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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2013 5:13:27 GMT 3
Kenya: UN General Assembly Back ICC BY NZAU MUSAU, 24 AUGUST 2013 KENYA suffered a blow yesterday after the UN General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution in support to the ICC. In the last few months, Kenya has been pulling all the stops to disparage the ICC in the eyes of UN Security Council. Through Permanent Representative to the UN Macharia Kamau, Kenya has criticized the philosophical basis of the ICC almost suggesting it be scrapped. But on Thursday, the UNGA in its 95th meeting endorsed the ICC and called on members to "ensure cooperation and assistance in the arrest and surrender of suspects, provision of evidence, protection and relocation of victims and witnesses and in the enforcement of sentences." The resolution was sponsored by 59 member states but was adopted by consensus. There was no record of Kenyan delegation speaking. The Sudan delegation however ensured their anti-ICC stance was reflected in the resolution. "Sudan's representative pointed out that, since his country was not a State party, it did not recognize the Court's jurisdiction, and would, therefore, not recognize its decisions. That applied to other non-States parties to the Statute, he said, adding that he was not interested in today's resolution," a statement from the assembly read. The assembly hailed ICC's first judgment against Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga as "an important step in ensuring accountability of those responsible for international crimes." Both president Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto are facing crimes against humanity charges at the ICC. In May, Macharia asked the UNSC to terminate the Kenyan cases and to reconsider the value of ICC. allafrica.com/stories/201308250113.html
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Post by kamalet on Sept 25, 2013 8:55:28 GMT 3
Kenya: UN General Assembly Back ICC BY NZAU MUSAU, 24 AUGUST 2013 KENYA suffered a blow yesterday after the UN General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution in support to the ICC. In the last few months, Kenya has been pulling all the stops to disparage the ICC in the eyes of UN Security Council. Through Permanent Representative to the UN Macharia Kamau, Kenya has criticized the philosophical basis of the ICC almost suggesting it be scrapped. But on Thursday, the UNGA in its 95th meeting endorsed the ICC and called on members to "ensure cooperation and assistance in the arrest and surrender of suspects, provision of evidence, protection and relocation of victims and witnesses and in the enforcement of sentences." The resolution was sponsored by 59 member states but was adopted by consensus. There was no record of Kenyan delegation speaking. The Sudan delegation however ensured their anti-ICC stance was reflected in the resolution. "Sudan's representative pointed out that, since his country was not a State party, it did not recognize the Court's jurisdiction, and would, therefore, not recognize its decisions. That applied to other non-States parties to the Statute, he said, adding that he was not interested in today's resolution," a statement from the assembly read. The assembly hailed ICC's first judgment against Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga as "an important step in ensuring accountability of those responsible for international crimes." Both president Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto are facing crimes against humanity charges at the ICC. In May, Macharia asked the UNSC to terminate the Kenyan cases and to reconsider the value of ICC. allafrica.com/stories/201308250113.html...rather old news already trumpeted by ICC's ambassador to Jukwaa...NJAKIP
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2013 16:49:05 GMT 3
Kenya: UN General Assembly Back ICC BY NZAU MUSAU, 24 AUGUST 2013 KENYA suffered a blow yesterday after the UN General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution in support to the ICC. In the last few months, Kenya has been pulling all the stops to disparage the ICC in the eyes of UN Security Council. Through Permanent Representative to the UN Macharia Kamau, Kenya has criticized the philosophical basis of the ICC almost suggesting it be scrapped. But on Thursday, the UNGA in its 95th meeting endorsed the ICC and called on members to "ensure cooperation and assistance in the arrest and surrender of suspects, provision of evidence, protection and relocation of victims and witnesses and in the enforcement of sentences." The resolution was sponsored by 59 member states but was adopted by consensus. There was no record of Kenyan delegation speaking. The Sudan delegation however ensured their anti-ICC stance was reflected in the resolution. "Sudan's representative pointed out that, since his country was not a State party, it did not recognize the Court's jurisdiction, and would, therefore, not recognize its decisions. That applied to other non-States parties to the Statute, he said, adding that he was not interested in today's resolution," a statement from the assembly read. The assembly hailed ICC's first judgment against Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga as "an important step in ensuring accountability of those responsible for international crimes." Both president Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto are facing crimes against humanity charges at the ICC. In May, Macharia asked the UNSC to terminate the Kenyan cases and to reconsider the value of ICC. allafrica.com/stories/201308250113.html...rather old news already trumpeted by ICC's ambassador to Jukwaa...NJAKIP It's a month old. Posted it just to remind the likes of you.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2013 17:49:01 GMT 3
