Tag Archives: International Criminal Court

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Dozens of Women and Children Perish in Ethnic Clash in Kenya – In Memory


 

At least 52 people have died in a serious ethnic attack in Kenya on Tuesday. AFP notes that most of the victims were women and children. The original toll of 48 casualties reported on Tuesday was raised to 52 after four more people perished from sustained injuries on Wednesday.

The tragedy was sparked by the long rivalry between Pokomo and Ormo people in a remote corner of Kenya near the Tana River district. Police chief Joseph Kitur said that 31 women perished, along with 11 children and six adult men. Kitur also told reporters that 34 of the victims were hacked to death and 14 were burnt.

The attack occurred in a rural corner of southeast Kenya, about 185 miles away from the capital of Nairobi. The New York Times notes that the gruesome incident was staged by numerous members of an armed militia from the Pokomo group who entered the Ormo village and began to slash residents before setting many of the homes on fire.

One member of Parliament, Danson Mungatana, thought the attacks were probably a backlash after an Ormo cattle raid that occurred last week. Battles for water and land resources between the two groups in this part of Kenya are reportedly very common. Another clash between the two groups back in 2001 caused around 130 deaths. The Pokomo reportedly practice subsistence farming, while the Ormo tend towards a pastoral livelihood. The Kenya Red Cross was at the scene and reported that they sent seven people to the hospital with severe injuries.

The most tragic aspect of the current episode is the high number of children lost in the conflict, along with women and unsuspecting male village members. Both the AFP and the New York Times note that this most recent attack is a reminder of the post-election ethnic violence of 2007, when there were contested election results between two candidates from different ethnic backgrounds, which pitted populations against each other, resulting in more than 1,000 deaths.

In January, the International Criminal Court charged four Kenyan officials with crimes related to the post-election deaths. The next set of elections are planned for next year, according to UPI. The most recent violence has sparked discomfort and is an unsettling reminder that elections could also pose more danger for Kenyans next year.

 

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Dear Avaaz friends,


In just 2 days’ time, African leaders could kill off a great institution, leaving the world a more dangerous place.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the world’s first and only global court to adjudicate crimes against humanity. But leaders of Sudan and Kenya, who have inflicted terror and fear across their countries, are trying to drag Africa out of the ICC, allowing them the freedom to kill, rape, and inspire hatred without consequences.

I know that together we can change this. But we have to join hands and call on the voices of reason at the African Union (AU) – Nigeria and South Africa – to speak out and ensure that the persecuted are protected by the ICC. Join me by adding your name to the petition now and share it with everyone — when we have hit 1 million our petition will be delivered straight into the AU conference hall where Africa’s leaders are meeting in Addis Ababa.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/justice_for_africa_icc/?biEWLbb&v=30043

In my years of work, life and travel, the fight for justice has been a long and arduous one. I have seen the very worst in Darfur and Rwanda, but also the very best with the reconciliation in South Africa. During this journey, I have seen great gains made that protect the weak from the strong and give us all hope. The ICC is one of these beacons of hope.

This threat to the ICC started precisely because the court was doing its job. It charged Kenya’s Deputy President for killing people who rallied against him during an election and Sudan’s President for murdering women and children in Darfur. Now Kenya and Sudan are lobbying all of Africa to pull out of the court and destroy its chance of success.

But in Darfur, Congo, Cote D’Ivoire and Kenya, the ICC has played a key role in bringing hope to those terrified by the armies, militias and madmen that have waged war against the innocent. It’s a light in the darkness that cannot be allowed to go out.

The main argument by some leaders with a guilty conscience is that the ICC is a Western witch-hunt as most of the investigations have happened in Africa. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. This was an institution that was created by 20 African countries, 5 of the court’s 18 judges are African and the chief prosecutor is African.

