A former soldier in Thomas Lubanga’s Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) told the court on Friday that he was arrested and held prisoner at the militia’s headquarters in the city of Bunia. “We were locked into the rooms and the guard [was] there to make sure we could not get away,” said the witness, who…
A former child soldier told prosecutors on Thursday that he was beaten when he arrived at a military training camp allegedly run by Thomas Lubanga and other commanders in the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC). “Can you describe how you were beaten?” asked prosecutor Nicole Samson. “No, I can’t,” the unnamed witness replied. “I might…
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…
The fourth day of testimony by an unnamed witness in the trial of Thomas Lubanga proceeded almost entirely in closed session on Tuesday, as judges cited concerns that sensitive information might be made public. The testimony was closed when Lubanga’s defense lawyer, Catherine Mabille, asked the witness about statements he gave to the prosecution early…
The Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) militia received arms from Rwanda when supplies from Uganda became unreliable, a witness at the Thomas Lubanga trial said on Wednesday. The witness also recalled seeing “hundreds” of child soldiers being trained at camps run by the UPC. Bosco Ntaganda, a Congolese who remains free despite an ICC warrant…
Defense lawyers in the trial of accused militia leader Thomas Lubanga on Tuesday questioned conflicting testimonies by a witness who said he was abducted and turned into a child soldier. The witness, who was not identified, told the International Criminal Court the discrepancies were because he was afraid to tell the truth to investigators when…
A former soldier in Thomas Lubanga’s militia said he witnessed the execution of a young recruit who attempted to flee militia training. He also told the International Criminal Court that young female recruits could not refuse to have sex with militia commanders. While the training was strenuous and those who failed to keep up were…
A former child soldier told prosecutors this week that commanders in defendant Thomas Lubanga’s militia ordered the recruits to rape. “Did you rape girls?” Prosecutor Manoj Sachdeva asked the unnamed witness. “Yes, I raped once,” the witness said, explaining that the rape occurred after a battle against ethnic Lendu fighters in the Ituri village of…
Prosecutors in the trial of accused militia leader Thomas Lubanga on Friday presented their fourth former child soldier, who told the court that he volunteered for the militia. “We had nothing to do, so we went with [the soldiers],” the witness told Prosecutor Julieta Solano McCausland. The witness agreed to use the pseudonym “Patrick” while…
A video shown in court on Monday depicted defendant Thomas Lubanga visiting a military training camp and delivering a speech to a large group of soldiers and recruits. “The youngest [recruits] were about nine years old,” an unnamed witness told the court, speaking in French with his face and voice digitally distorted. The witness said…
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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