The Prosecutor v. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta
Direct from the ICC.
Situation: The Republic of Kenya
Case: The Prosecutor v. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta
Today, 26 November 2013, Trial Chamber V(b) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) reconsidered its previous decision excusing Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta from continuous presence at trial, in light of the legal clarifications provided by the Appeals Chamber in its recent judgment on the matter.
Trial Chamber V(b) held that as a general rule, Mr Kenyatta must be present at trial. Any future requests to be excused from attending parts of the trial will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The Chamber reasoned that the Appeals Judgment, delivered on 25 October 2013 in the case The Prosecutor v. William Samoei Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang, provided important new information which justified the reconsideration. The Appeals Chamber had concluded that a Trial Chamber enjoys discretion under article 63(1), which states that “[t]he accused shall be present during the trial”, but that such discretion was limited. TheAppeals Chamber had ruled that absence is only permissible under exceptional circumstances, and must be limited to that which is strictly necessary. It further held that the decision as to whether the accused may be excused from attending part of his or her trial must be taken on a case-by-case basis.
Background: On 18 October 2013, Trial Chamber V(b) had conditionally granted the Defence’s request to excuse Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta from continuous presence at his trial, with the exception of the following sessions: the opening and closing statements of all parties and participants, hearings when victims present their views and concerns in person, the delivery of judgment, and any other attendance ordered by the Chamber. If applicable, his presence will also be required at sentencing hearings, the delivery of sentence, the entirety of victim impact hearings, and reparation hearings.
On 28 October 2013, the Prosecution filed a motion for reconsideration of the 18 October decision, in which it requested the Chamber to vacate the excusal decision and revert to the general rule under article 63(1).
Mr Kenyatta is charged, as an indirect co-perpetrator, with five counts of crimes against humanity consisting of murder, deportation or forcible transfer, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts allegedly committed during the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007-2008. Charges were confirmed on 23 January 2012, and the case was committed to trial before Trial Chamber V(b). His trial is scheduled to commence on 5 February 2014.
Further information on this case is available here.
Germany introduced Judge Bertram Schmitt
By Bonnie Klap.
Fridaynight His Excellency Mr. Franz Josef Kremp, Ambassador of Germany, hosted a cocktail-party in his residence Huis Schuylenburch to introduce Judge Bertram Schmitt, the candidate of Germany to the International Criminal Court 2014 elections.
Many members of the Diplomatic Corps and international organizations attended. Mr. Bertram Schmitt has been an ad hoc Judge at the European Court of Human Rights and is also an honorary Professor of criminal law at the University of Würzburg.
Since 2005 Mr. Schmitt is a Judge at the “Bundesgerichtshof,” Germany’s highest Court of Justice.
For more pictures about this event please click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98057281@N02/sets
Spectacular National Day Oman
By Bonnie Klap.
Click here for more beautiful pictures of this very special National Day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98057281@N02/sets/
The Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of The Netherlands, Muhammed bin Harub Al Said, hosted a grand reception on the occasion of the 43rd National Day Anniversary.
The Ambassador started his speech in excellent Dutch, which impressed not only the many Dutch guests, but for which he received ample praise from former Prime Minister Professor Jan Peter Balkenende and Professor Andreas van Agt, both guests of honour this evening. Hundreds of guests had come to congratulate the Ambassador underscoring the importance of the bilateral relations between Oman and The Netherlands.
Netherlands to launch bilateral cooperation forums with Israel and Palestinian Territories
From 7 to 9 December 2013, Prime Minister Mark Rutte will visit Israel and the Palestinian Territories to launch bilateral cooperation forums with the two administrations.
He will be accompanied by Frans Timmermans, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. They will be joined later in Israel by Henk Kamp, Minister of Economic Affairs. Dutch trade delegations will travel to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The bilateral cooperation forums will strengthen the Netherlands’ good bilateral relations with Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The overarching theme of both forums is about innovation, with the initial emphasis on agrifood, energy, and water. For the Palestinian Territories, digital technology is also important. As well as government bodies, the forums’ participants include businesses, research institutes, and non-governnmental organisations. The Netherlands wants to use its good relations with Israel and the Palestinian Territories to contribute where possible to peace and security in the Middle East. The bilateral cooperation forums will be held once every two years, alternately in the Netherlands and respectively in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The Netherlands has similar cooperation agreements with France, Germany, and Poland.Angola ‘Rumo ao Progresso’
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
Last Monday 11 November, the Republic of Angola celebrated its independence and this important occasion marked by a night of splendour on 14th when H.E. Dr Luis José de Almeida doyen of the Angolan diplomacy, Ambassador for Angola and Mrs Almeida hosted an important gala dinner in the grandeur of the Steigenberger Kurhaus Hotel.
Ambassador Almeida gave an insightful update on the progress Angola has made over the past 38 years since independence. He addressed the delegates on the May preselect, including education, health and infrastructure policies.
Angola: ‘Rumo ao Progresso’ she is indeed surging ahead and the Republic looks unfazed to her future! The guest of honour at the festivities was Mr. Paul Staal, Dutch consultant and a key leader in the 1960’s and 70’s of the activist movement Angola Comité, which fervently supported the Angolan struggle for independence. The special guest at the dinner was the representative of the Angola Steel Corporation, Ms.Almeida. The programme included a wonderful interactive musical performance by the renowned Angolan ensemble Kilandukilu Angola, who flew in especially for the celebrations.
