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Situations under Preliminary Examination: News and statements

11 Jan 2011

Dear All,

Please find below information regarding developments in some of the situations currently under preliminary examination by the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

To date, the ICC has opened investigations in five situations: the Central African Republic; Darfur, Sudan; Uganda; Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. In addition, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor has made public that it is examining information about a number of situations around the world in order to determine whether an investigation should be opened. According to public and official statements by the ICC, the OTP is looking into alleged crimes committed in Afghanistan, Chad, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Georgia, Guinea, Honduras, Nigeria, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the Republic of Korea. To date the OTP has published the conclusions of its preliminary examination into alleged crimes committed in Iraq and Venezuela.

This message includes the latest media statements, news articles and documents issued from December 2010 to mid-January 2011 related to OTP's preliminary examination of Côte d'Ivoire (I), the Republic of Korea (II), Guinea (III), and Colombia (IV).

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

For additional information you may refer to the Coalition's website at www.coalitionfortheicc.org

Best regards,

CICC Secretariat
www.coalitionfortheicc.org

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I. COTE D'IVOIRE

A. ICC-OTP MEDIA STATEMENTS

1. "Statement by ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo on the situation in Côte d'Ivoire", Office of the Prosecutor, 21 December 2010, http://www.icc-cpi.int/menus/icc/press and media/press releases/pr617

"First, let me be clear: I have not yet opened an investigation. But, if serious crimes under my jurisdiction are committed, I will do so. For instance, if as a consequence of Mr. Charles Blé Goudé's speeches, there is massive violence, he could be prosecuted.

Secondly, if UN peacekeepers or UN forces are attacked, this could be prosecuted as a different crime.

I think African states play a critical role in this, to find a solution to the problem. But if no solution can be found and crimes are committed, African states could be willing to refer the case to my Office and also provide forces to arrest those individuals who commit the crimes in Côte d'Ivoire.

Therefore, violence is not an option. Those leaders who are planning violence will end up in the Hague".

2. "Statement by the Deputy Prosecutor of the ICC on the situation in Côte d'Ivoire", Ms. Fatou Bensouda, 3 December 2010, http://pr-canada.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=304249&Itemid=55

"In a declaration submitted on 1 October 2003, Côte d'Ivoire accepted the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes committed on its territory. As such, the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC has been monitoring the situation in Côte d'Ivoire ahead of the presidential run-off on 28 November and continues to do so. In light of recent clashes, I urge supporters of the candidates and security forces to refrain from violence.

I encourage the political leaders to call on their supporters and fellow citizens to show restraint and avoid unrest.

I invite the Ivorian authorities to investigate criminal incidents that have already occurred and to do everything possible to deter future ones. All reported acts of violence will be closely scrutinized by the Office."

B. COALITION MEMBERS' STATEMENTS

1. "Ivory Coast: African civil society and international NGOs call for the protection of civilians and respect of the population's fundamental rights", FIDH, HRW and others, 16 December 2010, http://www.fidh.org/Ivory-Coast-African-civil-society-and; http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/12/16/ivory-coast-call-protection-civilians-and-respect-population-s-fundamental-rights

"Very concerned about the current political and security situation in Ivory Coast, our organizations firmly condemn acts of violence against civilians and constraints to their fundamental rights and liberties. We fear an escalation of violence during the marches scheduled for Thursday 16 and Friday 17 December 2010 and urge Ivorian political leaders to call on their supporters to remain calm and refrain from acts of violence.

On 3 December 2010, the Ivorian Constitutional Council announced the victory of Laurent Gbagbo, thereby invalidating a previous announcement from the independent electoral commission naming Alassane Dramane Ouattara as the winner of the election. Since then, Ivory Coast has found itself in an unprecedented political and institutional gridlock, leading to many illegal acts of violence against civilian populations and constraints to their fundamental rights and liberties.

It is estimated that acts of violence in the whole country so far may have already caused the death of dozens of people, with several hundreds more being injured. Approximately 3700 people have fled Ivory Coast to take refuge to neighboring countries, in particular in Liberia. Intimidation and threats against groups perceived as supporting one party or the other as well as information about the presence of militias, including some coming from outside the country, and the flow of illegal weapons are also matters of serious concern.

Public liberties are seriously threatened. On 2 December 2010, under the pretext of 'maintaining social peace', the national council of audiovisual communications decided to censor international medias, thereby depriving the Ivorian population of their right to information. Some journalists have been subjected to intimidation, thereby constraining their freedom of expression. A curfew was put in place on the eve of the presidential election and has just been extended by a week, constraining freedom of movement of civilians....

Our organizations further remind that the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has urged supporters of both opponents and security forces to refrain from violence and has indicated that 'All reported acts of violence will be closely scrutinized by the Office.'"

