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DRC Digest: Visit of the director of the VTF and meeting with Minis

13 June 2007

Dear All,

Please find below the latest developments in relation to the International
Criminal Court's investigation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

I. VISIT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE TRUST FUND FOR
VICTIMS OF THE ICC
II. MEETING BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR OF THE VTF AND THE DRC MINISTER OF HUMANITARIAN
AFFAIRS
III. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION AND REINSERTION
(DDR)
IV. BEMBA AND NKUNDA CASE
V. FIFTH SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

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.

Regards,

Linda Gueye
French Information Services Coordinator
CICC
[email protected]

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I. VISIT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE TRUST FUND FOR
VICTIMS OF THE ICC

i. During his visit to DRC, the Secretariat of the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV)
of the International Criminal Court, André Laperrière, was interviewed by Le
Potentiel and Le Révélateur (DRC). In the interviews, Mr. Laperrière discussed
the reason for his visit, the role and functioning of the Trust Fund, the issue
of identification of victims and the issue of financing the Defense of Thomas
Lubanga.

Regarding the objective of his visit, André Laperrière explained that in the
context of establishing the Trust Fund for victims in DRC, he was trying to get
in touch with various local partners, identify victims and obtain their
testimonies.

On the issue of identifying victims, he explained that there are two types of
victims (direct and indirect). To identify them, he said, there was no need to
visit those parts of the country where crimes were committed. Instead, his
office usually relies upon local partners such as NGOs, the United Nations
Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), local authorities and
religious leaders.

ii. According to Radiookapi, André Laperrière, began his visit to Bunia (eastern
DRC) where his mission was to "be available to listen to victims to know their
need."

For more information, please see the articles below (all in French):
1. "Ituri : crimes contre l'humanité et crimes de guerre, redonner confiance aux
victimes, selon André Laperrière," Radiookapi, 12 juin 2007,
http://www.radiookapi.net/index.php?i=53&a=13483
2. "Congo-Kinshasa: André Laperrière, l'objectif du Fonds est de faire parvenir
l'argent aux victimes," Le Potentiel, 12 juin 2007,
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200706120178.html
3. "André Laperrière: le Fonds au profit des victimes offrent des moyens
concrets pour satisfaire leurs besoins élargis," Le Révélateur, 12 juin 2007,
http://www.lerevelateur.net/suite.php?newsid=578

II. MEETING BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR OF THE VTF AND THE DRC MINISTER OF HUMANITARIAN
AFFAIRS

According to Xinhua Agency News, after meeting with André Laperrière, director
of the Victims' Trust Fund, the DRC Minister of Humanitarian Affairs promised a
"perfect" collaboration with the ICC in its process of identifying war victims
in DRC. André Laperrière explained that war victims were considered as
"partners" rather than "simple applicants."

For more information, please see (in French only) "Le ministre des Affaires
humanitaires promet de collaborer avec la CPI RD CONGO," Xinhua News Agency, 12
juin 2007,
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/congo_rdc/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=XIN00947l
eminipcalc0

III. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DESARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION AND REINSERTION
(DDR)

i. According to an article from Agence-France Presse (AFP), the second
conference on DDR opened on 12 June in Kinshasa (DRC). DRC Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, explained that some progress was made in DDR
but that "it is obvious that much more remains to be done." The article also
adds that the DRC National Comission for DDR acknowledged that less than half of
the demobilized children received assistance for reinsertion. Among them, some
decided to go back to armed groups after months of waiting in orientation
centers.

ii. On the same topic, an article published in Radiookapi explains that some
demobilized children express their desire to return to armed groups because of
failed reintegration process. According to Claudia Seymour, in charge of the
Protection of Childhood Section at Monuc/Goma, this problem is due to the lack
of available funds.

For more information, please see the following articles (all in French):
1. "Ouverture d'une conférence sur les processus de désarmement en Afrique RD
CONGO," AFP, 12 juin 2007,
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/congo_rdc/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=AFP61817o
uvereuqirf0
2. "Maigre constat du processus DDR beaucoup reste encore à faire -
DigitalCongo," 13 juin 2007,
http://www.digitalcongo.net/article/44382
3. "Masisi : des ex-enfants soldats déplorent l'insuffisance de moyens pour leur
réinsertion sociale," Radiookapi, 13 juin 2007,
http://www.radiookapi.net/index.php?i=53&a=13496

IV. BEMBA AND NKUNDA CASE

i. According to an article from Xinhua News Agency, the reporter of the Higher
Chamber of the DRC Parliament declared that Senator Bemba could come back to DRC
anytime as long as he does not violate the regulations of the parliament. This
follows reports that Bemba would stay in Portugal for security reasons.

ii. Following rumors that Laurent Nkunda, a militia leader, was on his way to
take over Bukavu, a town from South Kivu (eastern DRC), General Ahmed Maqsood
from the Monuc/Sud-Kivu, in an interview with Radiookapi warned that Nkunda will
have to face the MONUC force if he does get there. Last month, Nkunda
reintegrated the national army with his remaining troops but warned that he
would try to get his troops back after declaring that the process of
reintegration into the national army was a failure.

For more information, please see the articles below (all in French):
1. "Le sénateur Jean-Pierre Bemba peut rentrer dans son pays à tout moment RD
CONGO," Xinhua News Agency, 12 juin 2007,
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/congo_rdc/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=XIN00857l
esnasyapno0
2. "Laurent Nkunda devrait éviter de s'aventurer dans le Sud-Kivu RD CONGO,"
Xinhua News Agency, 13 juin 2007,
http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/congo_rdc/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=XIN70027l
aureuvikdu0

V. FIFTH SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

According to an article from Le Potentiel (DRC), the UN Human Rights Council
holds its fifth session in Geneva from 11 to 18 June 2007. At the meeting, DRC
Minister of Human Rights, Eugène Lokwa Ilwaloma, is expected to address the
points raised by the Council in its mission report about the human rights
situation in DRC.

For more information, please see (in French only) "La RDC à la 5ème session du
conseil des droits de l'homme," Le Potentiel, 13 juin 2007,
http://www.lepotentiel.com/afficher_article.php?id_article=47274&id_edition=4047

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CICC'S POLICY ON THE REFERRAL AND PROSECUTION OF SITUATIONS BEFORE THE

ICC:



The Coalition for the ICC is not an organ of the Court. The CICC is an
independent NGO movement dedicated to the establishment of the International
Criminal Court as a fair, effective, and independent international organization.
The Coalition will continue to provide the most up-to-date information about the
ICC and to help coordinate global action to effectively implement the Rome
Statute of the ICC. The Coalition will also endeavor to respond to basic queries
and to raise awareness about the ICC's trigger mechanisms and procedures, as
they develop. The Coalition as a whole, and its secretariat, do not endorse or
promote specific investigations or prosecutions or take a position on situations
before the ICC. However, individual CICC members may endorse referrals, provide
legal and other support on investigations, or develop partnerships with local
and other organizations in the course of their efforts.


Communications to the ICC can be sent to:

ICC
P.O. Box 19519
2500 CM The Hague
The Netherlands