ICC sentences Congolese warlord Lubanga to 14yrs!

[Ab-Titchaz]

ICC sentences Congolese warlord Lubanga to 14 years

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Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga hears the first-ever sentence delivered by The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, on July 10, 2012. Lubanga was sentenced to 14 years in jail for using child soldiers in his rebel army.
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By AFP
Posted Tuesday, July 10 2012 at 11:06


THE HAGUE

The International Criminal Court jailed Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga for 14 years Tuesday for using child soldiers in his rebel army, the first sentence to be handed down by the world's only permanent war crimes tribunal.

"Taking into account all the factors... the court sentences Mr Lubanga to 14 years in prison," presiding Judge Adrian Fulford said at the tribunal in an address in which he also took aim at the prosecution in the case.

Lubanga, 51, was convicted in March of war crimes, specifically for using child soldiers in his rebel army in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002-03, in the ICC's first verdict since it started work a decade ago.

The former militia commander was sentenced Tuesday by a three-judge bench at a public hearing in The Hague for his part in a war in the Ituri region which rights groups say killed some 60,000 civilians between 1999 and 2006.

He had been found guilty of abducting children as young as 11 and forcing them to fight and commit atrocities in the northeastern gold-rich Ituri region.

During the trial prosecutors told how young girls served as sex-slaves, while boys were trained to fight.

Fulford said the court has taken into account the time Lubanga has already spent behind bars since March 2006, meaning he will effectively spend eight years in prison.

Lubanga had pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

"The crimes of conscripting and enlisting children under 15 and using them hostilities are undoubtedly very serious crimes," the judge said.

"The vulnerability of children mean that they need to be afforded particular protection that does not apply to the general population, recognised in various international treaties," he added.

But Fulford lashed out at the prosecution's conduct in the case, in particular former chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, saying "Mr Lubanga was put under considerable unwarranted pressure by the conduct of the prosecution."

He said the prosecution did not prove that sexual crimes were committed against children nor that Lubanga had a hand in any such acts.

"Nothing suggests that Mr Lubanga ordered or encouraged sexual violence or that it could reflect his culpability," Fulford said. The prosecutor failed to establish "the link between Lubanga and sexual violence beyond reasonable doubt".

The court said it found that Lubanga had cooperated and had a respectful attitude to the proceedings.

Moreno-Ocampo had called for a 30-year sentence against Lubanga, saying his crimes were "of the most serious concern for the international community".

Lubanga, who has been detained in The Hague since 2006, is the founder of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) and commander of its military wing the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC).

At a June 13 hearing, he said his conviction had hit him "like a bullet in the face".

ICC sentences Congolese warlord Lubanga to 14 years *- Africa*|nation.co.ke

 

[Roulette]

This is joke! Even the judges themselves could not agree on such a ridiculous sentence. 14 years??? The prosecution is way too slow. How many Lubangas are still out there? how long will it take for the court to sentence them all if it takes ten years from the moment a warrant is issued to the moment the verdict is pronounced?

If the main actor of a conflict that killed 60,000 civilians in 7 years, and displaced hundreds of thousands, leaving entire villages destroyed and community that once lived in peace are now in a cycle of violence, if this man wh0o enrolled innocent child to commit atrocities and to e used as sexual slaves is condemned to only 14 years of prison when then what type of justice can we expect from them?

And they will condemn Rwanda for setting up its own national court to deal with their genocide? Kweli Gacaca zilikua na kasoro but at least the process was faster and some of the most dangerous and vicious criminals were sentenced in a timely manner.

 

[JokaKuu]

..bado Nkunda,Kabarebe,na Kagame.

 

[VUTA-NKUVUTE]

Mbabe wa zamani wa Kivita wa Mashariki ya Kongo-DRC,Thomas Lubanga,amekutana na wababe. Leo hii amehukumiwa na Mahakama ya Kimataifa ya Jinai maarufu kama ICC kwenda jela miaka kumi na minne. Hukumu hiyo imefuatia kukutwa kwake na hatia kwa makosa ya kusajili na kuwatumia watoto kama wanajeshi. Nani atafuata?