By Felix Olick at The Hague HAGUE, NETHERLANDS: Deputy President William Ruto has suffered a setback at The Hague after judges rejected his application for leave to appeal the decision allowing the prosecution to add two new witnesses. In their ruling dated Tuesday this week, the three judge panel said that Ruto’s defence team had failed to identify the ‘appealable issues’ and could not be allowed to go ahead by merely disputing the decision of the Chamber. “As held by the Appeals Chamber, the Pre-Trial or Trial Chamber is vested with power to state, or more accurately still, to certify the existence of an appealable issue,” they noted in their ruling. Judges Chile Eboe-Osuji, Olga Herrera Carbuccia and Robert Fremr were unanimous that the addition of witnesses P-604 and P-613 would not affect the defence’s preparation for the case as stated by Ruto. They, however, noted that the two witnesses should be among the last to testify. ICC Posecutor Fatou Bensouda had convinced the judges that she needed two more witnesses to replace the testimony of witness 534 who had withdrawn from the process. However, Ruto through his defence counsel Karim Khan argued that Bensouda had failed to substantiate that the evidence expected to be given by the two witnesses could indeed replace that of 534. “The Prosecution has failed to substantiate that the evidence expected to be given by P-604 and P-613 could indeed be considered as a replacement of the evidence that Witness 534 had been expected to give,” Khan noted in his request to appeal the decision. Ruto is charged alongside Radio Journalist Joushua Arap Sang for orchestrating the violence that claimed more than 1,300 lives after the disputed 2007 polls. However, the case has been characterized by witness hitches with many withdrawing from the process claiming that ‘they have suffered mental anguish and are also disappointed by the manner in which the Court was carrying out the processes. This Friday, a status conference is scheduled to decide whether Ruto would be given more time in Kenya or if the trials resume Monday International Criminal Court allows Prosecutor to add two witnesses in Deputy President William Ruto’s case Updated Wednesday, September 25th 2013 www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000094261&story_title=international-criminal-court-allows-prosecutor-to-add-two-witnesses-in-deputy-president-william-ruto-s-case&pageNo=2
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Post by b6k on Sept 26, 2013 2:36:09 GMT 3
...rather old news already trumpeted by ICC's ambassador to Jukwaa...NJAKIP It's a month old. Posted it just to remind the likes of you. Repeating the same message more than once to a non-captive audience is sometimes called propaganda...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2013 5:35:54 GMT 3
Museveni in his element. Shameful for Africa's global image. *************************** WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 Museveni accuses ICC of mishandling Kenya cases By KEVIN J. KELLEY The International Criminal Court is guilty of "arrogance" in its prosecution of Kenya's elected leaders, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni declared in a speech to the United Nations in New York on Tuesday. "The ICC, in a shallow, biased way, has continued to mishandle complex African issues," Mr Museveni said. "This is not acceptable. The ICC should stop." "Kenya is recovering," he asserted. "Let her recover." The Ugandan Head of State noted that many African countries had supported creation of the ICC "because we abhor impunity." Museveni said the court has ignored African Union positions on on African matters. He associated the ICC with "the old mistake makers" who failed to heed the anticolonial slogan of "Africa for the Africans." "The latest manifestation of arrogance is from the ICC in relation to the elected leaders of Kenya," Mr Museveni said. "We know the origin of the past mistakes," he assured his listeners in the UN General Assembly hall. "The ICC way is not the right one to handle those mistakes." President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and former radio journalist Joshua Sang are facing crimes against humanity charges before the ICC. www.nation.co.ke/news/politics/Museveni-accuses-ICC-of-mishandling-Kenya-cases/-/1064/2006242/-/97yajrz/-/index.html
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2013 6:09:15 GMT 3
It's a month old. Posted it just to remind the likes of you. Repeating the same message more than once to a non-captive audience is sometimes called propaganda... Actually, propaganda is what b6k does here for uhuruto and the rest of the power junkies. What I do here, is to call out oppression and those dishing it out. Contrast that with the efforts you exert shoring up injustice all the while trying hard to pass for a reasonable person who has genuine concern for the county and her people. You're not really fooling anyone.
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Post by kamalet on Sept 26, 2013 8:53:26 GMT 3
Repeating the same message more than once to a non-captive audience is sometimes called propaganda... Actually, propaganda is what b6k does here for uhuruto and the rest of the power junkies. What I do here, is to call out oppression and those dishing it out. Contrast that with the efforts you exert shoring up injustice all the while trying hard to pass for a reasonable person who has genuine concern for the county and her people. You're not really fooling anyone. Mmmmmm......when you see someone throw words such as oppression, injustice etc., then you see the likes of Maina Kiai, Makau Mutua and sadly right here on Jukwaa - Kathure Kebaara Chapter 41. This is the lot that is confused and stuck with a Kenya under Moi and can never countenance a Kenya under someone not sucking up to the evil society. In rallying terms, this would be akin to a reason for a rally car not continuing with the rally: Reason? Stuck in rut!
