Copyright 2001 AllAfrica, Inc

Africa News

March 29, 2001

SECTION: NEWS, DOCUMENTS & COMMENTARY

LENGTH: 361 words

HEADLINE: Kenya;
World Court Laws Adopted

BYLINE: The Nation

BODY:

Eight African countries have amended their constitutions to domesticate the
International Criminal Court statutes on crimes against humanity.

Kenya, which has merely signed the international statute, is among several
other countries which have not.

The court will now be empowered to try war crimes, genocide and human
rights abuses which national courts are unwilling to try, a member of the
International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, Ms Betty
Murungi, told a regional conference at a Nairobi hotel.

The International Bar Association and the Law Society of Kenya are holding
a four-day conference on "Law in a Continent in Transition".

The countries include Botswana, Gabon, Lesotho, Mali, Swaziland, Ghana,
Senegal, South Africa and Sierra Leone out of 60 states expected to amend
their constitutions this year.

Ms Murungi said there were major setbacks to the implementation of the
international court which include the Constitution, lack of political will
and legal setbacks.

"The constitution in most African countries prohibits Heads of States and
military leaders from being tried for crimes against humanity while in
office. "
Under the international court, states will be empowered to take legal
action in any of the member states hosting war crime suspects from other
countries.

Ms Joanne Korner, a Queens Counsel at the Hague, Netherlands, said
international court trials had been conducted fairly and expeditiously with
suspects being given defence counsels.

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has to date
convicted eight people, its Vice-President, Mr Erik Mose, told the
conference.

He said there were four on-going cases and a further three were set to
begin next month.

Among the expected cases is one involving former Culture and Education
Minister Jean de Dieu Kamahunda.

Prominent people already convicted include former Prime Minister Jean
Kambanba, former mayor Jean Paul Akayesu, broadcaster Georges Ruggiu and
Interahamwe militia leaders Omar Serushago and Georges Rutaganda.

The four-day conference, which was opened by President Moi on Monday, ended
yesterday.

LOAD-DATE: March 29, 2001