Congo warlord pleads not guilty in landmark child soldiers trial

[rpannier]

A Congolese warlord pleaded not guilty to charges of using child soldiers in battle as his historic trial got underway Monday at the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court.

Thomas Lubanga, 48, faces six charges of recruiting and sending children under the age of 15 to the armed wing of his Union of Congolese Patriots political party between September 2002 and August 2003.

The hearing before a three-judge panel in The Hague marks the first international trial where victims will participate.

snip

"This first ICC trial makes it clear that the use of children in armed combat is a war crime that can and will be prosecuted at the international level," said Param-Preet Singh, counsel in Human Rights Watch's International Justice Program.

link:
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/01/26/congo-icc.html

[LeftishBrit]

1. The use of children as soldiers is just horrible.