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Post by mwalimumkuu on Sept 26, 2013 19:40:39 GMT 3
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2013 19:55:26 GMT 3
Mall raid rallies foreign support for ICC-indictee Kenyatta Updated Thursday, September 26th 2013 While it hurts Kenya's tourism and investment, the bloody Nairobi mall assault by Islamist militants will help President Uhuru Kenyatta bolster international support as he confronts charges of crimes against humanity at The Hague. Accused by prosecutors at the International Criminal Court of fomenting post-election bloodletting in 2007/2008, Kenyatta leads a nation that is now in the spotlight as a victim of crimes punishable under international law. Saturday's raid on Nairobi's upscale Westgate mall, in which Islamist militants killed dozens of civilians in a hail of gunfire and grenades, has won Kenya words of support and firm condemnations of " terrorism" from leaders around the world. This could shift the diplomatic scenario for a 51-year-old president, whose election in March as Kenya's head of state had already added a new dimension to the ICC prosecution against him. He denies encouraging the post-election violence that killed upwards of 1,200 people. Kenyatta's allies are arguing that the security implications for Africa and the world of the weekend mall attack claimed by the Islamist militant group al Shabaab from neighboring Somalia should take priority over the president's obligations to the ICC, where he is due to face trial on November 12. "Do you want to focus on the ICC when so much has to be done?" Moses Kuria, a strategist for Kenyatta's Jubilee coalition who has worked alongside him, told Reuters. He suggested the ICC suspend its ongoing prosecutions against Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, for two to three years, to allow them to confront a threat to Kenya's security that the Kenyan leader has called an "international war". "The security concerns of the world at this time would better be served by us focusing all our energies on fighting terrorism, and ... ensuring the whole of Africa will not be a safe haven for terrorism," Kuria said. "Therefore, it will be untenable to have these cases continue," he added. ICC judges on Monday adjourned Ruto's trial, which began this month, for a week to allow him to return home and deal with the mall attack crisis. ICC spokesman Fadi El-Abdallah said Kenyatta's defense lawyers had filed a request for the Kenyan president to not physically appear at his trial in the Hague next month, but participate via video link. All requests for adjustments, suspensions or postponements would be considered by the judges on a "case by case" basis, he told Reuters, without commenting further. Western governments, obliged to walk something of a diplomatic tightrope in their relations with the ICC-indicted pair after their election, now seem willing to work more closely with them, especially in anti- terrorism cooperation. TACKLING TERRORISM: "ESSENTIAL BUSINESS" "I would regard the need to combat terrorism as essential business," the European Union's Africa Director Nick Wescott told Reuters. He was in Nairobi specifically to discuss with the Kenyan authorities the security implications of the weekend attack, which killed several expatriates as well as Kenyans. Asked whether this would mean greater Western flexibility towards dealing with Kenyatta, Wescott said the two issues - the Kenyan leader's ICC trial and his international role in fighting Islamist extremist violence - should be kept separate. But he added: "Let's see how it goes. It is essential that we all work as closely together as possible to deal with threats like this in Kenya, in Somalia, everywhere." Reflecting this intensified cooperation, Kenyan Interior Minister Joseph ole Lenku said the United States, Israel, Britain, Germany, Canada and the police agency Interpol were assisting in the investigation of the Westgate mall incident and the identities of the attackers. But for those who want Kenyatta to face justice and an end to what they call a culture of impunity in Africa, the idea of giving the Kenyan leader any judicial leeway is anathema. "As tragic as the events at the Westgate mall are, the number of people killed there is a fraction of the people who were killed in the course of the events Kenyatta is accused of orchestrating," said Makau Mutua, a Kenyan-born law professor at New York's State University. He criticized the one-week postponement of the Ruto trial, saying the ICC acted emotionally rather than logically. He added he saw "short-term sympathy" over the mall attack but "for Kenya, not for Kenyatta". Global risk consultancy Maplecroft said the Shabaab attack on Kenya's leading shopping mall showed up how the ICC trials against the Kenyan leaders would be "hugely disruptive to the processes of governance" in east Africa's biggest economy. "As such, the attack will provide another opportunity for Kenyatta and Ruto to demand that their hearings are switched from The Hague to Arusha in neighboring Tanzania, or postponed altogether," Maplecroft said in a briefing note. Ratings agency Moody's said the assault would dent Kenya's growth, particularly by depressing tourism. But Moody's Assistant Vice President Edward Al-Hussainy added in a statement: "We also expect it to give President Uhuru