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New Suspect in Custody at the ICC: ICC Statements and Related News Coverage

25 Jan 2011

Dear all,

On 25 January 2011, Callixte Mbarushimana was transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The suspect will make an initial appearance before ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I on 28 January at 9:30 (CET). The proceedings can be followed with no delay on the ICC website at: http://livestream.xs4all.nl/icc1.asx

Please find below additional statements issued by the ICC (I) and continued media coverage (II).

Please also 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 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.

Best regards,

CICC Secretariat
www.coalitionfortheicc.org

Please note that contrary to the Coalition's previous email, the ICC arrest warrant for Mr. Mbarushimana was issued on 28 September 2010 (not 28 December).

The updated version of the Coalition's release is available at: http://www.iccnow.org/documents/MA_CICC_Callixte_Mbarushimana_Transfer_25Jan2011_Final.pdf

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I. ICC UPDATE

A. COURT STATEMENTS

Note: These documents have been produced by the ICC. The CICC Secretariat distributes them as part of its mandate to keep member organizations and individuals informed about developments related to the ICC. The documents do not reflect the views of the CICC as a whole or its individual members.

1. "Statement by ICC Prosecutor on transfer of Callixte Mbarushimana to the Hague", Luis Moreno Ocampo, 25 January 2011, http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/exeres/BC6947C5-A6BD-43D1-B523-5E0A98F159DA.htm

"Callixte Mbarushimana was a top leader of the Rwandan armed group FDLR, the last incarnation of the group of persons who committed the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and whose activities in the DRC triggered the Congo wars.

He lived in Paris, France, contributing from afar to the group's criminal plan, while FDLR troops continued for years to spread terror in Eastern DRC, murdering, torturing and raping on a massive scale.

Now he faces prosecution for his role in those crimes.

Girls and women have borne the brunt of ruthless sexual violence in the Kivu provinces for almost a generation..It is a step towards justice for all victims, peace for the region, hope for the populations.

Last summer, from his home base in Paris, Callixte Mbarushimana continued to deny UN reports of FDLR involvement in brutal mass rapes, this time against hundreds of women in Walikale territory.We will not deny justice to the hundreds of victims who suffered the horror of those attacks. We are investigating the Walikale mass rapes and are assessing whether to add them to the charges against him.

We are also investigating the leaders of the armed group who are running the operations on the ground.

Our work in the DRC continues. Bosco Ntaganda is still at large. His troops still roam the Kivus, killing, raping and terrorising civilians. His arrest should come next.

Understand this well: rape can no longer be used as a weapon of war. In the ICC era, the fate of leaders and commanders who plan or oversee campaigns of mass crimes against civilians is to face justice."

2. "Practical information for media on the initial appearance of Callixte Mbarushimana", ICC Press Office, 25 January 2011, http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/exeres/EAA630FC-8CA0-44CB-AA41-8453A0D6A4E8.htm

"The initial appearance of Callixte Mbarushimana before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is scheduled in Courtroom I, on Friday, 28 January at 09:30 (The Hague local time), to verify the identity of the suspect, to verify that he has been informed of the crimes which he is alleged to have committed, and to inform him of his rights under the Rome Statute, founding treaty of the ICC.

For further information and updates on this case, click here [ http://www.icc-cpi.int/menus/icc/situations and cases/situations/situation icc 0104/related cases/icc01040110/background information/index?lan=en-GB ].."

B. AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS

1. "New suspect in the ICC's custody: Callixte Mbarushimana arrives at the ICC detention centre", ICC In the Courtroom program, 25 January 2011, http://www.fileserver.icc-cpi.info/audio/110125_Callixte_FRA.mp3 [French]; http://www.fileserver.icc-cpi.info/audio/110125_Callixte_SWA.mp3 [Swahili]

II. RELATED NEWS & OPINIONS

1. "Rwandan war crimes suspect arrives on Dutch soil", AFP, 25 January 2011, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g6LhY2HGqYeealZNb5fobO2r5ZQg?docId=CNG.95111380dfbe35f8a08d6124c5e915e8.511
2. "France hands DRC rape suspect to Hague court", by Sara Webb and Thierry Leveque, Reuters, 25 January 2011, http://af.reuters.com/article/rwandaNews/idAFLDE70O1MX20110125
3. "France extradites Rwandan rebel to The Hague", AP, 25 January 2011, http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j6XAEGTBcw8nlnBCluhKy5Vy3Rxg?docId=ef491189500c4f99bfd2f26ea1205c16
4. "Rwanda rebel leader Callixte Mbarushimana sent to ICC", BBC, 25 January 2011, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12277378
5. "Rwandan rebel in the Netherlands to face ICC judges", by Linawati Sidarto, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 25 January 2011, http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/rwandan-rebel-netherlands-face-icc-judges
6. "Hutu rebel Mbarushimana sent to Hague", RFI, 25 January 2011, http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20110125-hutu-rebel-mbarushima-sent-hague
7. "France sends Rwandan Hutu to war crimes tribunal", AFP/France24, 25 January 2011, http://www.france24.com/en/20110125-france-sends-rwandan-hutu-war-crimes-tribunal
8. "International court says Rwandan rebel wanted for atrocities in Congo has been handed over", by Mike Corder, Canadian Press, 25 January 2011, http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iXOzNE6vR0pdXj8q9qpiwiAzNDHA?docId=5753943
9. "France sends Hutu rebel leader accused of war crimes to ICC", by Melissa Rudd, Business Review Europe, 25 January 2011, http://www.businessrevieweurope.eu/tags/rwandan/france-sends-hutu-rebel-leader-accused-war-crimes-icc
10. "Rwandan rebel leader to face war crimes charges", CNN, 25 January 2011, http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/25/rwanda.war.crimes/

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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