2. "FIDH denounces Laurent Gbagbo's relentless pursuit, and that of his family" ["Côte d'Ivoire : La FIDH dénonce la fuite en avant de Laurent Gbagbo et de ses proches"], FIDH, 20 December 2010, http://www.fidh.org/Cote-d-Ivoire-La-FIDH-denonce-la-fuite-en-avant [French]

"FIDH condemns the serious violations of human rights that have taken place in Côte d'Ivoire since the presidential election as well as the statements and behavior in the last days as the out-going president, Laurent Gbagbo and some of his family which are of a nature to intensify the political crisis and to push the country into a new internal crisis...."

3. "Special Session on Côte d'Ivoire: Human Rights Council should do all it can to prevent a new internal conflict" ["Session spéciale Côte d'Ivoire : Le Conseil des droits de l'Homme doit tout faire pour prévenir un nouveau conflit armé interne"], FIDH, 21 December 2010, http://www.fidh.org/Session-speciale-Cote-d-Ivoire-Le-Conseil-des [French]

"FIDH believes that the upcoming special session of the Human Rights Council on Côte d'Ivoire is an appropriate response of the principal organ of the defense of human rights in light of the immediate risk of a deteriorating security situation, already marked by the commission of grave violations of human rights against the civilian populations...."

C. RELATED NEWS & OPINIONS

1. "Côte d'Ivoire: la société civile africaine et des ONG internationales appellent à la protection des populations civiles"], Press Afrik, 17 December 2010, http://www.pressafrik.com/Cote-d-Ivoire-la-societe-civile-africaine-et-des-ONG-internationales-appellent-a-la-protection-des-populations-civiles_a45752.html [French]
2. "ICC prosecutor warns I.Coast leaders over violence", Reuters, 21 December 2010, http://af.reuters.com/article/ivoryCoastNews/idAFLDE6BK1ZG20101221
3. "UN court warns Ivory Coast of charges", News24/AFP, 21 December 2010, http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/UN-court-warns-Ivory-Coast-of-charges-20101221
4. "Human Rights Violations, Crimes, Abuses; Luis Moreno-Ocampo (ICC): Blé Goudé could be prosecuted by the ICC" ["Violations des Droits de l'Homme, crimes, exactions.../ Luis Moreno Ocampo (CPI) : "Blé Goudé pourrait être poursuivi par la CPI"], Abidjan, 22 December 2010, http://news.abidjan.net/h/384266.html [French]
5. "Prosecutor warns Ivory Coast against war crimes", by Evelyn Lederer, AP/MSNBC, 6 December 2010, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40539591/ns/world_news-africa/
6. "Post-election violence, violations of human rights: Watch out, the ICC is keeping watch" ["Violences post-électorales, violation des droits de l'Homme : Attention, la Cpi veille au grain"], Abidjan, 7 December 2010, http://news.abidjan.net/h/382489.html?n=382489 [French]
7. "Cote d'Ivoire: ICC says probe into Ivorian war crimes continuing", Afrique en ligne, 8 December 2010, http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/cote-d’ivoire:-icc-says-probe-into-ivorian-war-crimes-continuing-2010120863443.html
8. "Côte d'Ivoire: Concerns over War Crimes Continue" ["Cote d'Ivoire: L'enquête sur les crimes de guerre se poursuit"], Afrique en Ligne, 8 December 2010, http://www.afriquejet.com/afrique-de-l'ouest/cote-d'ivoire/cote-d’ivoire:-l’enquete-sur-les-crimes-de-guerre-se-poursuit-2010120863425.html [French]
9. "ICC warns it will pursue perpetrators of violence in I.Coast", AFP/Daily Nation, 16 December 2010, http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/-/1066/1073472/-/122vpin/-/index.html
10. "Ivorian authorities on the radar of the ICC" ["Les autorités ivoiriennes dans le viseur de la Cour pénale internationale"], La Croix, 16 December 2010, http://www.la-croix.com/article/index.jsp?docId=2449059&rubId=55351 [French]
11. "ICC puts pressure on Gbagbo" ["La CPI met la pression sur Laurent Gbagbo"], Presse Afrique, 16 December 2010, http://www.pressafrik.com/La-CPI-met-la-pression-sur-Laurent-Gbagbo_a45668.html [French]
12. "ICC will crack down on cases of violence" ["Côte d'Ivoire: La CPI sévira en cas de violences"], Europe 1, 16 December 2010, http://www.europe1.fr/International/Cote-d-Ivoire-La-CPI-sevira-en-cas-de-violences-339987/ [French]
13. "Four shot dead in Cote d'Ivoire as ICC warns it will charge suspects", AFP/Daily Nation, 16 December 2010, http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/-/1066/1073472/-/122vpin/-/index.html
14. "UN fears a return to civil war in Côte d'Ivoire" ["L'ONU craint le retour de la guerre civile en Côte d'Ivoire"], by Thomas Vampouille, Le Figaro, 17 December 2010, http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2010/12/16/01003-20101216ARTFIG00457-cote-d-ivoire-des-manifestants-pro-ouattara-disperses-plusieurs-morts.php [French]
15. "War crime or crime against humanity: The ICC at Gbagbo's heels" ["Crime de guerre ou crime contre les droits humanitaires internationaux / La Cour Pénale Internationale aux trousses de Gbagbo"], Abidjan, 17 December 2010, http://news.abidjan.net/h/383676.html?n=383676 [French]
16. "ICC to intervene in Côte d'Ivoire" ["Corte Penal Internacional Intervendrá En Costa De Marfil"], 18 December 2010, http://www.videos.com/play/M15373369-1/new_videos/corte_penal_internacional_intervendr225_en_costa_de_marfil.html [Spanish]

