Arusha, September 14, 2012 (FH) –The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Fatou Bensouda this week released three names for election as Deputy Prosecutor, while the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) announced to hold two sessions in October.
ICC
Prosecutor submits names for her deputy: Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on Wednesday submitted to the Assembly of States Parties the names of three candidates of whom one will be selected to be her Deputy. Raija Toiviainen of Finland, Paul Rutledge of Australia and James Stewart of Canada have been scrutinized from 126 candidates who applied for the post. The Deputy Prosecutor will be elected by the 121-member Assembly of States Parties at its 11th session, due to take place in The Hague from November 14 to 22.
DRC
HRW accuses rebels in eastern DRC of committing war crimes: In a report published on Tuesday, the Human Rights Watch accused M23 rebel group of committing extensive war crimes including rapes and killings. The statement added that 33 of those executed were young men and boys who tried to escape the rebels’ group, while 15 civilians in areas under their control were deliberately killed. The fighters also allegedly raped 46 women and girls. HRW called on M23 commanders to be held accountable and said Rwandan officials allegedly supporting them should face justice for aiding and abetting the crimes.
ICTR
Appeals Chamber hearings slated for October: The Tribunal this week announced that judges on appeal would hold two sessions in October on cases involving three former Rwandan senior officers. On October 8, they will hear appeals for two former ministers, Justin Mugenzi and Prosper Mugiraneza, both challenging 30-year-jail terms, for conspiracy to commit genocide and direct and public incitement to commit genocide. The following day, judges will deliver judgment in appeal case of ex-Director in the Women and Family Affairs Ministry, Jean-Baptiste Gatete, given life sentence for genocide and crime against humanity.
NEXT WEEK
ICC
Bemba Defence hearing continues: Defence hearing in the case of Jean Pierre-Bemba is expected to continue on Monday (September 17). Bemba, the leader of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), is charged with crimes against humanity and crimes of war mainly for his command responsibility in crimes committed by his troops in Central African Republic between 2002 and 2003.
RWANDA
Mugesera in court again: Rwandan scholar Leon Mugesera is expected on Monday, September 17, to appear before a High Court in Kigali for the opening of his trial. He is accused of inciting genocide in a 1992 speech delivered in Kinyarwanda, during a meeting of his political party in northern Rwanda.
FK/NI/GF