 

[FJM]

This is joke! Even the judges themselves could not agree on such a ridiculous sentence. 14 years??? The prosecution is way too slow. How many Lubangas are still out there? how long will it take for the court to sentence them all if it takes ten years from the moment a warrant is issued to the moment the verdict is pronounced?
If the main actor of a conflict that killed 60,000 civilians in 7 years, and displaced hundreds of thousands, leaving entire villages destroyed and community that once lived in peace are now in a cycle of violence, if this man wh0o enrolled innocent child to commit atrocities and to e used as sexual slaves is condemned to only 14 years of prison when then what type of justice can we expect from them?
And they will condemn Rwanda for setting up its own national court to deal with their genocide? Kweli Gacaca zilikua na kasoro but at least the process was faster and some of the most dangerous and vicious criminals were sentenced in a timely manner.

Kiongozi, 14 years absolutely pathetic! I have met some the girls used as sex-slaves in DRC and I can tell you if you hear what they had to endure you will strungle this man with your own hands. I just dont undertand those judges, is 14 years enough to reform this criminal? The guy is only 51 and by the time he comes out he will be 66, perfect age to resume his campaign?

 

[Roulette]

Kiongozi, 14 years absolutely pathetic! I have met some the girls used as sex-slaves in DRC and I can tell you if you hear what they had to endure you will strungle this man with your own hands. I just dont undertand those judges, is 14 years enough to reform this criminal? The guy is only 51 and by the time he comes out he will be 66, perfect age to resume his campaign?

What mesasge are they sending to other warlords who killed 50,00 instead of 60,000? Kwamba yao itakua better?
And how are you countinf the 14 years? ukute zimebaki 8 hapo because 6 were lost in the trial period. Kwa vile hawana jela, "prison" will be some form of a five star residence under international protection that they call guarded residence. Roho inaniuma hapa kuliko maelezo. I thought I was going to throw when I read this!
Hata Laurent Nkunda, au Bosco Ntaganda, wakiona hii si wanaweza kua encouraged kujitoa pale wanapotaka ku-retire? Kwa maisha ya wanajeshi wastaafu wa Congo this is an award, a recognition for a well done job.

 

[FJM]

What mesasge are they sending to other warlords who killed 50,00 instead of 60,000? Kwamba yao itakua better?
And how are you countinf the 14 years? ukute zimebaki 8 hapo because 6 were lost in the trial period. Kwa vile hawana jela, "prison" will be some form of a five star residence under international protection that they call guarded residence. Roho inaniuma hapa kuliko maelezo. I thought I was going to throw when I read this!
Hata Laurent Nkunda, au Bosco Ntaganda, wakiona hii si wanaweza kua encouraged kujitoa pale wanapotaka ku-retire? Kwa maisha ya wanajeshi wastaafu wa Congo this is an award, a recognition for a well done job.

Ukienda Kivu, utazimia na roho yako. Kuna familia moja mtu na dada walichukulia na watu wa huyu bwana, kasichana kalikuwa only 9, na huyo mvulana alikuwa about 7. Mvulana moja kwa moja alingizwa kambini na mtutu, na wanawapa bangi! huyo mtoto wa kike (just 9) akawa sex- slave. It went on for a year hadi askari mmoja aliwaonea huruma akawatosha. Ukumbuke hapo wawazi wote waliuliwa kinyama na watoto!

Kuna Doctor mmoja anajitahidi sana kuwafanya operations maana wengine is just beyond words. Halafu hawa judges wanatoa miaka 14? Sijui huyu watamfunga jela gani?

 

[Roulette]

Ukienda Kivu, utazimia na roho yako. Kuna familia moja mtu na dada walichukulia na watu wa huyu bwana, kasichana kalikuwa only 9, na huyo mvulana alikuwa about 7. Mvulana moja kwa moja alingizwa kambini na mtutu, na wanawapa bangi! huyo mtoto wa kike (just 9) akawa sex- slave. It went on for a year hadi askari mmoja aliwaonea huruma akawatosha. Ukumbuke hapo wawazi wote waliuliwa kinyama na watoto!

