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The International Criminal Court has sentenced ex-rebel leader and former Congolese vice
president Jean-Pierre Bemba to 18 years for murders, rapes and pillaging
committed by his troops in the Central African Republic more than a
decade ago.
president Jean-Pierre Bemba to 18 years for murders, rapes and pillaging
committed by his troops in the Central African Republic more than a
decade ago.
The verdicts announced today Tuesday, June 21, focused on the actions of his
troops, as Bemba commanded a private army of 1,500 men who intervened in
the neighbouring Central African Republic’s civil war.
troops, as Bemba commanded a private army of 1,500 men who intervened in
the neighbouring Central African Republic’s civil war.
“The chamber sentences Mr Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo to a total of 18
years of imprisonment,” said judge Sylvia Steiner, ruling that the
former militia leader had failed to exercise control over his private
army sent into the Central African Republic in late October 2002 where
they carried out “sadistic” rapes, murders and pillaging of “particular
cruelty”.
years of imprisonment,” said judge Sylvia Steiner, ruling that the
former militia leader had failed to exercise control over his private
army sent into the Central African Republic in late October 2002 where
they carried out “sadistic” rapes, murders and pillaging of “particular
cruelty”.
Fadi El Abdullah, a spokesman for the ICC told Al Jazeera the ruling
was “important for the victims” and “the first time they would see
justice for the crimes they suffered from”.
was “important for the victims” and “the first time they would see
justice for the crimes they suffered from”.
Prosecutors at the ICC had called for a minimum 25-year jail term in
the landmark case, the first to focus on rape as a weapon of war by the
ICC, which was set up in 2002 to try the world’s worst crimes.
the landmark case, the first to focus on rape as a weapon of war by the
ICC, which was set up in 2002 to try the world’s worst crimes.
Bemba was convicted in March on two counts of crimes against
humanity as well as three counts of war crimes. His arrest in 2008 came
as a surprise both to Bemba and his
supporters and opponents at home.
humanity as well as three counts of war crimes. His arrest in 2008 came
as a surprise both to Bemba and his
supporters and opponents at home.
He had been living in semi-exile in
Europe for several years when prosecutors sprung a trap by issuing an
arrest warrant during a visit to Belgium, Congo’s former colonial
master.
Europe for several years when prosecutors sprung a trap by issuing an
arrest warrant during a visit to Belgium, Congo’s former colonial
master.
His forces the Movement for the Liberation of Congo militia (MLC) had deliberately targeted civilians as part of a “modus operandi” as they sought to halt the coup bid against the Central African Republic’s then-president Ange-Felix Patasse.
Men, women and children were all raped – in one case three
generations of the same family were gang-raped by MLC soldiers who held
them at gunpoint and forced relatives to watch.
generations of the same family were gang-raped by MLC soldiers who held
them at gunpoint and forced relatives to watch.
Bemba’s
lawyer have already said they will appeal against his conviction.
Geraldine Mattioli-Zeltner, international justice advocacy director at
Human Rights Watch, said the sentence offered “a measure of justice” for
the victims.
lawyer have already said they will appeal against his conviction.
Geraldine Mattioli-Zeltner, international justice advocacy director at
Human Rights Watch, said the sentence offered “a measure of justice” for
the victims.
“Other
commanders should take notice that they, too, can be held accountable
for rapes and other serious abuses committed by troops under their
control,” she said.
commanders should take notice that they, too, can be held accountable
for rapes and other serious abuses committed by troops under their
control,” she said.
Source: BBC/Al Jazeera