II. REPUBLIC OF KOREA

A. ICC-OTP MEDIA STATEMENT

1. "ICC Prosecutor: alleged war crimes in the territory of the Republic of Korea under preliminary examination", ICC Office of the Prosecutor Press Statement, 6 December 2010, http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/exeres/204FAB0A-28AC-4310-A933-DB4F4215C9DA.htm

"The Office of the Prosecutor has received communications alleging that North Korean forces committed war crimes in the territory of the Republic of Korea. The Prosecutor of the ICC, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, confirmed that the Office has opened a preliminary examination to evaluate if some incidents constitute war crimes under the jurisdiction of the Court....

The Republic of Korea has been a State Party to the Rome Statute since 13 November 2002. As such, the ICC has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide possibly committed on the territory of the Republic of Korea or by its nationals since 1st February 2003, date on which the Statute entered into force in the Republic of Korea.

The Office of the Prosecutor is mandated by the Statute to conduct preliminary examinations for the purpose of determining if the Rome Statute criteria for opening an investigation are met...."

B. RELATED NEWS & OPINIONS

1. "North Korea: Inquiry Begun Into Possible War Crimes", AP/The New York Times, 6 December 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/world/asia/07briefs-Korea.html?_r=1&ref=international_criminal_court
2. "International court investigating North Korea", by Toby Sterling, AP/The Globe and Mail, 6 December 2010, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/international-court-investigating-north-korea-for-war-crimes/article1826703/
3. "International Court Investigating North Korea", CBS, 6 December 2010, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/07/ap/national/main7127924.shtml
4. "North Korea Investigated by the International Criminal Court, by Jasper Fakkert, The Epoch Times, 7 December 2010, http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/47066/
5. "International Criminal Court to probe alleged North Korean war crimes", The Herald Sun, 7 December 2010, http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/international-criminal-court-to-probe-alleged-north-korean-war-crimes/story-e6frf7jx-1225966735024
6. "ICC: Alleged war crimes in the Republic of Korea under examination", Hague Justice Portal, 7 December 2010, http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/eCache/DEF/12/323.TGFuZz1FTg.html
7. "South Korea welcomes ICC probe into NK attacks", by Kim Young-jin, The Korea Times, 7 December 2010, http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/12/113_77605.html
8. "North Korea's Shelling of South Probed by ICC as War Crime", by Fred Pals and Bomi Lim, Bloomberg Business Week, 7 December 2010, http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-12-07/north-korea-s-shelling-of-south-probed-by-icc-as-war-crime.html
9. "Why Has the OTP Announced a 'Preliminary Examination' Regarding North Korea?", by Kevin Jon Heller, Opinio Juris, 6 December 2010, http://opiniojuris.org/2010/12/06/why-has-the-otp-announced-a-preliminary-examination-regarding-north-korea/
10. "ICC Prosecutor to Conduct Preliminary Examination into Possible N. Korean War Crimes", by Margaret Besheer, VOA News, 6 December 2010, http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/ICC-Prosecutor-to-Conduct-Preliminary-Examination-into-Possible-N-Korean-War-Crimes-111403179.html
11. "International Criminal Court to look at whether N. Korea shelling is a war crime", CNN, 6 December 2010, http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/06/international-criminal-court-to-look-at-whether-n-korea-shelling-is-a-war-crime/
12. "ICC looks at war crimes case against N. Korea, Korea Joongang Daily, 9 December 2010, http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2929419
13. "International court investigating North Korea", AP/PhilStar, 8 December 2010, http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=637316&publicationSubCategoryId=200
14. "ICC chief says court's statute sanctions probe of N.K. attacks", Yonhap News, 8 December 2010, http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2010/12/08/37/0302000000AEN20101208004900315F.HTML
15. "Kim Jong-il in court", The Korea Times, 7 December 2010, http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2010/12/137_77600.html
16. "ICC Prosecutor looking into possibility of war crimes in Republic of Korea", UN News/Spero News, 7 December 2010, http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=44669&t=ICC+Prosecutor+looking+into+possibility+of+war+crimes+in+Republic+of+Korea
17. "International Criminal Court probes alleged North Korean war crimes", by John Pomfret, The Washington Post, 6 December 2010, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/06/AR2010120602947.html?wprss=rss_world
18. "Tension between the Koreas: the ICC gets involved" ["Tension entre les Corées: La CPI s'implique"], BBC Afrique, 8 December 2010, http://www.bbc.co.uk/afrique/monde/2010/12/101208_cpi_coree.shtml [French]
19. "International Criminal Court would probe North Korean war crime", Republican Operative, 8 December 2010, http://www.republicanoperative.com/forums/f8/international-criminal-court-would-probe-north-korean-war-crime-29569/
20. "International Court Probes Alleged North Korea War Crimes in South", by Francis Obinor, Nigeria Best Forum, 8 December 2010, http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/generaltopics/?p=80809
21. "North Korea faces war crimes probe", Belfast Telegraph, 8 December 2010, http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/north-korea-faces-war-crimes-probe-15024387.html?r=RSS
22. "The International Criminal Court Involves in the Crisis on the Korean Peninsula, It Is Difficult To Predict the Outcome", by Shi Ren, Hong Kong ZTS, 9 December 2010, No Link Available
23. "ICC Prosecutor examines possible war crimes by North Korea", by Lennert Breuker, Invisible College Blog, 14 December 2010, http://invisiblecollege.weblog.leidenuniv.nl/2010/12/14/icc-prosecutor-examines-possible-war-cri
24. "ICC Prosecutor Explains Proceedings Over N.Korean Attack", The Chosun Ilbo, 15 December 2010, http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/12/15/2010121501112.html

