Liberia: Liberia Atrocity Trial in France

Reform of French Common Jurisdiction Legal guidelines Wanted

The trial in France of Kunti Ok. for crimes towards humanity in his alleged function as a Liberian former armed group commander is a crucial step towards justice for victims of Liberia’s first civil struggle, Human Rights Watch and the Worldwide Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) stated right this moment. The trial is scheduled to start on October 10, 2022 in Paris, and is an indication of France’s dedication to carry these accountable for grave crimes to account.

Kunti Ok. is accused of crimes towards humanity dedicated throughout the first Liberian civil struggle, which devasted the nation from 1989 to 1996. Liberia’s first civil struggle was marked by struggle crimes and widespread, systematic human rights violations, together with profound and disturbing patterns of violence towards civilians, as warring factions massacred and raped civilians, pillaged, and compelled youngsters to kill and battle. The total title of the accused has been withheld by French officers according to nationwide privateness legal guidelines.

“This trial is a crucial step for justice for victims amid the failure of Liberian authorities to carry to account these accountable for critical crimes throughout the civil wars,” stated Elise Keppler, affiliate worldwide justice director at Human Rights Watch. “Liberian authorities ought to take notice: these crimes can and ought to be prosecuted, and a long-recommended struggle crimes court docket ought to be established in-country directly.”

The group Civitas Maxima filed a prison grievance in France towards Kunti Ok. in 2018, following which he was arrested in Paris on suspicion of crimes towards humanity and torture. Forward of the trial, Human Rights Watch and FIDH revealed a question-and-answer doc with info on:

-the accused, Kunti Ok.;

 -the Liberian civil wars;

 -the lack of accountability in Liberia for critical crimes dedicated, and want for Liberia to create a struggle crimes court docket with the help of its worldwide companions and;

 -the significance of the trial and authorized restrictions in France linked to the prosecution of great crimes dedicated overseas.

Kunti Ok.’s trial in France is feasible as a result of the nation’s legal guidelines acknowledge common jurisdiction over essentially the most critical crimes below worldwide legislation. Common jurisdiction permits for investigating and prosecuting these crimes regardless of the place they have been dedicated, and whatever the nationality of the suspects or victims. This, and different common jurisdiction instances in Europe and the US on Liberian civil wars-era crimes, have been the one probability thus far for Liberian victims to see justice achieved.

Using common jurisdiction in France is, nevertheless, restricted by a number of authorized obstacles, the teams stated. A latest choice of France’s highest court docket on a Syrian crime towards humanity case annulled, on the idea of certainly one of these limitations, the indictment of an alleged former Syrian agent who had sought asylum in France, elevating considerations that the nation might turn into a secure haven for these accountable for critical crimes.

“France’s trial for atrocities in Liberia reinforces the significance of the precept of common jurisdiction to make sure that the worst crimes don’t go unpunished, particularly the place accountability just isn’t happening by different avenues,” stated Clémence Bectarte, a lawyer who coordinates FIDH’s Litigation Motion Group. “France’s legal guidelines want reform to make sure justice generally is a actuality for extra victims of the worst crimes, and the nation just isn’t as a secure haven for perpetrators.”

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