Kenyatta's new Jubilee coalition government an opportunity to galvanize a broader mandate and dull the international and domestic political effect of the ongoing International Criminal Court trial of the president and his deputy." "STAND WITH US" Kenyatta, who has up to now publicly pledged his cooperation with the ICC, has made clear that he is actively seeking international backing to confront the widening threat posed by cross-border jihadists like the weekend mall raiders. In a speech addressing the nation and its "friends" late on Tuesday when he announced that security forces had defeated the attackers after a four-day siege, Kenyatta stressed that " terrorism is a global problem that requires global solutions". "Kenya will stand with our friends in tackling terrorism and I ask our friends to stand with us," a somber president told his nation, adding that Kenya had "stared down evil and triumphed". Since the mall attack, Kenyatta has received calls and messages of support from world leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron. Kenya is seen as a key ally in the fight against violent Islamist extremism in the Horn of Africa and Kenyan troops form part of an internationally-backed African peacekeeping force in Somalia that has put al Shabaab on the defensive. In contrast, another ICC indictee, Sudanese President Omar Hassan al Bashir, who is accused of orchestrating genocide in Darfur and is defying an arrest warrant, is treated as a pariah by the West. Kenya's government, backed by east African states and some other nations on a continent that is increasingly suspicious of a perceived anti-African bias by the ICC, had already asked the ICC to suspend the hearings scheduled for Kenyatta and Ruto. African leaders are due to discuss the Kenyan prosecutions at the African Union next month, amid some calls for a walkout by African states from the decade-old ICC. [ID:nL5N0HC3MP] The Hague court's prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda of Gambia, who is leading the cases against Kenyatta and Ruto, has given no indication so far that the ICC will ease up on the prosecutions. In a statement on Tuesday, Bensouda said she was ready to work with Kenya and the international community to bring to justice those responsible for the weekend raid in Nairobi. "Such attacks by armed groups upon innocent civilians are contrary to international law and may constitute a crime under the Rome Statute, to which Kenya is a State Party," she said. Evelyn Ankumah, Executive Director of Netherlands-based Africa Legal Aid, said that from a legal point of view the Nairobi mall attack should not affect the ongoing ICC cases. But Ankumah, whose organization supports human rights and criminal justice from an African perspective, said she could not rule out the possibility of the U.N. Security Council asking for Kenyatta's ICC trial to be deferred, maybe for a year. "It would be naive to say that international criminal justice is not political," she said -Reuters www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000094338&story_title=mall-raid-rallies-foreign-support-for-icc-indictee-kenyatta&pageNo=3
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Post by jakaswanga on Sept 26, 2013 22:36:20 GMT 3
Njakip, Kathure-K, You must admit it is a bit of a lousy court that allows suspects of mass murder to attend the court only when it so pleases them, or when they are not occupied elsewhere with other more worthy matters --like running Kenya in a crisis! Joseph Kony can also reason he is otherwise occupied with the daily to daily running of his jungle fiefdom which traverses CAR, SS, North Uganda and DRC! ---Sorry Bensouda, I am busy fighting a Bush War. I can not leave the battlefield to come and eat Danish yoghurt with you there in The Hague! With Kenya having its own version of the indefinite war on terror, the son of Jomo could just, like Kony, be too busy to afford Bensouda quality Danish yoghurt-nibbing time far from the battlefront! It is a lousy court, and even Eboe Esuji, if he is as big-brained as we have made out, must know it is a mockery of the pursuit of justice to suspend proceedings because a war criminal suspect has to attend to his constitutional duties. In other words, with Kenya getting set for two decades of Uhuruto, we are looking at a 20 year adjournment in principle, as a real possibility. Floods, drought, industrialisation etc etc --those are as heavy as a mall massacre! No? Court Zero!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2013 9:48:35 GMT 3
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Post by b6k on Sept 29, 2013 16:26:30 GMT 3
Repeating the same message more than once to a non-captive audience is sometimes called propaganda... Actually, propaganda is what b6k does here for uhuruto and the rest of the power junkies. What I do here, is to call out oppression and those dishing it out. Contrast that with the efforts you exert shoring up injustice all the while trying hard to pass for a reasonable person who has genuine concern for the county and her people. You're not really fooling anyone. Kathure, I'm not in the business of "fooling anyone". You seem to be quite adept at that. I come to Jukwaa to call out BS when I see it. Sounds a bit like what you said, eh? Who ever said I was a reasonable person? I am highly opinionated...& usually right!
