Ble Goude denies responsibility for PEV crimes as first Pros witness testifies: On Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 and 3 February 2016 in the trial against Gbagbo and Ble Goude the latter’s lawyers have been describing Ble Goude as a peaceful pacificst leader, and likened him to Martin Luther King. Ble Goude told the ICC “When it comes to my fellow citizens, I do not have a single drop of blood on my hands.” Lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops called his client a “man of peace” and stated “Charles Ble Goude never ordered the violence”.
After remarks from Ble Goude and his lawyers, the Prosecution called its first witness, who was identified as P-547. The witness was an Ouattara supporter, and was among thousands of supporters of then-President Ouattara, who marched on a television station following the disputed November 2010 election. He testified that “We moved towards the (television station) bare-handed (un-armed). We could not get very close because people were shooting at us.” The witness testified “I ran a bit, fell down, heard a gunshot and fell down again. I saw my leg had been hit.” He said “I was dragging my leg and saw that the bone was sticking out.” (Daily Times, Times Live, Yahoo! News)
Justice Ministry says Russian cannot participate in ICC Russia / Georgia investigation: According to reports the Justice Ministry said that Russia in unable to participate in the ICC’s investigation into alleged war crimes committed during the conflict in South Ossetia in 2008 because it has not ratified the Rome Statute. Spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said Moscow was disappointed with the ICC’s recent activities and would be forced to “fundamentally review its attitude toward the ICC.” Georgia’s Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani replied that “Georgia has chosen to cooperate with the ICC…” ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda previously stated that the investigation would continue even if any side refused to cooperate. (Agenda, The Moscow Times)
UN investigators say N. Korea leaders should be charged with CAH: United Nations investigator and UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, Marzuki Darusman has called for North Korea’s leaders to face trial for crimes against humanity because there has not been any improvement in human rights since a UN report detailed atrocities there two years ago. The 2014 UN report concluded that North Korean security chiefs, and possibly leader Kim Jong Un should face international justice for ordering systemic torture, starvation and killings. Darusman, who co-authored the report, was speaking at the end of a trip to Tokyo, having repeatedly been refused access to North Korea. (Jakarta Globe)
ICC considering communication from human rights lawyer over Nigerian CAHs on arms procurement: The ICC has confirmed that it received and is considering a communication “as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court” submitted by human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN). In the communication, Mr. Falana asked the court to bring to justice those responsible for allegedly diverting eight billion dollars meant for the procurement of arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, with a view toward whether these activities amounted to crimes against humanity within the Court’s jurisdiction. (This Day Live, news24)
ECCC hears testimony of former Khmer Rouge military commander: On Tuesday, 2 February 2016 the ECCC heard testimony from defense witness and former Khmer Rouge military commander, and naval commander Meas Voeun. Mr. Voeun testified that he had attended a meeting of the navy, army and air force officers after the Khmer Rouge came to power at which he saw Pol Pot and Nuon Chea. He also testified that when a ship “encroached on our territorial waters,” they would “inspect what kind of ship had encroached.” He testified that fishing boats were chased away “but if we were fired upon we would return fire.” He also recalled one boat of Vietnamese refugees that were handed over to Division 164, commanded by Meas Muth. Under cross examination he testified that once the Khmer Rouge came to power, any Vietnamese left in Cambodia were to be killed. Voeun’s testimony is set to continue. (The Cambodia Daily)
French and Canadian bar associations dismiss alleged ethics violations of ECCC lawyers: French and Canadian bar associations have dismissed the allegations of professional misconduct by the defense lawyers for Khieu Samphan when they refused to attend hearings after requests to postpone proceedings and were rejected. The Trial Chamber referred the lawyers to their respective bar associations, but the respective bar associations found lawyers Kong Sam Onn, Anta Guisse and Arthur Vercken had not acted unprofessionally. (The Cambodia Daily)
US Court of Appeal rejects immunity defense of alleged Somali war criminal living in US: A US Court of Appeals in Virginia denied immunity for Colonel Yusuf Abdi Ali, an alleged war criminal from Somalia, from prosecution in a US courtroom. The three judge panel dismissed the war crimes element from the case, citing Kiobel v Royal Dutch Petroleum in which a corporate defendant was found not to have significant contacts with the US, and therefore was not eligible for action under the Alien Tort Statute. On the issue of individual immunity the judges’ decision upheld the Fourth Circuit’s decision in Samantar, and allowed Farhan Warfaa’s claims to continue under the Torture Victim Protection Act. (theguardian)
The post 3 February 2016 – NEWS ABOUT THE COURTS – First Pros witnesses against Gbagbo / Ble Goude, Russia not participating in ICC investigation, UN on CAH by N. Korea, ECCC testimony and ethics allegations, ICC complaint on Nigeria, immunity decision in US and more appeared first on ICL Media Review.