Friday is a key judgement day. Will our African leaders stand on the side of justice or injustice? With survivors and fallen victims or with tyrants and oppressors? This is the moment to choose. Join me in calling on African leaders to stand on the side of justice and support the International Criminal Court:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/justice_for_africa_icc/?biEWLbb&v=30043

I’ve seen some of the brightest moments in human history, moments where we together brought hope to so many. This is our chance to do that again, together.

With hope and appreciation for this community,

In 2 days, African leaders could vote to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, crippling one of the world’s best hopes for confronting genocide and crimes against humanity. I know together we can stop this. Join me in urging the voices of reason within the African Union to stand up for justice and accountability — let’s protect this great institution:

Desmond Tutu

More information:

Botswana Supports International Criminal Court (Voice of America)
http://www.voanews.com/content/botswana-supports-international-criminal-court/1764960.html

130 Groups Across Africa Call for Countries to Back ICC (Human Rights Watch)
http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/10/07/130-groups-across-africa-call-countries-back-icc

Kenya pushing for African split from International Criminal Court (Irish Times)
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/africa/kenya-pushing-for-african-split-from-international-criminal-court-1.1549427

Annan defends International Criminal Court (News 24)
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Annan-defends-International-Criminal-Court-20131007

Africa to debate ICC role amid growing opposition (Yahoo News)
http://news.yahoo.com/africa-debate-icc-role-amid-growing-opposition-103053710.html

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Sudan: enough is enough


Sudan‘s President al-Bashir is the world’s worst mass murderer. Indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, he has for 20 years repeatedly butchered whole communities that challenged his rule. And it’s happening again — unless we stop him for good.

Right now he’s bombing women and children in the Nuba mountains, while his militias go door to door slitting the throats of whole families. For decades, world leaders have shamefully allowed al-Bashir’s unspeakable brutality so they could maintain access to his regime’s large oil reserves. But this week things are changing — Sudan is splitting apart, inflation and food prices are sky-rocketing, and Bashir’s grip on power is at its weakest ever.

Let’s send a massive message to our leaders that enough is enough and demand they end their shocking inaction now: by arresting this monster, levying powerful sanctions on his cabal, and committing to protect the people of Sudan from genocide. Click below to sign and tell everyone — we’ll deliver the petition to UN Security Council members when we reach 300,000 signatures:

http://www.avaaz.org

The Nuba mountains are under siege. Al-Bashir killed an entire generation of men, women and children there in the 1990s, and now he’s back to brutalize the survivors. But in just days, long-suffering South Sudan will finally become independent, taking with it much of the oil that al-Bashir uses to buy international complicity with his crimes. Bashir is also facing pro-democracy protests, a worsening economy, and tense relations with long-time patron, China. This is our best chance in decades to organize the international action we need to end al-Bashir’s brutal rule.

Strong international sanctions, a concerted global plan to arrest al-Bashir and others indicted by the International Criminal Court, and a commitment to protect the Sudanese people from further crimes against humanity would send al-Bashir a signal that the game is up, weaken his position in his own regime, and show the Sudanese people that he no longer has impunity for his crimes. The Sudanese – in the South, in Darfur, in Nuba, and many other places – have waited far too long for the world to stand up for humanity and justice, let’s stand with them now:

http://www.avaaz.org

It’s almost impossible to imagine the desperation and terror of women and children in Nuba right now, or Darfur before them. It’s a great stain on the conscience of the entire world, that we have not done what was necessary to stop al-Bashir’s reign of terror. Let’s end that reign now, with a massive outcry to governments to act.

With hope,

Ricken, Stephanie, Nicola, Alice, Morgan, Rewan and the rest of the Avaaz team

SOURCES

Ethnic Killings by Army Reported in Sudanese Mountains
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/world/africa/21refugees.html

Sudan seen massing troops in oil state, U.N. staff blocked
http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE7651FB20110706

Ex-rebels accuse Sudan’s Bashir of blocking ceasefire
http://avaaz.org/afp_sudan

The struggle for South Sudan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/04/south-sudan-hope-aid-policy

How will southern independence affect Sudan?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14019051