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Post by b6k on Sept 29, 2013 16:31:09 GMT 3
Actually, propaganda is what b6k does here for uhuruto and the rest of the power junkies. What I do here, is to call out oppression and those dishing it out. Contrast that with the efforts you exert shoring up injustice all the while trying hard to pass for a reasonable person who has genuine concern for the county and her people. You're not really fooling anyone. Mmmmmm......when you see someone throw words such as oppression, injustice etc., then you see the likes of Maina Kiai, Makau Mutua and sadly right here on Jukwaa - Kathure Kebaara Chapter 41. This is the lot that is confused and stuck with a Kenya under Moi and can never countenance a Kenya under someone not sucking up to the evil society. In rallying terms, this would be akin to a reason for a rally car not continuing with the rally: Reason? Stuck in rut! Kamale, indeed. This is the same lot who now call for the "third liberation". All we need is liberation from the do-gooders & leftist scalawags (ie the one you refer to as "the other guy") & KE will move on just fine...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2013 19:09:47 GMT 3
With friends like us, ICC needs no enemies Updated Friday, September 20th 2013 It is sad but true that during a week in which the world’s eyes were trained on Kenya for all the wrong reasons, some among us have sought every opportunity to diminish our standing as a nation even further. It is perhaps no exaggeration to say that we have collectively succeeded in making fools of ourselves before the whole world. While Deputy President William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua arap Sang were doing their best to stay on the right side of the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Kenyan social media trolls were making life hell on Earth all over again for a victim of the violence that engulfed Kenya after the 2007 elections. It did not appear to matter to the social media crowd that the victim — the first witness at the trial of Kenyans charged with carrying out mass killings, rape and evictions — came close to death during the Kiambaa church attack in which 34 women and children sheltering from violence were burnt to death. No it didn’t. On a day when Kenyans should have paused to remember the tragedy of our politics, some embarked on the cowardly pursuit of seeking to expose the identity of the Kiambaa witness for reasons best known to themselves. That the proceedings at The Hague were subsequently moved to private chambers away from the public glare is tribute to these marauding cyber-bullies. The distress caused to a young woman after her photo was circulated as that of the first witness is mere collateral damage. Where’s the fairness? Where’s the justice here? With such a public disdain towards the crisis that rocked our country in 2007 and 2008 — an assault that came close to closing the curtains on Project Kenya — everyone has cause to fear that we would rather forget our history than learn from it. The evidence of this hides in plain sight. Amidst all that, yesterday we were treated to more claims surrounding the family of a former head of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, a body which documented the post-election violence and upon whose evidence many of the cases at The Hague rest. Although the facts are vague for now, there was sufficient apprehension among civil society groups to warrant a press conference in which the former official claimed that police had moved into the family’s rural home to provide protection but without saying whether this was precautionary or in response to any specific threat. We hope police are alive to the risks of rogue elements making a bad situation worse. We hope too that the statements coming from the civil society officials are well considered for the same reasons. Thousands of miles away, at The Hague, Kenyan Members of Parliament were making a spectacle of themselves to the point of having security officials called in to ensure matters did not get out of hand. Pictures of the Kenyans confronting police outside the courthouse will do nothing to repair the damage caused to Kenya’s reputation this week. You would think that leaders, if no-one else, would lead by example on this occasion in ensuring that the memory of those lost in the tragic violence is not trifled with — never mind the fact that it is political rhetoric that drove the nation to the brink. Kenyans of all persuasions who are now so intent on outdoing one another in a show support for The Hague Three must be told that the events that gave birth to the international trial cannot be wished away. They must be reminded that the trial represents for many a painful chapter of their life, one that cannot easily be replaced promises of a cohesive future. They must surely know that The Hague trial should be approached with maturity and circumspection, not as one would a political contest in the true Kenyan tradition. Should Kenya pull out of the Rome Treaty and show the ICC its back? This week, more than at any time since 2008, Kenyans had reason to fear a future in which the ICC plays no part thanks to urban bloggers, rural vigilantes and itinerant politicians. www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000093961&story_title=with-friends-like-us-icc-needs-no-enemies
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2013 17:07:20 GMT 3
ICC is targeting Africa, continent of impunity? Then it’s doing its job By Jenerali Ulimwengu Posted Saturday, October 5 2013 at 11:14 Give us a break, people, and let us make some sense. Sense is one thing we can make if we try, without erecting factories or building complex machines. Right now, we seem to have this dogged determination to avoid doing anything that would render us guilty of making sense, and we keep stumbling from one nonsensical episode to another with surprising abandon. The favourite issue nowadays is the International Criminal Court, the ICC, which has come under attack from various African rulers who accuse it of targeting Africa and its, er, rulers. It is said that whereas there are Western rulers who have committed atrocities and crimes against humanity, the ICC only sees African offenders. Inevitably, that kind of refrain will mention George W and his crony, Tony Blair, over the Iraq war and other crimes that the Western powers have committed against the peoples of the world. These sentiments are well founded as they speak to the impunity that some powers have enjoyed even when their crimes have been so egregious that their nefarious effects are still with us to point an accusing finger and prove their guilt. We may never, for instance, understand why the US is the loudest in the chorus calling for Iran to stop its nuclear programme, when we all know — except the Americans, that is — that their country is the only one to have ever used a nuclear bomb on another country. Even when Iran’s new leader seems to be offering an olive branch of sorts, Israel, which has its own nuclear arsenal intact, is the loudest to talk about the hypocrisy of Tehran, calling on America not to believe what it is hearing. That Binyamin Netanyahu can even utter the word “hypocrisy” without referring to himself and his country is honestly staggering. I know, and I accept, the truth of the hypocrisy inhering in the US talking about Bashar al Assad’s use of chemical weapons when the records of its use of napalm, Agent Orange and other chemical substances can raise neither doubt nor argument. All that I know, and I also know that the world is a rough neighbourhood and the law of the jungle all too often punishes the innocent and rewards the guilty. But give me a break. I am not about to accept that if we have the chance to prosecute and punish Charles Taylor, we should pass it up unless we can also prosecute George W, Blair, Ronald Reagan, Bob McNamara etc, albeit posthumously for some of them. I trust that some of these villains will get their comeuppance one day, even if it only means their memory being appropriately vilified, but I believe those we can bring to book now we should bring to book now. Consequently, I find it rather strange that my president should plead with the ICC to heed Africa’s concerns over the trials of the two Kenyan leaders indicted at the Hague, suggesting that if the tribunal does not do what pleases African rulers the African continent will not support it. Stated otherwise, without necessarily doing violence to the logic, African rulers will support the ICC if the latter stops pursuing African rulers for crimes they are supposed to have committed. In other words, if you stop doing your job, we will give you our unflinching support. It is the schizophrenic stances that we adopt so readily that really trump me. You are either in or out; you either signed up to the Rome Statute or you didn’t. You cannot have it both ways. (As a by the way, the same schizophrenia is evident when it comes to other commitments we undertake, such as the ones concerning regional integration, where we seem intent on being half pregnant). Targeting Africa? I’m sorry, but Africa has not been indicted at the Hague, only suspected wrongdoers, who happen to be African. We may also want to remember that a couple of Serbs and Cambodians have made their appearances before the appropriate tribunals. But also, let’s face it, Africa is where impunity is king, and the place most in need of a remedy. www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/comment/ICC-is-targeting-Africa-continent-of-impunity/-/434750/2019600/-/rne05c/-/index.html
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Post by mank on Oct 10, 2013 6:45:19 GMT 3
Prosecution witness No 2 in the ICC case against Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua arap Sang has on Wednesday told the court that the post-election violence was not planned. Assertions by the witness that the violence that broke out following the contested presidential results erupted spontaneously sharply contrasts with the prosecution principal argument that the violence was a part of a well planned political strategy by Ruto and his allies. The witness further alleges the then Electoral Commission Chairman Samuel Kivuitu was whisked away to State House to announce the disputed results. Sylvia chebet with today's highlights from the International Criminal Court proceedings. Source: www.citizennews.co.ke/news/2012/local/item/14175-prosecution-witness-no2-pev-was-not-planned-forOTP will now go ahead and blame it on Baraza.
