The Chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno-Ocampo has disclosed he requested the judges to open formal investigations into Kenya’s 2007 Post elections violence.
Ocampo said there had been widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population that constituted crimes against humanity such as rape, murder, deportation and forced displacement.
“I have asked the judges of the International Criminal Court authorization to investigate the violence that followed the elections in 2007,” he told a press conference at The Hague televised live in Kenya.
Ocampo has been conducting a preliminary investigation since February last year of the violence that followed presidential polls held on December 27, 2007.
The violence was triggered by the disputed re-election of President Mwai Kibaki.
Over 1000 people were killed and over 350,000 people were displaced at the height of the violence.
The ICC prosecutor can open an investigation using his “proprio motu” powers under article 15 of the Rome Statute, which created the court, if authorized to do so by the ICC judges.
Thursday’s request is the first time the prosecutor has sought to use his article 15 powers.
Three of the ICC’s four investigations resulted from voluntary referrals by states, while the fourth was referred by the UN Security Council.
If the ICC judges authorize an investigation, the court is still likely to bring only a handful of those alleged to be most responsible to trial.
Five Cabinet ministers, senior government official and prominent businessmen are suspected to have organized, financed or fueled the violence.
Meanwhile, United States based, Human Rights Watch (HRW) welcomed the move and urged the Kenyan government to cooperate with the ICC.
“Today’s announcement shows that the ICC prosecutor can and will act on his own in situations of serious crimes,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at HRW in a statement issued in Nairobi.
Source African Press Agency
