The trial of Congolese war crimes accused Thomas Lubanga this week focused on the atrocities which fighters of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) meted out on civilians and child soldiers, and also saw one of the participating victims who gave evidence asking for reparations. According to the testimony of two participating victims, UPC militiamen…
Commanders in Thomas Lubanga’s militia impregnated young female recruits, a former soldier in the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) told prosecutors on Tuesday. “[The commanders] took girls and would get them pregnant, and then these girls had to leave the camp and go [back] to the village,” said the witness, who trained young recruits at…
A protected witness scheduled to testify this week against accused Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga told judges that he had given a false name and statement to investigators. The witness was the second for prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) to recant testimony in the Lubanga trial. The first witness ultimately testified, and the…
A man known as Witness 15 who was to testify Tuesday against Thomas Lubanga told judges that he had given a false name and statement to investigators. “Shortly after [Witness 15] was called to give evidence, he indicated that he provided the [Office of the Prosecutor (OTP)] with a false name and that the…
Defendant Thomas Lubanga visited military training camps to boost the morale of young recruits, a former child soldier told prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) this week. “I saw the president on two occasions,” the unnamed witness told the court. “The first time he came, he asked about our situation in general. The second…
Judges reprimanded prosecutors today for an inadequate response to victims’ attorneys, who want charges against defendant Thomas Lubanga expanded to include sexual slavery and cruel treatment. “The prosecution [response] in present form fails to address issues raised [by the victims' lawyers],” presiding Judge Adrian Fulford told prosecutors. “It would be helpful to us to have…
Some recruits in the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) training camps were just five years old, according to a witness in the continuing trial of accused Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga. The witness told judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague that the UPC leadership thought such young recruits made good soldiers…
A former officer in the militia of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) testified this week that child soldiers were among the bodyguards of accused leader Thomas Lubanga. Lubanga, the president of UPC, is on trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of enlisting and conscripting children under the age of 15 and…
Experts in the trial of accused Congolese leader Thomas Lubanga this week struggled to confirm the ages of child soldiers said to have been part of the Union of Congolese Patriots, UPC. The specialists in age determination testified at the International Criminal Court (ICC) that based on x-ray images, some may have been as young…
To date, 93 victims have been granted participation status in the trial of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, and although it is early days in the proceedings their presence is already being felt in the courtroom. Lubanga’s trial began on January 26 with the opening statements of seven victims’ representatives. The victims are mostly former child soldiers,…
Thomas Lubanga on trial at the International Criminal Court. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is the first person to be tried by the International Criminal Court. A former rebel leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lubanga is accused of conscripting, enlisting, and using child soldiers. More
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