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Post by b6k on Oct 10, 2013 9:15:45 GMT 3
ICC is targeting Africa, continent of impunity? Then it’s doing its job By Jenerali Ulimwengu Posted Saturday, October 5 2013 at 11:14 Give us a break, people, and let us make some sense. Sense is one thing we can make if we try, without erecting factories or building complex machines. Right now, we seem to have this dogged determination to avoid doing anything that would render us guilty of making sense, and we keep stumbling from one nonsensical episode to another with surprising abandon. The favourite issue nowadays is the International Criminal Court, the ICC, which has come under attack from various African rulers who accuse it of targeting Africa and its, er, rulers. It is said that whereas there are Western rulers who have committed atrocities and crimes against humanity, the ICC only sees African offenders. Inevitably, that kind of refrain will mention George W and his crony, Tony Blair, over the Iraq war and other crimes that the Western powers have committed against the peoples of the world. These sentiments are well founded as they speak to the impunity that some powers have enjoyed even when their crimes have been so egregious that their nefarious effects are still with us to point an accusing finger and prove their guilt. We may never, for instance, understand why the US is the loudest in the chorus calling for Iran to stop its nuclear programme, when we all know — except the Americans, that is — that their country is the only one to have ever used a nuclear bomb on another country. Even when Iran’s new leader seems to be offering an olive branch of sorts, Israel, which has its own nuclear arsenal intact, is the loudest to talk about the hypocrisy of Tehran, calling on America not to believe what it is hearing. That Binyamin Netanyahu can even utter the word “hypocrisy” without referring to himself and his country is honestly staggering. I know, and I accept, the truth of the hypocrisy inhering in the US talking about Bashar al Assad’s use of chemical weapons when the records of its use of napalm, Agent Orange and other chemical substances can raise neither doubt nor argument. All that I know, and I also know that the world is a rough neighbourhood and the law of the jungle all too often punishes the innocent and rewards the guilty. But give me a break. I am not about to accept that if we have the chance to prosecute and punish Charles Taylor, we should pass it up unless we can also prosecute George W, Blair, Ronald Reagan, Bob McNamara etc, albeit posthumously for some of them. I trust that some of these villains will get their comeuppance one day, even if it only means their memory being appropriately vilified, but I believe those we can bring to book now we should bring to book now. Consequently, I find it rather strange that my president should plead with the ICC to heed Africa’s concerns over the trials of the two Kenyan leaders indicted at the Hague, suggesting that if the tribunal does not do what pleases African rulers the African continent will not support it. Stated otherwise, without necessarily doing violence to the logic, African rulers will support the ICC if the latter stops pursuing African rulers for crimes they are supposed to have committed. In other words, if you stop doing your job, we will give you our unflinching support. It is the schizophrenic stances that we adopt so readily that really trump me. You are either in or out; you either signed up to the Rome Statute or you didn’t. You cannot have it both ways. (As a by the way, the same schizophrenia is evident when it comes to other commitments we undertake, such as the ones concerning regional integration, where we seem intent on being half pregnant). Targeting Africa? I’m sorry, but Africa has not been indicted at the Hague, only suspected wrongdoers, who happen to be African. We may also want to remember that a couple of Serbs and Cambodians have made their appearances before the appropriate tribunals. But also, let’s face it, Africa is where impunity is king, and the place most in need of a remedy. www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/comment/ICC-is-targeting-Africa-continent-of-impunity/-/434750/2019600/-/rne05c/-/index.htmlJenerali Ulimwengu is a brilliant Tanzanian whom I once met when I was doing my stint of gainful employment there. His points are valid. I happen to be of the school of thought that believes that the President & Deputy President went into the ICC process & our recent election with both their eyes wide open. They should simply man up & go along with the process to its "logical conclusion", especially given that their mantra all along during the prayer meetings & the campaigns was that they intended to clear their names at the ICC because they know they are innocent. It really isn't such a big deal as Ruto's presence at The Hague with all those "closed sessions" is proving anyway. That said, I have to disagree with Ulimwengu when he says: "Stated otherwise, without necessarily doing violence to the logic, African rulers will support the ICC if the latter stops pursuing African rulers for crimes they are supposed to have committed. In other words, if you stop doing your job, we will give you our unflinching support". This is no different from Uncle Sam's stance when they passed The American Service Members Protection Act (aka The Hague Invasion Act) which doesn't mince its words. If an American citizen is hauled in front of the ICC the US reserves the right to forcefully invade Den Haag using US Navy Seal Team 6 (or any other of its numerous special forces) to secure his or her release. The UK also ratified the Rome Statute with "reservations" when it touches on crimes committed by Brits. This is akin to saying the two Anglo-Saxon powers will support the ICC as long as its work is confined to pursuing the crimes of others, not those committed by their own people. So the AU can be said to be reading pretty much from the same script when they do as the masters of the world do, not as they say....
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Post by podp on Oct 10, 2013 16:39:12 GMT 3
Jenerali Ulimwengu is a brilliant Tanzanian whom I once met when I was doing my stint of gainful employment there. His points are valid. I happen to be of the school of thought that believes that the President & Deputy President went into the ICC process & our recent election with both their eyes wide open. They should simply man up & go along with the process to its "logical conclusion", especially given that their mantra all along during the prayer meetings & the campaigns was that they intended to clear their names at the ICC because they know they are innocent. It really isn't such a big deal as Ruto's presence at The Hague with all those "closed sessions" is proving anyway. That said, I have to disagree with Ulimwengu when he says: "Stated otherwise, without necessarily doing violence to the logic, African rulers will support the ICC if the latter stops pursuing African rulers for crimes they are supposed to have committed. In other words, if you stop doing your job, we will give you our unflinching support". This is no different from Uncle Sam's stance when they passed The American Service Members Protection Act (aka The Hague Invasion Act) which doesn't mince its words. If an American citizen is hauled in front of the ICC the US reserves the right to forcefully invade Den Haag using US Navy Seal Team 6 (or any other of its numerous special forces) to secure his or her release. The UK also ratified the Rome Statute with "reservations" when it touches on crimes committed by Brits. This is akin to saying the two Anglo-Saxon powers will support the ICC as long as its work is confined to pursuing the crimes of others, not those committed by their own people. So the AU can be said to be reading pretty much from the same script when they do as the masters of the world do, not as they say.... good students of twisted logic (for started go to www.lyrics.net/lyric/7732180 ) take seemingly similar words and try to transpose them to others and then using scientific theorem testing methodology arrive at neat conclusions as the red high lights attempt. let us consider the African first before moving to the Anglos. the former have plenty to grid within their home ground, and excellent readings can be obtained from Black Athena where Prof. Bernal convincingly indicts 19th-century scholars for constructing a racist "cult of Greece" based upon a purely Aryan origin for Western culture. He accuses these