Rapp: US will help protect Kenyan violence witnesses

A supporter of the Orange Democratic Party hold up a machete in front of a burning baricade in this Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007 file picture, during riots in the Kibera slum in Nairobi. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)

(Voice of America): The United States says it plans to help protect those set to testify before the International Criminal Court against top Kenyan officials implicated in the country's 2008 political violence. The Court's chief prosecutor has expressed concern that key witnesses are coming under harassment. (Click here for more on the US administration and the ICC)

The U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, Stephen Rapp, told reporters in Nairobi that the United States would offer assistance in shielding witnesses from harm if a panel of judges authorizes ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo to precede with pre-trial investigations. The ruling from the international court could come in the next few weeks.

Ambassador Rapp issued grim words of warning about Kenya's future if those most responsible for the organized killings were not brought to justice. "If there is not accountability for the violence of 2007, 2008, when the election cycle returns in 2012 it could happen again, and it could be worse," Rapp said. "The blood of Kenyans would be spilled, the hopes for the future would be dashed, and it would affect the entire region."

[Event: Brooklyn NY] March 3rd: "The Reckoning" with AMICC Convener John Washburn

Join AMICC, UNA-USA and friends for a special screening of The Reckoning: The Battle for the International Criminal Court and discussion with AMICC Convener John Washburn.

Presented by the UN Graduate Certificate Program (Long Island University) and the Brooklyn Chapter of the United Nations Association of the USA.

March 3: 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Spike Lee Screening Room, Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus, 1 University Plaza.

Click here for more information, or for a map.

ICC Drops Charges Against Abu Garda, Darfur Rebel Leader

On Monday, judges at the ICC dismissed the case against Darfur's Bahr Idriss Abu Garda, saying there was not sufficient evidence to move forward with a trial. Abu Garda was accused by the ICC's prosecution of orchestrating the killing of 12 African Union peace keepers. More from the ICC here.

In the News: Potential Genocide Charges for Bashir

Following an appeal by the prosecution, on February 3, 2010 the Appeals Chamber reversed the Pre-Trial Chamber decision not to include the charge of genocide for Sudan's President Bashir because it determined that the Pre-Trial Chamber applied the wrong standard of proof. The Pre-Trial Chamber will determine whether to amend the arrest warrant to include genocide.


In March of 2009 the ICC issued an arrest warrant for President Bashir on seven charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, extermination and rape. It was the first time that the ICC has issued a warrant for a sitting head of state.

Take Action! Ask Obama for a Policy on the ICC

Join UNA-USA and AMICC members across the nation as we ask Obama to complete the policy review process before the Review Conference:

Take Action today!