THE NETHERLANDS: THE WORLD COURT HAS REJECTED A CONGOLESE DEMAND THAT FRANCE SUSPEND AN INVESTIGATION INTO TOP CONGO OFFICIALS FOR ALLEGED CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

Record ID: 646824

  • Title: THE NETHERLANDS: THE WORLD COURT HAS REJECTED A CONGOLESE DEMAND THAT FRANCE SUSPEND AN INVESTIGATION INTO TOP CONGO OFFICIALS FOR ALLEGED CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
  • Date: 17th June 2003
  • Summary: (EU) THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS (JUNE 17, 2003)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV EXTERIOR OF PEACE PALACE 0.05 2. CU STATUE ON BUILDING 0.08 3. SV JUDGES ENTERING COURT ROOM 0.13 4. SLV JUDGES STANDING 0.17 5. SV JUDGES TAKING SEAT 0.25 6. CLOSE-UP OF FACE OF REPRESENTATIVE OF CONGO DELEGATION LISTENING 0.28 7. PAN CONGO DELEGATION SITTING ON BENCH 0.42 8. SV (English) PRESIDENT SHI JIUYONG READING OUT RULING: "For these reasons the court, by fourteen votes to one, finds that the circumstances, as they now present themselves to the Court, are not such as to require the exercise of its power under Article 41 of the Statute to indicate provisional measures." 1.17 9. SV CONGO DELEGATION LISTENING 1.24 10. PAN CEILING TO COURTROOM 1.40 11. MCU (French) LAWYER OF CONGO DELEGATION JACQUES VERGES SAYING: "We are happy with the decision because we wanted the court to confirm the privilege and the immunity of the chief of the State of Congo and its ministers. The French, even before the ruling, told us that they recognize these privileges and that nothing will be done against the chief of the state of Congo and that nothing will be done against its ministers. At the beginning of the case it was clear that the court could only say that our demands were met without objections. So for us it was not about knowing whether the French would give us that privilege in front of the court. We received that and that makes us very happy." 2.37 12. LAS EXTERIOR OF PEACE PALACE 2.48 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Reuters ID: LVA5GLX783UL57YLQFCS1ES1G3V5
  • Story Text: The world Court has rejected a Congolese demand that
    France suspend an investigation into top Congo officials for
    alleged torture and crimes against humanity.



    The World Court on Tuesday (June 17) rejected a
    Congolese demand that France suspend an investigation into top
    officials of the Congo government for alleged torture and
    crimes against humanity.

    A court in the French town of Meaux launched the
    investigation after human rights groups filed a complaint in
    2001 against Congo's President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Interior
    Minister Pierre Oba and others.

    The case centres on more than 300 Congolese refugees who
    fled civil war in their country but who disappeared after
    returning to Congo in 1999.

    Congo last year went to the World Court -- the top United
    Nations court -- asking it to annul the French investigation
    and prosecution, arguing France was violating international
    law.

    Mindful that the World Court case will take months or
    years, Congo had asked the Hague-based court for an interim
    ruling ordering the immediate suspension of the Meaux
    proceedings.

    France had asked the World Court, formally known as the
    International Court of Justice, to reject Congo's request.

    Congo had argued that France's prosecution of a minister
    of a foreign state breached the principle of sovereign
    equality among all U.N. members.

    Congo also accused France of violating criminal immunity
    of a foreign head of state by issuing a warrant for police to
    examine Sassou as a witness.

    The complaint filed in France by human rights groups named
    Sassou, Oba, Inspector-General of the Congolese army Norbert
    Dabira and Blaise Adoua, Commander of the Presidential Guard.

    France argued that although a warrant was issued, its
    Foreign Ministry had not passed it on to Sassou.

    It also pointed out that it had taken no legal action against minister
    Oba and General Adoua.

    Dabira, who has a residence in France, spent a spell in
    custody being questioned but then returned to Congo.

    Jacques Verges, a lawyer representing the Congo delegation,
    said on Tuesday they were happy with the decision.

    "We wanted the court to confirm the privilege and the
    immunity of the chief of the State of Congo and its
    ministers. The French, even before the ruling, told us that
    they recognize these privileges and that nothing will be done
    against the chief of the state of Congo and that nothing will
    be done against its ministers.

    At the beginning of the case it was clear that the court could only
    say that our demands were met without objections. So for us it was
    not about knowing whether the French would give us that privilege in
    front of the court. We received that and that makes us very happy,"
    Verges said.




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