEY ARE BEING SHOT DOWN IN THE STREETS LIKE DOGS DAILY FOR OVER 18 MONTHS!!! WHERE IS THE AMERICAN TRUTH JUSTICE DEMOCRATIC VOICE??AS AS FOR THE BELGIUMS DO YOU KNOW THEY WERE THE MOST DESPOTIC EVIL PSYCOTIC MURDEROUS OF ALL THE COLONIALIST IN AFRICA DURING ALL THIER TYRANNICAL REGINMES RIEGNS ON THE CONTINENT??? "AFRICA IS EVOLVING AND VERY FAST , BUT LIKE THE BRITISH WE FEEL 'THIS CASE IS TOO OLD ,SO WE WONT HOLD ANYONE RESPONSIBLE???? THIS IS A RESPONSIBLE ARGUMENT ISN'T IT ? I FEEL THIS GENTLEMAN SHOULD SAY SORRY!! THIS IS A BIG WORD IN THE WEST SORRY" 'HEY WE ARE SORRY FOR LIVING!!!; EVERY CRIME THEY COMMIT THEY SAY "SORRY"!!! WHY SHOULD NOT AFRICANS DO THE SAME?. WEHAVE CRIMINALS IN WESTERN GOVERNMENSTS ALONGSIDE THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONSS COMMITTING HIENOUS CRIMES DAILY ,WHEN THEY ARE SHOWN UP THEY RETIRE WITH PENSIONS WELL ENDOWED PENSIONS AND A SIMLE SORRY!!!. LET US NOT FORGET THE DESTRUCTION THEY LEFT IN THIE PATHS OF THIER CEPRAVITY CONTIUING THE WORLD FINANACIAL CRISIS IMPRTOPERLY PLUNDERING PILLAGING WHILE THOUSANDS DIE IN THE WAKE OF THIER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. THERE IS NO SUCH THING IN THESE MATTERS AS A VICTIMLESS CRIMES OR ANY NNOECNMT CRIMES. THESE ARE METHODICAL METICULOUS PRE MEDITATED CRIMES THAT ENSURED BARBARIC SUFFERING. LET THE WEST FOCUS ONTHIER DEVATATING WORLD CRISIS AND SHOW THE WORLD THEY WANT TO CHANGE NOT USE AFRICA FOR THIER FREAK AND SIDE SHOW. WHEN AFRICANS HAVE CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS IN PLACE THAT THEY HAVE ALL COOORDINATED THEN THEY WILL CERTAINLY MAKE FOR IT A WORLD CLASS COURT SYSTEM . DO NOT PRESSURE ON AFRICA WHEN YOUR HEADS ARE STUCK IN THE SAND WHEN YOU CONTIUE TO EAT THE FOOD OF MILLIONS FORCING THEM INTO THE GRAVE OR THE GARBAGE HEAP DONT BE HYPOCRITICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!