Kuna Doctor mmoja anajitahidi sana kuwafanya operations maana wengine is just beyond words. Halafu hawa judges wanatoa miaka 14? Sijui huyu watamfunga jela gani?

I have worked there... I have seen the nightmare from close range, and that is why I am so angry. Huyo Dr. nadhani ni Dr. Mukwege wa Panzi referal Hospital kama sikosei.

 

[FJM]

I have worked there... I have seen the nightmare from close range, and that is why I am so angry. Huyo Dr. nadhani ni Dr. Mukwege wa Panzi referal Hospital kama sikosei.

Ingekuwa vizuri kama Judges wa hizi kesi wangetembelea Kivu wakajionea wenyewe. Kwangu mimi hii hukumu ni sawa na kuwatesa wale watoto niliowana kwa mara nyingine tena. Cruel.

 

[Roulette]

Ingekuwa vizuri kama Judges wa hizi kesi wangetembelea Kivu wakajionea wenyewe. Kwangu mimi hii hukumu ni sawa na kuwatesa wale watoto niliowana kwa mara nyingine tena. Cruel.

Exactly. the whole idea of creating an international criminal court to try people seem wrong to me. wanasema ni sababu the country is unable or unwilling to cary the trial. But tujaribu kukumbuka hata Arusha. in so many years, how many people were tried? Nadhani in 10 years, ilikua ni 15 people. then rwanda establishes the Gacaca and tries hundreds of people monthly. Kama nilivo sema mwanzo kuna kasoro nyingi na machine nzima ya transitional justice haikua sawa, ila at least it was better than Arusha. sasa nashangaa, tunakutana na situation inayo fanana na ile ya mwanzo. badala ya ku-improve on the Rwandan model eti tunarudi in a Nuremberg type of justice.
Kuna kitu kinaendelea hapa, sio bure. this is a reward in disguise...

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga hears the first-ever sentence delivered by The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, on July 10, 2012. Lubanga was sentenced to 14 years in jail for using child soldiers in his rebel army.

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[bornagain]

I think on this entire saga even president Paul Kagame of Rwanda have something to answer at the International Criminal Court. This is due to the fact that all which is happening in DRC has his blessings but no one is seeing this or talk about this president to be implicated in this saga. Time is a good teacher and one day we will know the truth and the truth shall set us free after Paul Kagame being imprisoned at ICT

 

[Roulette]

FJM, si nilikwambia kua watatoa zile 6 years za prosecution? Inaonekana amebakiza 8 years peke yake. Tena he was sentenced with possibility of parole. Inauma... Akitoka huko akakuja kuwauwa witnesses wote kwa hasira, maana hata vita yenyewe sijui kama itakua imeisha.

 

[Roulette]

I think on this entire saga even president Paul Kagame of Rwanda have something to answer at the International Criminal Court. This is due to the fact that all which is happening in DRC has his blessings but no one is seeing this or talk about this president to be implicated in this saga. Time is a good teacher and one day we will know the truth and the truth shall set us free after Paul Kagame being imprisoned at ICT

This one is tried for his involvement in the Hema and Lendu conflict in Ituri and has nothing to do with the M23 operationg in the Kivu. Conflict ya Congo iko very complex na sio kila kitu kinatokana na Rwandan support. Mengine yanatokana naTanzania kurahisisha small weapon availability in the region. It is very complex to say the least.

 

[FJM]

FJM, si nilikwambia kua watatoa zile 6 years za prosecution? Inaonekana amebakiza 8 years peke yake. Tena he was sentenced with possibility of parole. Inauma... Akitoka huko akakuja kuwauwa witnesses wote kwa hasira, maana hata vita yenyewe sijui kama itakua imeisha.

