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