Comments on: Saving international justice in Africa http://africanarguments.org/2009/08/saving-international-justice-in-africa/ Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:01:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dave Mites http://africanarguments.org/2009/08/saving-international-justice-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-26826 Dave Mites Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:29:20 +0000 http://africanarguments.org/?p=448#comment-26826 It would seem as if he would only be tried by his own people for the crimes he is charged.  It would seem that later he could be tried for damages to other nations but only after he had answered to his own people. It would seem as if he would only be tried by his own people for the crimes he is charged.  It would seem that later he could be tried for damages to other nations but only after he had answered to his own people.

]]> By: James Mites http://africanarguments.org/2009/08/saving-international-justice-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-24507 James Mites Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:08:51 +0000 http://africanarguments.org/?p=448#comment-24507 This was a very impressive article.  I follow a lot of the Nigerian blogs and this gives a much wider picture of the problems.  I thank you for your effort in putting this news release out. This was a very impressive article.  I follow a lot of the Nigerian blogs and this gives a much wider picture of the problems.  I thank you for your effort in putting this news release out.

]]> By: James Nyawo http://africanarguments.org/2009/08/saving-international-justice-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-13395 James Nyawo Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:38:49 +0000 http://africanarguments.org/?p=448#comment-13395 Well said Odinkalu, I share your concerns about the region's security problems. The region (Central, East and Horn of Africa) is very fragile and one single event such as power vacuum in Khartoum could lead to a wave of political violance, and I am sure this is the reason why the African Union wanted the UNSC to defer the issue of arrest warrent against President BAshir. I am sure you recall very well how the death of Rwandese President sparked horrible events that will continue to haunt the entire humanity for years to come. But then how long shall we continue to rely and put our salvation in the hands of institutions that are not very coherent in their approach to African problems. How long shall we continue to wait for Washington, London, Paris, Bejing, and Moscow to come to save us from ourselves. I am sure you know the record of these big nations in handling African issues. Rwanda is a instructive example. I would not put much faith in the ICC, to be honest. FOr me it is like a fully loaded gun without a trigger. Without any army or police that would go and hunt down international criminals, the court is just but toothless. It will restrict itself to the small fish like Thomas Lubanga, or Joseph Kony not the Big Men themselves. It is sad by real. Have you tried to understand why, Rwanda itself , a living victim of war crimes is not a State Party of the Rome Statute?? Needless to mention that I wait to hear the day Sir Ocampo will investigate Israel for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. I strongly believe we need to build our own institutions to tackle these issues. The African Union Peace and Security Council together with the COurt for Justice and Human Rights should be supported and take a leading role. We need these institutions to function. It pains me to hear that most of these institutions have no funds to sustain themselves. That is just not serious- but real. The Thabo Mbeki report and recommendations on Darfur  though not perfect, highlighted that justice, symbolic justice for that matter is not a magic bullet that will solve the prehistoric problems of Darfur region. Prosecuting few indivuduals will not solve the problem, it is about governance, marginalisation and control of small arms in the region. I agree that the risk for having a weak, or failed state in South Sudan is a possiblity but with coordinated support from the neighbouring countries especially IGAD, there is hope that South Sudan could be independent and functioning. What is needed though is strong mechanism to control small arms. with double hope Well said Odinkalu, I share your concerns about the region’s security problems. The region (Central, East and Horn of Africa) is very fragile and one single event such as power vacuum in Khartoum could lead to a wave of political violance, and I am sure this is the reason why the African Union wanted the UNSC to defer the issue of arrest warrent against President BAshir. I am sure you recall very well how the death of Rwandese President sparked horrible events that will continue to haunt the entire humanity for years to come. But then how long shall we continue to rely and put our salvation in the hands of institutions that are not very coherent in their approach to African problems. How long shall we continue to wait for Washington, London, Paris, Bejing, and Moscow to come to save us from ourselves. I am sure you know the record of these big nations in handling African issues. Rwanda is a instructive example. I would not put much faith in the ICC, to be honest. FOr me it is like a fully loaded gun without a trigger. Without any army or police that would go and hunt down international criminals, the court is just but toothless. It will restrict itself to the small fish like Thomas Lubanga, or Joseph Kony not the Big Men themselves. It is sad by real. Have you tried to understand why, Rwanda itself , a living victim of war crimes is not a State Party of the Rome Statute?? Needless to mention that I wait to hear the day Sir Ocampo will investigate Israel for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

I strongly believe we need to build our own institutions to tackle these issues. The African Union Peace and Security Council together with the COurt for Justice and Human Rights should be supported and take a leading role. We need these institutions to function. It pains me to hear that most of these institutions have no funds to sustain themselves. That is just not serious- but real. The Thabo Mbeki report and recommendations on Darfur  though not perfect, highlighted that justice, symbolic justice for that matter is not a magic bullet that will solve the prehistoric problems of Darfur region. Prosecuting few indivuduals will not solve the problem, it is about governance, marginalisation and control of small arms in the region.

I agree that the risk for having a weak, or failed state in South Sudan is a possiblity but with coordinated support from the neighbouring countries especially IGAD, there is hope that South Sudan could be independent and functioning. What is needed though is strong mechanism to control small arms.
with double hope

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