classicists of suppressing the numerous connections between African and Near Eastern cultures and early Greek myth and art. the true debate was between the Africentrists and the Eurocentrists, for much of what Bernal had to say in Black Athena on the questions at issue had been stated long before him by the Africentric scholars of the last century, notably James (Stolen Legacy), and Diop (African Origins of Civilization and Civilization or Barbarism) then fast forward to 21st century one was brought in by the likes of Ayiteh. With independence from colonial rule, Africans had hoped for liberty, prosperity and a new beginning. Instead, they have experienced have brought nothing but economic misery, famine, senseless civil wars, wanton destruction, flagrant violations of human rights and brutal repression. Africa Betrayed is a powerful attack on the dictators who have ruined an entire continent. Dr. Ayittey writes devastatingly on the horrors of black neo-colonialism, arguing that it is naive for commentators to blame Africa's misery on external factors: African leaders have betrayed both the just aspirations of their countrymen and Africa's indigenous political systems, which in no way endorse tyranny. He argues that a second liberation struggle is beginning throughout the continent - one that will sweep away the kleptocracy and rediscover the African traditions that have endured throughout the horrors of both white colonialism and black neo-colonialism. www.amazon.com/Africa-Betrayed-George-B-N-Ayittey/dp/0312104006since now we have our own condemning our own the ICC comes to be. way back in 2006/7 when Kenya was domesticating it to local law the thinking among the elites was that Moi and those before 1997 progroms would make good candidates for ICC alongside the Eastern European leaders like the late Milosovic. as the old Moi was used to saying 'nguruwe hujikaranga kwa mafuta yake mwenywewe' so come 2013 the elites are trying to wriggle out of ICC. and hence the introduction of the twisted logic best shown with those two red high lights. so to quote a fb friend 'please let Amina know that sitting presidents are charged, the difference is, other presidents "step down" when charged. UhuRuto were charged before they were elected into the Presidency. so actually they "steppe up" We knew full well that they were charged... this is a democracy, we elect whoever we want until the courts tell us not to... it is almost clear that our president will not go to ICC' in response to the likes of CS for Foreign Affairs eloquently www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2013/10/sitting-presidents-never-charged-amina/as for the Anglos try even less than what this former Mayor did and the consequences await you. news.yahoo.com/former-detroit-mayor-braces-long-sentence-051200253--politics.htmljust in case you want to shout 'black' what color was President Nixon? yet watergate got him out of White house. so what will get our UhuRuto out of State house? westgate!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2013 23:33:31 GMT 3
Not again. Uhuruto said that they were eager to go to court to clear their names. Why cold feet now tough boys. Tough enough to kill should be equals to tough enough to go to trial. Sucky babies. You running scared now? Did you know that the people killed in a church, on streets and everywhere in between were scared? Feel some of the heat now and I pray to almighty God that you ain't seen nothing yet. President Uhuru Kenyatta wants International Criminal Court case against him stopped www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000095313&story_title=uhuru-wants-icc-case-against-him-stopped
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Post by mank on Oct 11, 2013 1:14:18 GMT 3
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Post by OtishOtish on Oct 11, 2013 6:58:23 GMT 3
With independence from colonial rule, Africans had hoped for liberty, prosperity and a new beginning. Instead, they have experienced have brought nothing but economic misery, famine, senseless civil wars, wanton destruction, flagrant violations of human rights and brutal repression. Africa Betrayed is a powerful attack on the dictators who have ruined an entire continent. Dr. Ayittey writes devastatingly on the horrors of black neo-colonialism, arguing that it is naive for commentators to blame Africa's misery on external factors: African leaders have betrayed both the just aspirations of their countrymen and Africa's indigenous political systems, which in no way endorse tyranny. He argues that a second liberation struggle is beginning throughout the continent - one that will sweep away the kleptocracy and rediscover the African traditions that have endured throughout the horrors of both white colonialism and black neo-colonialism. www.amazon.com/Africa-Betrayed-George-B-N-Ayittey/dp/0312104006Podp: This sort of obvious, yet very powerful truth is very hard to deal with. Even at an individual level, humans have great difficulty admitting that their circumstances could well be more the result of their choices and actions and not the result of all those "bad & envious" people out there who are bent on keeping them down or stealing from them or using them. (In many countries, shrinks made good money helping people move from the "outside" to a better understanding of the "inside".) But that is precisely what Africans will have to do to move forward: engage in proper self-reflection followed by appropriate constructive actions. The perpetual "it's all those bad people out there" will not cut it for much longer; it no longer cuts it for the rest of the world, and it is doubtful that even Africans can accept it indefinitely. Similar remarks apply to your comments on the ICC. It is useful here to consider the case of two leading anti-ICC stalwarts: * Museveni led with the referrals from Africa, and to this day his anti-ICC crusade has nothing to do with that particular referral. Has anybody ever heard him ask for Kony's case to be "brought back" to Uganda? On the contrary, his biggest action on that front was to beg the USA to send military assistance that would help capture Kony and hand him to the ICC. * Most of Museveni's issues with the ICC can actually be traced to a single event: thinking that the ICC was an African-style court, he promised Kony that he would get the ICC off his back if Kony played ball. The ICC, however, told him that they are a court of law and he should fwack off with such requests. Kony, in turn, told Museveni to fwack off in that case. * Both Kagame and Museveni are feeling a lot of heat---although nobody has directly tried to apply it yet---over the fact that their former friend, a Mr. Ntaganda, decided to take himself off to the Hague. (Contrary to claims of "African-hunting", Mr. Ntaganda sneaked into a USA embassy and was very insistent that they get him out of Africa as quickly as possible. Better the "hyper-colonial & neo-imperialists" than his African brothers & friends.) The problem now is that the fellow is in a position to do quite a bit of singing, and I have no doubt that he will sing. On other matters: The new-and-improved orgasm about "turning East" is very interesting. It seems to me that Africa has always been doing that, or claiming to be doing it, or threatening to do it. The last time "East" was the USSR, and Africa got a proper fwacking. Apparently, there is a desire for more. So why not let the Chinese have a go. Speaking of the Chinese, I just noticed that President Uhuru's "very successful trip" did not quite yield Sh. 425 billion; the real figure is something like 2% of that. At the same time, I note that the government of Kenya has no idea where something like Sh. 300 billion of its money went. Another version on the "internal-vs.-external" theme. But, hey! There's a super-highway! One heck of a smooth 50 km ... The rest of the world has seen other countries that were colonized wake up and get going. The rest of the world has seen Africa's so called leaders do the nastiest possible things to their people. Banks all over the world are bulging with loot taken from poor Africans who then have to go begging all over the globe. Etc. Etc. Etc. .... All the guilt over colonialism has been milked dry and then some. It is only Africans who continue to fool themselves on that point. I repeat what I have said here before: Africa will get ahead only when Africans wake up and decide to take care of Africa and Africans. In the meantime: Our Man! Our People! It's our turn to eat! Bugger everyone else!Kazi iendelee Accept and move on. The Digital Boogie.
