>> Al-Jazeera

ICC AUTHORISES KENYA VIOLENCE PROBE

Al-Jazeera - March 31, 2010

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has authorised the court's prosecutor to investigate Kenya's post-election violence.

Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo asked judges last November to approve an investigation into the 2007-08 post election violence and said in March Kenyan political leaders organised and financed the attacks against civilians.

The ICC said in a statement issued on Wednesday that a majority of judges had responded positively to Ocampo's November 26 request, saying "the information available provides a reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed on Kenyan territory."

Weeks of violence that followed Kenya's 2007 general election left over 1,133 people dead, caused 400,000 to flee their homes, and brought Kenya to the brink of civil war.

Kenya has shown little willingness to prosecute those responsible for the violence, but has agreed to provide the ICC with confidential information about the incidents.

"President Kibaki's and Prime Minister (Raila) Odinga's commitment to justice and to cooperation with the ICC is crucial," prosecutor Moreno Ocampo said after a three-judge panel authorised him to investigate.

"This is a moment for Kenyans to come together," he said.

"To understand and acknowledge what happened. To make sure it will never happen again."

'Right decision'

Mark Ellis, Executive Director at the International Bar Association welcomed the decision.

"I think it is a very important step for Kenya and the international community," He told Al Jazeera.

"The ICC provided an opportunity for Kenya to undertake their own investigation and prosecution, but they were not able to do that.

"It is morally and legally right for the International Criminal Court now to undertake this first step and that is the investigation into the crimes that were committed in Kenya."

Ellis added that Kenyans can not enjoy "sustainable peace and certainly not reconciliation unless those who have committed these atrocities are brought to justice.

The ICC is the world's first permanent court mandated to bring to justice perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide when national courts are unable or unwilling to do so.

Currently, 110 states are parties to the ICC.

Segnala questa pagina