27.10.14 - CHAD/JUSTICE – 28 SUSPECTED HABRE ACCOMPLICES REFERRED TO CRIMINAL COURT

Arusha, October 27, 2014 (FH) – Twenty-nine suspected accomplices of former Chadian president Hissène Habré were on Thursday referred to a criminal court in Chad, reports Human Rights Watch (HRW), calling this a significant step forward in victims’ long fight for justice.

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The human rights group nevertheless insists on the necessity for their trials to be organized in a fair and transparent way.  The list includes two people who are under arrest warrants from the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC), set up within the Senegalese courts to bring to justice those presumed most responsible for international crimes committed in Chad under Habré’s regime (1982-1990). HRW counsel Reed Brody said that survivors, widows and orphans have been fighting for 24 years to get Habré and his accomplices brought to justice. After the indictment of Habré in Dakar, he said the indictment in Chad of members of his regime was a big step forward in the fight against impunity.  According to the N’Djaména court, the accused will be tried for murder, torture, kidnapping, arbitrary detention, deliberate assault and injuries, assault and injuries resulting in death and other inhumane acts.   ER/ JC