LIBYA: ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo tells Reuters the deadlock between Libya and the ICC is merely a legal debate

Record ID: 346565

  • Title: LIBYA: ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo tells Reuters the deadlock between Libya and the ICC is merely a legal debate
  • Date: 19th April 2012
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (APRIL 18, 2012) (REUTERS) INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) CHIEF PROSECUTOR LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO DURING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO, SAYING: "The country is moving, and the fact that we are discussing how to do justice, if the Libyans do it or the ICC do it, is showing how well this case is moving. One year ago this was a mess, today we are discussing legal issues, we are organising, everything is different." CLOSE OF VASE BEHIND OCAMPO (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO, SAYING: "The rules say that the national system has primacy, there has to be a genuine investigation and it should be a fair trial, a fair process. Today, the chairman was committing himself to ensure the process and legal system is ok, and the suspect is (presumed) innocent, there has to be a defence lawyer, judges, so as soon as it's happening, that's what they have to present to the (ICC) judges." CLOSE OF PAINTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO, SAYING: "In the case of Saif (al-Islam Gaddafi), there are two jurisdictions willing to prosecute him and the (ICC) judges will decide and justice will be done in a country which started a rebellion requesting justice because Libya started the rebellion because of justice for Abu Saleem (prison) killings. So for me, it's not just why Libya is an example for the Arab World, it's an example for the world. The world is learning that yes, justice is relevant, the world is learning that (a pursuit for) justice could trigger rebellions and also justice can help to organise the new governments. Perfect." MORE OF MORENO-OCAMPO IN INTERVIEW
  • Embargoed: 4th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya, Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA30VOYNM9JP9T3KTKTC5MYSRU8
  • Story Text: International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo told Reuters in Tripoli on Wednesday (April 18) that Libya had made substantial progress since last year's conflict that toppled Muammar Gaddafi's dictatorship from power.
    Luis Moreno-Ocampo played down the deadlock between the ICC and Libya over who should try Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the former leader's most prominent son, and Gaddafi senior's former intelligence chief and brother-in-law, Abdullah Senussi - currently held in Mauritania.
    "The country is moving, and the fact that we are discussing how to do justice, if the Libyans do it or the ICC do it, is showing how well this case is moving. One year ago this was a mess, today we are discussing legal issues, we are organising, everything is different," said Moreno-Ocampo.
    Libya says he will be tried in his home country but it has been unable to prize him out of the hands of the militia fighters who caught him in the southern desert in November.
    Moreno-Ocampo said Libya will be the place where Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is tried if they can prove to the ICC judges that they can offer a fair trial.
    "The rules say that the national system has primacy, there has to be a genuine investigation and it should be a fair trial, a fair process. Today, the chairman was committing himself to ensure the process and legal system is ok, and the suspect is (presumed) innocent, there has to be a defence lawyer, judges, so as soon as it's happening, that's what they have to present to the (ICC) judges," he said.
    "In the case of Saif (al-Islam Gaddafi), there are two jurisdictions willing to prosecute him and the (ICC) judges will decide and justice will be done in a country which started a rebellion requesting justice because Libya started the rebellion because of justice for Abu Saleem (prison) killings. So for me, it's not just why Libya is an example for the Arab World, it's an example for the world. The world is learning that yes, justice is relevant, the world is learning that (a pursuit for) justice could trigger rebellions and also justice can help to organise the new governments. Perfect," he added.
    The ICC this month rejected Libya's request to postpone handing over Saif al-Islam to face war crimes charges. It ordered Tripoli to "comply with its obligations to enforce the warrant of arrest" and surrender him without delay.
    Libya has appealed the decision and will be presenting a challenge to the admissibility of the case to the Hague.
    Libya's government wants to transfer him to Tripoli and put him on trial there. He faces the death penalty if found guilty by a Libyan court but a prison term if convicted by the ICC.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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