Former child soldiers in the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), the group which war crimes accused Thomas Lubanga is alleged to have led, this week recounted stories of torture, whippings and brutal punishments of boys and girls who served in the militia group. Two former child soldiers told the Lubanga trial at the International Criminal…
Another former child soldier who is participating as a victim in the trial of former Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga today testified about his conscription into the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), and the roles he played as a member of the militia group. He said UPC fighters abducted him while he was returning home…
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…
The Lubanga defense today questioned the participating victim who begun giving evidence at the Lubanga trial on Tuesday, querying his account of how rebels abducted pupils from a school where he was the schoolmaster, and the authenticity of the medical records he presented before the court. Defense counsel Jean-Marie Biju-Duval put it to the witness…
After a summer that has left the future shape of the trial in doubt, Catherine Mabille spoke with the Lubanga Trial website about the possibility of new charges against her client, victims’ participation, and what will happen next. Rachel Irwin: Let’s begin by talking about the developments this summer. The victims’ representatives asked the judges…
The summer recess at the International Criminal Court ended on Monday, but the Thomas Lubanga trial will be on hiatus until October while the defense prepares its case. There will, however, be a hearing in the near future to deal with the possibility of adding new charges to the case. In May, victims’ lawyers requested…
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…
Most of Tuesday’s proceedings were closed to the public as Thomas Lubanga’s defense team cross-examined last week’s witness, a former officer in the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) militia. The closings prompted Judge Adrian Fulford to apologize for what he said might be considered “extremely irritating” moves by the court for public observers of the…
An attempt by a rich family in Bunia to drive ethnic Lendu from their land sparked the Ituri region’s bloody ethnic conflict, according to testimony on Wednesday. Continuing his testimony from the previous day, a former political leader in Ituri told the Lubanga trial that the Savo family, ethnic Hema who were financial backers of…
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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