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Post by b6k on Oct 11, 2013 15:29:26 GMT 3
Njakip, stop derailing the thread with rambling Afro-pessimist posts & watch the video posted by Mank above very closely. Witness number 2 may be heading for perjury charges if he doesn't watch out. Karim Kahn is setting him up to be considered an unreliable witness at best, & a lying cheat at worst...
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Post by kamalet on Oct 11, 2013 17:08:49 GMT 3
Njakip, stop derailing the thread with rambling Afro-pessimist posts & watch the video posted by Mank above very closely. Witness number 2 may be heading for perjury charges if he doesn't watch out. Karim Kahn is setting him up to be considered an unreliable witness at best, & a lying cheat at worst... Njakip is not your every day fool. He is a clever chap! Note that he has not commented on the ongoing stuff in the court including the Uhuru application to stop his trial and given us his usual 'wise commentary' on what the court will do! That is how deprived we are of his court punditry!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2013 17:17:50 GMT 3
Njakip, stop derailing the thread with rambling Afro-pessimist posts & watch the video posted by Mank above very closely. Witness number 2 may be heading for perjury charges if he doesn't watch out. Karim Kahn is setting him up to be considered an unreliable witness at best, & a lying cheat at worst... karim khan worked hard at confusing the witness . On the first day of cross examination, I did note that Karim khan told the witness to answer the questions and quickly added most of them will require only yes or no. I thought that this was a sly way of discouraging the witness from elaborating on his answers. Anyways b6k, keep wishing but we all heard what the witness had to say and in no way is he perjuring himself. Others of far superior intellect than yours describe the witness as witty and courageous. But if it makes you feel better, it's OK to wish, so you stay in wish land. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013 Witness steals the show with his wit and English ‘mastery’ By Walter Menya His wit, courage and pronunciation have been the hallmark of his testimony so far. Witness 326 has also exhibited knowledge of Kenya’s political scene, especially the ODM structure and 2007 campaigns. His testimony in the crimes against humanity case facing Deputy President William Ruto and former broadcaster Joshua arap Sang entered the second day on Tuesday. SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS The witness has left both the prosecution and the defence scratching their heads with his “lectures” on the organisation of the Orange party’s vote chase in the disputed 2007 polls that resulted in violence. Save for the frequency with which he mixes tenses, his command of the Queen’s language and articulation can only be said to be commendable. Besides, he is proving to be no pushover, and the trial judges and other parties may have come to appreciate the same. On Monday, when he began his testimony, the witness sent the public in fits of laughter with his claim that former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka ran off with ODM-Kenya, leaving the likes of Raila Odinga, Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi, Charity Ngilu and Joe Nyaga without a party. “Kalonzo was not nominated. Mr (Dan) Maanzo canvassed with Kalonzo and ran away with ODM party, which had an orange-and-a-half as its symbol and left Raila and the rest of the leaders with no party,” he said. Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka are now in Cord, having come together again for the 2013 General Election. On Tuesday was no different. Prosecution counsel Adewole Omofade had pointed out to the witness that he was spending more time facing in the direction of the defence, and urged him—as is the norm— to face and address the judges. Presiding judge Chile Eboe-Osuji emphasised the same. However, the witness’ response carried the day. “Your honours, I am a human being. I cannot just face one direction,” he responded to the chamber’s directive. Judge Osuji had to chip in quickly to reassure him that the intention was not to place him in a strait-jacket situation, where he could not look around. By that time, people in the public gallery could not hold it any more and burst into prolonged laughter. The gallery usually restricts people from conversing, eating, pointing, using mobile phones and laptops or taking photographs. The prosecution is yet to conclude the examination-in-chief of the witness. Meanwhile, six MPs on Tuesday arrived in The Hague to take the place of their colleagues who have been there since the hearings resumed on October 2. They are Mr Joseph Limo (Kipkelion East), Mr Patrick ole Ntutu (Narok West), Mr Banticha Abdullahi Jaldesa (Isiolo South), Ms Grace Kipchoim (Baringo South), Mr Erick Keter (Belgut) and Mr Leonard Sang (Bureti). They joined Kericho Senator Charles Keter and Mrs Rachel Ruto and Ms June Ruto who have remained with Mr Ruto since the trials opened. www.nation.co.ke/news/politics/Witness-steals-the-show-ICC/-/1064/2024720/-/avl2mp/-/index.html
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