Haiwezekani? Wale watoto watafanye mungu? Kuna baadhi ya victims sasa hivi wapo Lugufu - Kigoma. Will they ever go back to Kivu? What's wrong with this ICC?

 

[Roulette]

Haiwezekani? Wale watoto watafanye mungu? Kuna baadhi ya victims sasa hivi wapo Lugufu - Kigoma. Will they ever go back to Kivu? What's wrong with this ICC?

Well, it is not their war, not their people, not their children. Hawana uchungu. Prosecutor aliomba 30 years, judges wakatofautiana. mmoja alisema wazi kua hakubaliani na hiyo sentence ila judge mkuu akaitamka hivo hivo. 14 yers, toa 6, and then parole juu... this is ridiculous!!!
Hao wa Lufugu na Nyarugusu wanatokea Kivu, haya yalitokea Kule mpakani mwa Uganda in Ituri.

 

[FJM]

Well, it is not their war, not their people, not their children. Hawana uchungu. Prosecutor aliomba 30 years, judges wakatofautiana. mmoja alisema wazi kua hakubaliani na hiyo sentence ila judge mkuu akaitamka hivo hivo. 14 yers, toa 6, and then parole juu... this is ridiculous!!!
Hao wa Lufugu na Nyarugusu wanatokea Kivu, haya yalitokea Kule mpakani mwa Uganda in Ituri.

Can the prosecutor appeal? Trust me, 8 yeard akitoka atasafisha kila kitu. Anachoenda kufanya sasa hivi huko jela is to review his plans and make sure they catch him again.

 

[Roulette]

Can the prosecutor appeal? Trust me, 8 yeard akitoka atasafisha kila kitu. Anachoenda kufanya sasa hivi huko jela is to review his plans and make sure they catch him again.

Apparently hii sentence ni baada ya prosecutor ku-appeal in March this year.

 

[Mziba]

Kiongozi, 14 years absolutely pathetic! I have met some the girls used as sex-slaves in DRC and I can tell you if you hear what they had to endure you will strungle this man with your own hands. I just dont undertand those judges, is 14 years enough to reform this criminal? The guy is only 51 and by the time he comes out he will be 66, perfect age to resume his campaign?

Mkuu, according to the Nation on the Judge's reasoning "

He said the prosecution did not prove that sexual crimes were committed against children nor that Lubanga had a hand in any such acts.[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]"Nothing suggests that Mr Lubanga ordered or encouraged sexual violence or that it could reflect his culpability," Fulford said. The prosecutor failed to establish "the link between Lubanga and sexual violence beyond reasonable doubt".[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]The Judges probably took bribe. European institutions are riddled with corruptions, when it comes to African matters and contracts. It's a public record: just do a little search and you will uncover how they take our leaders for a ride. If the OAU would be a true African organization, this could be a ground for Africans to demand that these cases being tried in Africa. Isn't there a court in Arusha? I think if the proceeding and ruling were taking place, It could have an Impact on the deliberation. FJM your experience in the Congos do have Impact when you think about these things[/FONT]
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[Mziba]

FJM, si nilikwambia kua watatoa zile 6 years za prosecution? Inaonekana amebakiza 8 years peke yake. Tena he was sentenced with possibility of parole. Inauma... Akitoka huko akakuja kuwauwa witnesses wote kwa hasira, maana hata vita yenyewe sijui kama itakua imeisha.

The man on this video who happen to be a Congolese, who also thinks 8 years is enough, seems to avoid the question whether or not Lubanga got away with sexual atrocities counts. There is no way any African would have given such a scripted answer given an opportunity to speak his or her mind. The man appears to have been follow orders on what to say. It's like go there, introduce your NGO, and be nice (make sure to smile). Sometimes, It's as if Lumumba was not among them. I don't know what kind of social justice his organization is advocating, One would think a sexual abuse is a social justice issues. What did we expect anyway, three European Judges ruling on a case of raped little African girls against a very wealthy man, from Ituri gold mines. I think there something fundamentally wrong about this verdict.