News
We’ll go to the Hague, NGOs warn MPs
Posted Tuesday, January 27 2009 at 22:07
NGOs on Tuesday warned that they would push for suspects of post-election violence to be tried in international courts if the government put in place a weak tribunal to try them.
Officials from the National Civil Society Congress said their concerns arose from claims that some MPs were allegedly keen to sabotage the tribunal even before it is formed.
The names of those implicated in the violence by the Waki Commission Inquiry are contained in a secret list that was last year handed to Mr Kofi Annan, who brought together warring political sides.
The list is believed to include names of several Cabinet ministers and other prominent people.
Set standards
Said Mr Ndung’u Wainaina: “President Kibaki and Prime minister Raila Odinga should be told that if the tribunal does not meet the set international standards, then the secret envelope will have to be handed over to the ICC (International Criminal Court) investigators at The Hague, (Netherlands).”
More than 1,000 people were killed and 350,000 rendered homeless in the violence that was precipitated by the release of the 2007 presidential election results.
The lobbyists said they expected the local tribunal to be independent, impartial and credible.
Lawyer Harun Ndubi questioned the secrecy around the entrenchment of the special tribunal into the Constitution.
“Since when did a draft Bill become secret?” asked Mr Ndubi, poking holes in the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2009, saying it could be challenged in court.
The activists called for resignation of all Cabinet ministers in whose dockets there have been corruption scandals.
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Submitted by naliweliwaloPosted January 28, 2009 06:14 PM
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Submitted by Kibutu Kiiru
With the economic recession we are in, why can't the implicated be handed over to Hague? It can save us alot of hassles especially resources that could be used elsewhere like resettling the pev. victims. Hague cells could be more comfortable. Go go go to Hague.
Posted January 28, 2009 06:01 PM -
Submitted by mawingo130
You have all the support of all Kenyans. Tells us what you need to succeed.Go NGOs.You are our silent voices.
Posted January 28, 2009 09:53 AM -
Submitted by d_masta65
I keep reading this nonsense about political careers being ended and yet countless numbers of Kenyans die of hunger, post election violence but all we ask for is a functioning govt. please NGO's spare us the long term heartache and help us get rid of the scum that occupy our parliament
Posted January 28, 2009 05:26 AM -
Submitted by ndaiga
NO tribunal in Kenya will ever work with the crooks still holding power. that is a bad idea, they should just take it straight to Hague.
Posted January 28, 2009 04:26 AM
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Thankk you NGOs for saying what Kenyans are generally feeling on the ground. You are usually maligned as a useless lot, but your constant agitation for our rights is the way to go. The pregnant Waki report whose baby we were waiting for was aborted!