By Baron Henri Estramant. Civil rights activist and leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly islands ‘Akilisi Pohiva was voted in as Tonga’s first non-noble Prime Minister on 29 December 2014.  Tonga is a constitutional monarchy, albeit the King gave up many constitutional powers in 2010 to pave the way for a parliamentary democracy. The country’s monarchs had previously appointed the prime minister and the cabinet. The 2010 constitutional reforms increased the number of elected commoners, or “people’s representatives” to 17, left the number of nobles at 9, and gave the 26-member Parliament the right to select the head of government. The King assumed a largely ceremonial role, but remains much revered by Tongans. Back in 2010, the newly elected MPs could not agree on ‘Akilisi Pohiva as their candidate for prime minister. Instead, the noble MPs (selected by 33 holders of hereditary titles) clubbed together with the more conservative elected politicians from the northern islands of Tonga to select Lord Siale’ataonga Tu’ivakano as Prime Minister and Minister of foreign Affairs.  In the latest vote in December 2014, however, the “people’s representatives” garnered their votes, and elected Mr Pohiva with 15 ballots against 11 from the opposition. Thus far the new cabinet includes only one noble, Lord Ma’afu, as Minister for Lands and His Majesty’s Armed Forces.  The new Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has distinguished himself for being a fervent defender of democracy to the detriment of reyal power, and the privileges of the nobles. Indeed he was imprisoned in 1996 for “contempt of parliament”.       

Statement of the Office of the Prosecutor regarding the reported abduction and murder of Mr. Meshak Yebei The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) reiterates its condolences to the family of Mr. Meshak Yebei.  Every loss of life is a unique and profound tragedy for the family that is left to mourn.  The perpetrators of this heinous crime must swiftly and decisively be brought to justice.  The Office of the Prosecutor reiterates its willingness to assist the competent authorities of the Republic of Kenya, as appropriate, to effectively investigate the circumstances of Mr. Yebei’s death. The Office of the Prosecutor wishes to address recent speculation alleging the involvement of the Office in Mr. Yebei’s tragic demise.  The Office of the Prosecutor wishes to categorically state that any suggestion that the Office of the Prosecutor was involved in Mr. Yebei’s alleged abduction and murder is both outrageous and utterly false.  Nothing could be further from the truth. To avoid any doubt, the Prosecution wishes to clarify the public record regarding Mr. Yebei’s status in the context of the Prosecutor’s case against Messrs. Ruto and Sang.  During the course of the Prosecution’s investigations, the Office of the Prosecutor contacted numerous individuals in Kenya, including Mr. Yebei.  However, Mr. Yebei was ultimately not included on the Prosecution’s list of trial witnesses due to, amongst other reasons, information indicating that Mr. Yebei was deeply implicated in the scheme to corrupt Prosecution witnesses in the case against Mr. Ruto and Mr. Sang. Prosecution witnesses in this case have been under siege.  The Office of the Prosecutor has identified a network of individuals who have been working together to sabotage the Prosecution’s case against Messrs. Ruto and Sang, by using bribes and/or threats to either dissuade witnesses from testifying in this case or influence Prosecution witnesses to recant their testimony. In this context, on 2 August 2013, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Walter Osapiri Barasa on charges of interfering with ICC witnesses, contrary to Article 70(1)(c) of the Rome Statute.  The surrender of Mr. Barasa to the ICC remains outstanding. The Office of the Prosecutor continues to monitor and investigate other incidents of witness interference.  Investigations and prosecutions before the International Criminal Court can stand or fall on the willingness of witnesses to come forward and present their evidence in the courtroom.  The Office of the Prosecutor will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that witnesses are able to present their evidence before the Court without fear.

By Roy Lie A Tjam. By reciting the Portuguese Jewish philosopher Spinoza’s Ultimi barbarorum, Mayor of The Hague, Mr Jozias van Aartsen opened the manifestation to mark the terrible events that took place in Paris yesterday. Thousands of citizens, including ambassadors, diplomats and the wider international community, responded to the invitation by the city’s corporation and headed to the Plein in downtown The Hague to attend the solemn ”Je suis Charlie”manifestation. In addition to Mayor Van Aartsen, the journalist Lex Oomkes and Xavier Rey of the Embassy of France delivered an address. The event was concluded by a short march from Plein to the City Hall. Bouquets of flowers were placed in front of the city’s press centre Nieuwspoort en route.