Global court to rule on charges for first trial (ICC / child soldiers / Congo)

[struggle4progress]

Sun 28 Jan 2007 6:16 PM ET

AMSTERDAM, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) will decide on Monday whether there is enough evidence to try a Congolese militiaman for using children as soldiers in what would be the new court's first trial.

A decision to confirm charges against Thomas Lubanga and launch a trial would be a major landmark for the ICC, set up as the first permanent global war crimes court in 2002.

The court could also throw out the charges, request further evidence and investigations, or ask prosecutors to consider amending a charge. Some victims' groups want the charges expanded to include crimes such as killings, rape and torture.

The Democratic Republic of Congo -- rich in gold, diamonds and timber -- was the battleground for rebels, local factions, tribes and several neighbouring countries, in a 1998-2003 war in which 4 million people died, mainly from hunger and disease ...

http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=L2852757

[Zhade]

1. Kick for the kids

KICK

[Eugene]

2. BBC: ICC trial for DR Congo's warlord

Last Updated: Monday, 29 January 2007, 16:37 GMT

ICC trial for DR Congo's warlord

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ruled there is enough evidence
against a DR Congo militia leader to launch the court's first trial.

Thomas Lubanga, 46, is accused of recruiting child soldiers during DR Congo's
brutal 1998-2003 civil war

Prosecutors allege that children as young as 10 were kidnapped and forced
to fight in 2002-2003,

-snip-

"Lubanga made children train to kill, Lubanga made them kill and Lubanga
let the children die... in hostilities," prosecution lawyer Ekkehard Withopf
told the court during a hearing in November.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6308963.stm