III. GUINEA

A. COALITION MEMBERS QUOTED

1. "Guinea: Witnesses Describe Security Force Excesses", Human Rights Watch, 29 November 2010, http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/11/29/guinea-witnesses-describe-security-force-excesses?tr=y&auid=7448228

"Security forces in Guinea used excessive force and displayed a lack of political neutrality when responding to election-related violence, Human Rights Watch said today. The violence, between supporters of presidential candidates Alpha Condé and Cellou Dalein Diallo, and between protesters and security services, took place in Conakry, the capital, and other cities between November 15 and 19, 2010. At least seven people died, and 220 were wounded.

Human Rights Watch conducted interviews in Guinea with over 80 victims and witnesses. The interviews confirmed that the security forces, dominated by ethnic groups that largely supported Condé's party, used lethal force to suppress violence by members of the Peuhl ethnic group, who were protesting electoral irregularities against Diallo, their candidate....

Behaving more as predators than protectors, security force members in Guinea have for decades been allowed to get away with abuses including extortion, banditry, theft, kidnapping, racketeering, and excessive use of lethal force, with no apparent fear of being held accountable. Successive authoritarian heads of state have used the security services for partisan ends to repress political opponents, influence the outcome of elections, and intimidate the judiciary...."

2. "Justice should be at the heart of the priorities of the new authorities" ["La justice doit être au coeur des priorités des nouvelles autorités"], FIDH, 20 December 2010, http://www.fidh.org/IMG/article_PDF/article_a8858.pdf [French]

"On the eve of the swearing in of newly elected president, Alpha Conde, the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organization in Guinea, the Guinean Organisation of Human Rights and Citizen (OGDH) stress their satisfaction with the compliance of the popular will expressed at the presidential election, in accordance with Article 25 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and call the new President to make justice and the fight against impunity one of its top priorities...."

IV. COLOMBIA

A. RELATED NEWS & OPINIONS

1. "Persecution or paranoia?" Semana International, 17 December 2010, http://www.semana.com/noticias-print-edition/persecution-or-paranoia/149069.aspx
December 16, 2010
2. "Reperations must also be collective" ("La reparación también debe ser colectiva"), El Colombiano, 16 December 2010, http://ictj.org/en/news/coverage/article/4330.html [Spanish]
3. "On the atrocity and the Colombian denominational process" ( Sobre la atrocidad y el proceso confesional colombiano"), Michael Reed, El Colombiano, H. 10 January 2011, http://www.elcolombiano.com/BancoConocimiento/S/sobre_la_atrocidad_y_el_proceso_confesional_colombiano/sobre_la_atrocidad_y_el_proceso_confesional_colombiano.asp?CodSeccion=219 [Spanish]

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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