In another important step for the International Criminal Court (ICC), on Wednesday its prosecutor announced charges against six high-profile Kenyans, including the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta. The charges all relate to the violence that killed 1,200 people after disputed elections in 2007:
BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says in recent days there has been a degree of panic among some members of the usually untouchable political elite.
Most Kenyans feel these prosecutions are vital in order to undermine the deeply rooted culture of impunity, our correspondent says.
The key question now is whether those accused will hand themselves over or be shielded by politicians and evade justice, he says. (BBC)
This news follows last month’s commencement of a court case against former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba in a welcome show of how the ICC is starting to make more of a mark in holding powerful politicians to account for allegations of serious crimes against humanity.
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6 Comments
The ICC only seems to be for African countries.
I read that as “Six senior Keynesians ” for a second.
I mean, I know their policies mar people in poverty, but it’s a bit rich to start trying to count the dead!
RichardSM: there does appear to be some truth in that!
May I suggest as one possible explanation that some of the non-African conflicts that have led to extreme human rights abuses have been dealt with by specific courts. So, for example, the ICTY dealt with the former Yugoslavia and (some of) Cambodia’s abuses are also being dealt with under a special arrangement.
The Rome Statute, which created the ICC, came into effect only in 2002: owing much to the interventionism spearheaded by Tony Blair.
Indictments include individuals such as Joseph Kony, Jean-Pierre Bemba (trial just commenced) and Omar al-Bashir. Perhaps RichardSM can suggest individuals more worthy of investigation than these monsters. As Tom Papworth says, other courts have been convened for specific conflicts, such as the Special Court of Sierra Leone which is trying Charles Taylor.
To be honest, I am a bit surprised that charges are being considered. Not because the riots weren’t horrific, but because it was, quite frankly, small beer for Africa… 1,200 dead represents a good week in Eastern Congo.
Kenya is a signatory to the Rome Statute, but has not handed over al-Bashir when he’s passed through. Maybe this is a frightner to push for that.
@ Alec Macph
“Perhaps RichardSM can suggest individuals more worthy of investigation than these monsters. “
We are all equal in the eyes of the law.
So, you think a minor shoplifter should be pursued with the same verve and then subject to the same punishment as a mass-murderer?
Once more, who would you say is being ignored by the ICC despite having committed crimes of a similar magnitude to the individuals I named?