The first witness to appear for the Thomas Lubanga defense told court today that although his son never served in any military group, an organization which had promised to give the boy a job later started passing him off as a former child soldier. According to the testimony, the unnamed organization also duped the child’s…
The first witness to appear for the Thomas Lubanga defense is expected to give evidence tomorrow (Wednesday). The witness will presented after lead counsel Catherine Mabille has explained how the case will unfold and highlighted certain themes of the accused’s case. But Mabille has today said that they were experiencing some problems related to their…
The first participating victim to take the witness stand in the trial of former Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga told the court on Tuesday that the reason he was testifying was to inform the world about the crimes committed against his people by a militia group Lubanga is alleged to have led, and to ask…
Young female recruits were frequently raped by commanders in Thomas Lubanga’s militia, a former soldier in the Union of Congolese Patriots, UPC, told the court this week. “I used to see women who were taken by force,” said the witness, who trained young recruits at the Mandro centre, not far from the Ituri city of…
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…
Girls recruited into Thomas Lubanga’s militia were raped by trainers and guards, a former soldier in the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) told the court today. In court for the third consecutive day, the witness is one of many who have testified about sexual violence in the militia’s training camps. “The trainers and other guards…
Children joined Thomas Lubanga’s militia to avenge the murders of family and friends, a witness told prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) this week. “They had just arrived from their homes,” explained the unnamed witness, identified as a former soldier in the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) who also trained young recruits. “Many had…
The children taken into Thomas Lubanga’s militia made their own toys and played marbles when they weren’t learning to use weapons, a witness told the court today. “They were always on the ground playing little games,” said the unnamed witness, identified as a soldier with the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) who also trained young…
A former officer in the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) militia told the court on Tuesday that commanders, including Thomas Lubanga, had child soldiers among their bodyguards. The child soldiers at the UPC headquarters and those in Lubanga’s personal guard wore military uniforms and carried arms, he said. When he first testified earlier this month,…
The rapid rise of accused Congolese leader Thomas Lubanga within the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) and his role in the group’s militia were revealed this week in his trial before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Lubanga started as a bean seller at a market in the Ituri regional center of Bunia in…
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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