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Adoption of Military Justice Code

17 July 2007

Dear All,

Please find below today's digest on the International Criminal Court's investigation in the Central African Republic (CAR) including news of CAR president François Bozizé's decision to adopt a code of military justice.

Please take note of the Coalition's policy on situations before the ICC below), which explicitly states that the CICC will NOT take a position on potential or pending situations before the Court. The Coalition, however, will continue to provide the most up-to-date information about the ICC.

Additionally, all translations from the French are unofficial and have been prepared by CICC secretariat staff.

Warm Regards,

Sasha Tenenbaum
CICC Information Services Coordinator
[email protected]

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I. CAR PURSUES MILITARY JUSTICE CODE; APPPOINTS REBELS AS ADVISORS

i. "Central African Republic will adopt a code of military justice," Jeune
Afrique, 11 July Panapress,
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/centrafrique/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=PAN700
27versleuqirf1 (French only)

"A Panapress article reports that the national Minister of Defense and the
United Nations peace building support in the Central African Republic (CAR) have
organized a three-day workshop to examine the adoption of a code of military
justice, a project designed to reinforce the country's laws.

The article notes that 'Recalling the recent decision of the ICC to open an
investigation into the mass violations of human rights in CAR for many years,
Mr. Bozizé assured the international community of the 'government's willingness
to closely cooperate with the international law in the area of military
justice.'

...[quoting the Panapress article]'Among the innovations that will be introduced
to the existing legislation in matters of military justice, will be crimes that
fall under the Rome Statue', indicated Mr. Bozizé...'military actors who commit
genocide and war crimes will be punishable under the jurisdiction of the ICC.'"

In order for this project to be implemented, it must be adopted by the National
Assembly whose next session begins in October.

[Translation from the French is unofficial by the CICC Secretariat]

[Available in French only]

ii. "The UN Security Council Press Statement on Central African Republic," UN
Department of Public Information, 3 July 2007,
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sc9069.doc.htm

"...Members of the Security Council expressed their concern at the continuing
volatility of the security situation in certain parts of the Central African
Republic, due in particular to banditry and the activities of armed groups.

...The members of the Security Council called on the authorities to fight
impunity and ensure the full implementation of the international obligations
that the Central African Republic has accepted concerning the protection of
human rights and international humanitarian law. They expressed serious concern
at the human rights situation in the Central African Republic and reports of
disproportionate use of force by Government forces, and condemned the violations
of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by armed groups and
also by some elements of the Central African Armed Forces...."

iii."CAR president appoints former rebel advisers to presidency," Radio France
International, 15 July 2007 (Report is in French; URL link not available)

Text of report:

"President [Francois] Bozize has reached out to two former northern rebels,
Abdoulaye Miskine and Damane Zakaria, and appointed them advisers to the
presidency.

The two recently signed peace agreements with the government.

...The two men are not yet in Bangui. Abdoulaye Miskine is in Libya while Damane
Zakaria is in the northeast of the country."

For additional information (in French only) from the Cetrafrique Presse, please
See http://www.centrafrique-presse.com/index.php?id=85&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1891&tx_tt
news[backPid]=71&cHash=fff93d06dd


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