The International Center for Transitional Justice
www.ictj.org

 

Transitional Justice in the News

March 31, 2006

 

HEADLINES

Argentina: Country Marks Coup Anniversary

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Two Bosnian Muslim Commanders Found Guilty by ICTY

Burundi: UN Delegation Discusses Truth Commission, Tribunal

Democratic Republic of Congo: ICC Makes First Arrest

Iraq: Media Cut Off from Saddam Hussein Trial

Rwanda: Government Sets Up ICTR-Monitoring Task Force

Sierra Leone: Charles Taylor Transferred to Special Court

Timor-Leste: Indonesia's Supreme Court Doubles Sentence for Timorese Militia Leader

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ARGENTINA

Country Marks Coup Anniversary

March 25, 2006

 

During a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the military coup that ushered in the 1976-83 "Dirty War," Argentinean president Nestor Kirchner called on the judiciary to decide on the remaining immunity laws for the former military leaders. The government has also announced that military archives would be newly opened to the public, which may shed some light on the many pending cases of disappeared persons.

 

See: The Guardian, Thirty years on Argentina still tries to come to terms with 'dirty war'

BBC, Argentina to open secret archives

BBC, Argentina marks coup anniversary

AFP, Argentina marks 30th anniversary of Dirty War

 

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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Two Bosnian Muslim Commanders Found Guilty by ICTY

March 23, 2005

 

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has found two Bosnian Muslims, both former army commanders, guilty of failing to prevent or punish atrocities by troops under their command during the 1992-95 war. Former General Enver Hadzihasanovic was sentenced to five years in jail and Brigadier Amir Kubura to two and a half years.

 

See: Reuters, Hague tribunal convicts Bosnian Muslim commanders

 

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BURUNDI

UN Delegation Discusses Truth Commission, Tribunal

March 28, 2006

 

A United Nations delegation has visited Burundi to hold consultations about a possible truth commission and a special court to deal with past atrocities committed from independence until the 2000 peace accords. The delegation was expected to meet with government official, religious leaders, judicial and political officials, and civil society representatives.

 

See: IRIN, UN Team Arrives for Talks On Truth And Reconciliation Commission

 

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

ICC Makes First Arrest

March 22, 2006

 

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has made its first arrest. Militia leader Thomas Lubanga of the Democratic Republic of Congo is accused of having recruited and conscripted as soldiers youth under the age of 15 and forced them into active combat. Before his transfer to the ICC in The Hague, the former militia leader had been in jail in the DRC, accused of ordering an attack that killed nine United Nations peacekeepers in 2005.

 

See: ICC, First arrest for the International Criminal Court

Reuters, Congo hands first suspect to Hague court

BBC, DR Congo rebel faces Hague trial

AFP, First detainee appears before International Criminal Court

 

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IRAQ

Media Cut Off from Saddam Hussein Trial

March 17, 2006

 

The chief judge at the trial of Saddam Hussein barred journalists from the courtroom after the former dictator urged Iraqis to fight American troops. Sources inside the courtroom after the media left reported that Hussein is following the same line of defense he started with, not denying his role in the killings he is accused of and challenging the prosecution's claim that the acts were criminal.

 

See: CNN, In first testimony, Hussein urges Iraqis to fight

BBC, Chaos and comedy at Saddam trial

Mail & Guardian, Saddam trial hitting its stride at half-time

BBC, Judge closes Saddam trial to media

 

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RWANDA

Government Sets Up ICTR-Monitoring Task Force

March 18, 2006

 

The government of Rwanda has set up a task force to monitor the progress of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) as it nears its 2008 date of closure. Analysts believe the move is in line with Rwanda's efforts to have ICTR suspects transferred to Rwandan courts.

 

See: Hirondelle, Govt Sets Up Task Force to Monitor UN Court's Work

 

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SIERRA LEONE

Charles Taylor Transferred to Special Court

March 30, 2006

 

Following his arrest as he was trying to flee Nigeria, former Liberian president Charles Taylor has been transferred to the custody of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, where he has been indicted on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He tried to flee Nigeria after elected Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf requested an end to his exile. His trial is not expected to begin for several months.

 

See: IRIN, Handcuffed Taylor Deposited at War Crimes Court

BBC, Taylor trial 'many months away'

Reuters, Liberia's Taylor keeps promise to return

Reuters, Liberia's Taylor delivered to war crimes court

The Guardian, Charles Taylor delivered to war crimes court

 

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TIMOR-LESTE

Indonesia's Supreme Court Doubles Sentence for Timorese Militia Leader

March 16, 2006

 

Indonesia's Supreme Court has doubled to ten years the sentence of Eurico Guterres, a former pro-Jakarta militia leader found guilty of violent attacks in Timor-Leste in the lead-up to the 1999 vote for independence from Indonesia. Of the 18 men indicted by the Indonesian courts over the violence, Guterres is the only one whose case has ended in a conviction.

 

See: Reuters, Indonesia top court doubles Timor militiaman's term

 

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Editor: Patrick J. Pierce

Patrick J. Pierce serves as a consultant to the ICTJ.

 

Contributing Editors: Marieke Wierda and Miranda Sissons 

 

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The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) assists countries pursuing accountability for past mass atrocity or human rights abuse. The Center works in societies emerging from repressive rule or armed conflict, as well as in established democracies where historical injustices or systemic abuse remain unresolved.

 

In order to promote justice, peace, and reconciliation, government officials and nongovernmental advocates are likely to consider a variety of transitional justice approaches including both judicial and nonjudicial responses to human rights crimes. The ICTJ assists in the development of integrated, comprehensive, and localized approaches to transitional justice comprising five key elements: prosecuting perpetrators, documenting and acknowledging violations through nonjudicial means such as truth commissions, reforming abusive institutions, providing reparations to victims, and facilitating reconciliation processes.

 

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