Posts Tagged ‘UPC’


April 18, 2011

Evidence Phase of Trial Reaches End

By Judith Armatta

The defense final witness concluded his testimony today, predominantly in private session. In redirect examination, defense counsel Marc Desalliers questioned the witness about what the prosecution had asked him during their December 10, 2010 meeting concerning Dunji Mandro Konke, aka Kordo, who the prosecution alleges recruited child soldiers in the witness’s neighborhood. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo…

April 15, 2011

Final Defense Witness Concludes Testimony

By Judith Armatta

The final defense witness in the trial of Thomas Lubanga continued his testimony this morning. In response to questioning by defense counsel Marc Desalliers, he reported that a delegation from the prosecutor’s office in The Hague came to his neighborhood in Bunia town. The witness invited them to accompany him into the field to check…

April 14, 2011

Two Witnesses Testify For Defense; Judge Lectures Prosecution For Not Keeping Court Witness in The Hague

By Judith Armatta

Pierre Zuto Munji This morning the prosecution concluded cross-examining Pierre Zuto Munji, private secretary to Commander Bosco Ntaganda, at the war crimes trial of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. Prosecutor Manoj Sachdeva returned to the issue of UN complaints to the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) about the use of child soldiers in the Force for the…

April 13, 2011

Bosco Ntaganda Secretary Testifies

By Judith Armatta

War crimes accused Thomas Lubanga’s defense today called Pierre Zuto Munji, who served as the private secretary to Bosco Ntaganda, the alleged deputy chief of staff of the Patriotic Force for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC). Mr. Ntaganda faces the same charges as Mr. Lubanga before the International Criminal Court (ICC), namely committing war crimes…

April 12, 2011

Village Fighters Included Children Under 15

By Judith Armatta

Trial resumed today with the continued cross-examination of Thomas Lubanga’s private secretary, Michel Angayika Baba. The prosecutor was unable to get a concession from the witness that children under the age of 15 were used in the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) and its armed wing, the Patriotic Force for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC).…

April 8, 2011

Use of Child Soldiers Against Mr. Lubanga’s Values

By Judith Armatta

On the second day of his appearance, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo’s personal secretary testified that using children in military actions was against Mr. Lubanga’s values. He simply never would have done it. Michel Angayika Baba said he was nearly continually with Mr. Lubanga from September 2002 until May 2003 and never saw any minors in Mr.…

April 6, 2011

UPC Decrees Demobilization of Child Soldiers But Seeks More

By Judith Armatta

On the fourth day of cross-examination in Thomas Lubanga’s trial, the prosecutor repeatedly and unsuccessfully pressed defense witness Bede Djokaba Lambi Longa to admit children were used as body guards for commanders in the army of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), contrary to his evidence in chief. Mr. Longa would only agree that a…

April 4, 2011

Witness Insists Thomas Lubanga Was Not A Military Leader

By Judith Armatta

Prosecutor Olivia Struyven cross-examined militia leader Bede Djokaba Lambi Longa, who has been testifying for four days in the trial of Thomas Lubanga. Mr. Lubanga is charged with recruiting, conscripting, and using child soldiers in the Ituri Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2002 and 2003. Ms. Struyven’s line of questioning was…

March 30, 2011

Trial Resumes With Testimony That Lubanga Ordered Demobilization of Child Soldiers

By Judith Armatta

The trial of former Congolese rebel leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo resumed today after a four months’ hiatus. It opened with a ruling from judges on the appearance of certain defense witnesses. Lubanga’s counsel applied to call two witnesses in addition to those already on the witness list and to hear testimony of certain witnesses via…

October 13, 2010

The Lubanga Trial Resumes: Responses from Ituri

By Olivia Bueno

Dear readers – please find below a commentary written by Olivia Bueno at the International Refugee Rights Initiative in consultation with Congolese activists.  The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the International Refugee Rights Initiative or of the Open Society Justice Initiative. The October 8, 2010 decision…