Moreno-Ocampo Promises Appeal in Lubanga Case, Discusses Future cases
International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo spoke with blogger Melanie Gouby and played down the Trial Chamber’s decisions to suspend the case against Thomas Lubanga, and to release him from custody. In the interview, available here, Moreno-Ocampo argued the court’s order was the sign of a strong court and that his office was in the process of complying with the court’s order to disclose the identity of an investigator who is alleged to have bribed witnesses in order to gain more damaging testimony against Lubanga. The defense has claimed that some of the witnesses have assumed other identities and were not in fact child soldiers.
Lubanga is the first person brought to the The Hague to face charges before the ICC. He was brought before the court in 2007 on war crimes charges, claiming he had conscripted and used child soldiers. His trial began in January of 2009, the defense began its presentation in 2010, the case was suspended over the prosecutions refusal to disclose the identity of the witness as ordered by the court. Lubanga was the reputed head of the Union of Congolese Patriots in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Of great interest in the interview was Moreno-Ocampo’s discussion of cases that are currently being investigated but have not been made public or charged. Those include, Georgia, Colombia, and Afghanistan. Guinea is also under investigation.
A significant criticism of the court is that only African nations have open investigations and accused. The open question will be how long before a non-African nation becomes a recognized situation with accused before the court.