Click here for pictures about this magnificent event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98057281@N02/sets/
Arrestation de quatre suspects pour subornation de témoins
Directly from the ICC.
Affaire Bemba : Arrestation de quatre suspects pour subornation de témoins ; Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo suspecté des mêmes charges
Les 23 et 24 novembre 2013, les autorités néerlandaises, françaises, belges et de la République Démocratique du Congo ont procédé à l’arrestation de quatre suspects pour des atteintes présumées à l’administration de la justice dans le contexte de l’affaire Le Procureur c. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, suite à un mandat d’arrêt délivré par le juge unique de la Chambre préliminaire II de Cour pénale internationale (CPI), M. le juge Cuno Tarfusser. Ce mandat d’arrêt, pour les mêmes charges, a également été signifié à Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo au quartier pénitentiaire de la CPI où il est détenu depuis le 3 juillet 2008.
M. le juge Cuno Tarfusser avait, le 20 novembre 2013, délivré un mandat d’arrêt à l’encontre de Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, son conseil principal Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo (membre de l’équipe de la défense de M. Bemba, chargé de la gestion des dossiers de l’affaire), Fidèle Babala Wandu (membre du Parlement congolais, Secrétaire général adjoint du Mouvement pour la Libération du Congo), et Narcisse Arido (témoin cité à comparaître par la Défense).
Le juge unique a considéré qu’il y a des motifs raisonnables de croire que les personnes susmentionnées ont engagé leur responsabilité pénale en commettant des atteintes à l’administration de la justice (article 70 du Statut de Rome), consistant en la subornation de témoins devant la CPI et en la production d’éléments de preuve faux ou falsifiés en connaissance de cause. Les suspects auraient constitué un réseau aux fins de produire des documents faux ou falsifiés et de corrompre certaines personnes afin qu’elles fassent de faux témoignages dans l’affaire concernant M. Bemba.
Les autorités belges ont arrêté Aimé Kilolo Musamba, les autorités néerlandaises ont arrêté Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, tandis que Narcisse Arido a été arrêté par les autorités françaises suite aux demandes d’arrestation et de remise que leur avait adressées la CPI. Ils seront remis à la CPI ultérieurement conformément aux procédures judiciaires applicables dans ces trois pays. Fidèle Babala Wandu a été arrêté par les autorités de la République démocratique du Congo et est en cours de transfert à La Haye. La date de l’audience de sa première comparution devant la CPI sera annoncée prochainement. Les autorités ont également coopéré avec la CPI aux fins de la perquisition de lieux concernant les suspects. Le juge unique de la Chambre préliminaire II a également demandé aux Etats concernés de localiser et geler les avoirs des suspects.
Le Greffier de la CPI, Herman von Hebel, a exprimé au nom de la CPI sa gratitude aux autorités de ces Etats pour leur coopération, rappelant qu’il s’agit des premières arrestations pour de telles charges devant la CPI.
Le procès de Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, président et commandant en chef présumé du Mouvement de libération du Congo, s’est ouvert le 22 novembre 2010, pour deux chefs de crimes contre l’humanité (viol et meurtre) et trois chefs de crimes de guerre (viol, meurtre et pillage) prétendument commis en République centrafricaine.
Pour toute information complémentaire, veuillez contacter Fadi El Abdallah, Porte-parole et Chef de l’Unité des affaires publiques, Cour pénale internationale, au +31 (0)70 515-9152 ou +31 (0)6 46448938 ou à l’adresse fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int.
The Hague in the world and the World in The Hague
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
Click here for more pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98057281@N02/sets/
On Tuesday 19 November 2013 a group of local residents, Hagnaars, and members of The Hague international community, came together for a Hague Bridge event in Valkenbos, city district Segbroek.
The internationals were from: Bhutan, Singapore, Russia, Lebanon, Cote d’Ivoire and other countries.
A varied programme was planned for the evening, which included a lecture on Dutch customs and a dance performance, that the guests enjoyed while sampling Dutch and African food.
Hague Bridge, a program of the Municipality of The Hague under the acumen management of Dr. Willem Post, has, as it’s main objective the enhancing of interaction between Hagenaars and expatriates , diplomats and internationals. On this evening this was certainly attained.
H.E. Pierre Menat, en l’honneur de la Francophonie
En l’honneur de Monsieur le Président Abdou Diouf, Secrétaire général de la Francophonie, et a l’occasion de la deuxième session de l’Assemblée des Etats Parties de la Cour pénale internationale, H.E. Ambassadeur de France aux Pays Bas, Pierre Ménat, has received selected guests for a déjeuner-buffet at his residence here in The Hague on Wednesday 20 November, Résidence de France Tobias Asserlaan 1. Click here for more pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98057281@N02/sets/
Pictures: Emy COTTET-DUMOULIN – Ambassade de France aux Pays-Bas.
King’s Day Belgium
By Bonnie Klap.
November 15 is a special day for the Belgian Monarchy. Since 1866 the day has been marked by celebrations in honor of the Belgian Monarch. The tradition was started by King Leopold II, who was the second King of Belgium. On November 15 His Excellency Mr. Frank Geerkens, Ambassador of Belgium to The Netherlands, hosted a reception at his residence to celebrate King’s Day. The reception was attended by a great number of guests, amongst whom several well-known Dutch politicians.
For more pictures about this event and other diplomatic gatherings please click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98057281@N02/sets/