PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
UN: ICC to open Ntaganda trial on 7 July at The Hague
New York, US (PANA) - Trial Chamber VI of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday
scheduled the opening statements in the trial of former rebel leader in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (DRC), Mr. Bosco Ntaganda, for 7 and 8 July, 2015, with a possible extension to
9 July, 2015.
An ICC statement, made available to PANA in New York, stated that the opening statements in
the trial will take place at the ICC headquarters complex in The Hague, the Netherlands, in
accordance with the ICC Presidency’s decision of 15 June 2015.
It recalled that the Trial Chamber VI had indicated its intention of bringing the Court’s judicial work closer to the most affected communities, and had found that it was in the interests of justice for the opening statements to be held in Bunia, DRC.
"Subsequently, the ICC Presidency consulted with the DRC authorities and with the Trial Chamber, and the Presidency also received observations from the ICC prosecutor, the defence and the legal representatives of Victims, as well as reports from the ICC’s Registry at its headquarters.
"The ICC Presidency noted that holding the proceedings in Bunia may, in principle, contribute to a better perception of the Court and bring the proceedings closer to the affected communities.
"The Presidency also noted the excellent co-operation and willingness of both the DRC and the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to facilitate the holding of the proceedings in Bunia," the statement noted.
However, it said that in deciding whether it was desirable and in the interests of justice to sit in Bunia, DRC, the ICC Presidency considered a number of factors.
"Most importantly, it considered concerns over the consequences of the in situ hearings on the witnesses and victims’ safety and well-being, as well as the security of the local communities involved.
"Furthermore, the Presidency considered the concerns expressed by the victims that the accused return would remind them of the suffering and trauma, and it also considered the impact of the logistics required for the hearings, which may have resulted in the affected communities having limited access to them, given their length and nature.
"Finally, the Presidency noted the financial impact of the costs of hosting the opening statements in Bunia, DRC, which were estimated to be more than 600,000 Euros," it said.
Consequently, the ICC Presidency concluded that the potential benefits of holding proceedings in Bunia DRC, are being outweighed by security and logistics risks.
The statement said the start of the prosecution's presentation of evidence is scheduled on the week of 17 August.
It also disclosed that the trial will be conducted by Trial Chamber VI, composed of Presiding Judge Robert Fremr, Judge Kuniko Ozaki and Judge Chang-ho Chung.
Ntaganda, former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Force Patriotiques pour la Liberation du Congo (Patriotic Force for the Liberation of Congo) (FPLC), is accused of 13 counts of war crimes, comprising murder and attempted murder, attacking civilians, rape, sexual slavery of civilians, pillaging, displacement of civilians, attacking protected objects and destroying the enemy's property.
Others are sexual slavery, enlistment and conscription of child soldiers under the age of 15 years and using them to participate actively in hostilities, and five crimes against humanity comprising murder and attempted murder, rape, sexual slavery, persecution, and forcible transfer of population allegedly committed in Ituri, DRC, in 2002-2003.
Mr. Ntaganda is currently in ICC's custody.
-0- PANA AA/VAO 16June2015
scheduled the opening statements in the trial of former rebel leader in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (DRC), Mr. Bosco Ntaganda, for 7 and 8 July, 2015, with a possible extension to
9 July, 2015.
An ICC statement, made available to PANA in New York, stated that the opening statements in
the trial will take place at the ICC headquarters complex in The Hague, the Netherlands, in
accordance with the ICC Presidency’s decision of 15 June 2015.
It recalled that the Trial Chamber VI had indicated its intention of bringing the Court’s judicial work closer to the most affected communities, and had found that it was in the interests of justice for the opening statements to be held in Bunia, DRC.
"Subsequently, the ICC Presidency consulted with the DRC authorities and with the Trial Chamber, and the Presidency also received observations from the ICC prosecutor, the defence and the legal representatives of Victims, as well as reports from the ICC’s Registry at its headquarters.
"The ICC Presidency noted that holding the proceedings in Bunia may, in principle, contribute to a better perception of the Court and bring the proceedings closer to the affected communities.
"The Presidency also noted the excellent co-operation and willingness of both the DRC and the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to facilitate the holding of the proceedings in Bunia," the statement noted.
However, it said that in deciding whether it was desirable and in the interests of justice to sit in Bunia, DRC, the ICC Presidency considered a number of factors.
"Most importantly, it considered concerns over the consequences of the in situ hearings on the witnesses and victims’ safety and well-being, as well as the security of the local communities involved.
"Furthermore, the Presidency considered the concerns expressed by the victims that the accused return would remind them of the suffering and trauma, and it also considered the impact of the logistics required for the hearings, which may have resulted in the affected communities having limited access to them, given their length and nature.
"Finally, the Presidency noted the financial impact of the costs of hosting the opening statements in Bunia, DRC, which were estimated to be more than 600,000 Euros," it said.
Consequently, the ICC Presidency concluded that the potential benefits of holding proceedings in Bunia DRC, are being outweighed by security and logistics risks.
The statement said the start of the prosecution's presentation of evidence is scheduled on the week of 17 August.
It also disclosed that the trial will be conducted by Trial Chamber VI, composed of Presiding Judge Robert Fremr, Judge Kuniko Ozaki and Judge Chang-ho Chung.
Ntaganda, former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Force Patriotiques pour la Liberation du Congo (Patriotic Force for the Liberation of Congo) (FPLC), is accused of 13 counts of war crimes, comprising murder and attempted murder, attacking civilians, rape, sexual slavery of civilians, pillaging, displacement of civilians, attacking protected objects and destroying the enemy's property.
Others are sexual slavery, enlistment and conscription of child soldiers under the age of 15 years and using them to participate actively in hostilities, and five crimes against humanity comprising murder and attempted murder, rape, sexual slavery, persecution, and forcible transfer of population allegedly committed in Ituri, DRC, in 2002-2003.
Mr. Ntaganda is currently in ICC's custody.
-0- PANA AA/VAO 16June2015
