PREVIEW-Congolese warlords to stand trial at world court

Photo

Credit: Reuters

Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:53am EST

* Prosecutor says attack was part of systematic violence

* Defendants deny committing war crimes



By Aaron Gray-Block and Suzan Yucel

THE HAGUE, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Two Congolese warlords go on trial at the world's war crimes court on Tuesday on charges they had subordinates attack civilians, rape women and enlist child soldiers in "the greatest armed conflict" since World War II.

Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui are accused of directing a February 2003 attack on a village in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as rival groups fought for control of the region's gold, diamonds and oil.

Prosecutors allege about 200 people were killed by mostly ethnic Lendu and Ngiti combatants in an attack designed to wipe out Bogoro village and its predominantly Hema inhabitants.

"This specific attack was part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population in Ituri," said Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The prosecution will present 26 witnesses including experts on gender-based and military crimes.

Katanga, 31, an Ngiti, allegedly commanded the Patriotic Resistance Force (FRPI) in Ituri. Ngudjolo, 39, a Lendu, is the alleged former leader of the National Integrationist Front (NFI).

Both have denied seven counts of war crimes and three charges of crimes against humanity.

Defence counsel said both men were relieved and happy the trial was about to start and wished to express their sympathies to the victims.

"At no time did he (Ngudjolo) concoct a criminal scheme to raze Bogoro village. He disputes the fact that he was ever the supreme commander of the FNI," said Jean-Pierre Kilenda, defence counsel for Ngudjolo.

Andreas O'Shea, associate counsel for Katanga, said Katanga "shared and sympathised with the grief of the victims."

"The victims have the right to know the truth and the defence has the right to a fair trial, so we are all seeking the same thing. We are all seeking the truth," O'Shea added.

Moreno-Ocampo said the attack on Bogoro village took place towards the end of the 1998-2003 war in Congo, which he said was "the greatest armed conflict after the Second World War".

The conflict led to the deaths of 4 million people, mainly from hunger and disease.

Moreno-Ocampo said the war had its roots in the Rwanda conflict, after the international community failed to prevent a genocide there and allowed armed groups, supported by Rwanda and Uganda, to reform in the DRC.

Fidel Nsita Luvengika, one of two lawyers representing the interests of 345 court-recognised victims, said his clients wanted to establish the truth about the attack, reparations for the loss of property as well as reconciliation.

"Some do not even know where their children were buried. Others never dared to return to Bogoro because they were too scared. They are having nightmares and they need to rebuild themselves to regain their dignity," he said.

Victims can participate in the trial by expressing their views and concerns, provided it is done in a manner consistent with the rights of the accused and a fair trial.

The ICC started its first trial in January against alleged Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga, an ethnic Hema. He is accused of using child soldiers in his Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) in the Ituri district to kill rival Lendus. (( For a related factbox, please click on [ID:nGEE5AM1UL] )) (Editing by Jon Boyle) ((aaron.gray-block@thomsonreuters.com; +31 20 504 5001; Reuters Messaging: aaron.gray-block.reuters.com@reuters.net))

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