ICC to investigate crimes in Central Africa Republic

[struggle4progress]

Source: Xinhua

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will open judicial investigations into crimes committed in the Central Africa Republic since 2002, shortly before the departure of former president Ange Felix Patasse, according to news Tuesday.

According to the France International Radio (RFI), two public figures will be the subject of the investigation namely former Central Africa Republic's president Patasse, currently living in exile in Togo and former Democratic Republic of Congo's vice- president Jean-Pierre Bemba.

Bemba went into the Central Africa Republic to support Patasse during the political crisis of 2002. During this adventure, Bemba's fighters are accused of various crimes such as rape, theft and murder.

Some of the women who fell victim to these atrocities decalred on RFI that they had been infected with HIV/AIDS.

Read more: http://english.people.com.cn/200705/23/eng20070523_377051.html

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Country profile: Central African Republic
Last Updated: Friday, 9 March 2007, 15:31 GMT

~snip~ In 1999 Mr Patasse beat nine other candidates to become president again, but there were allegations of electoral fraud. ~snip~ In 2003 Mr Bozize ousted the unpopular Ange-Felix Patasse - who was out of the country at the time - and declared himself president. ~snip~ He led an unsuccessful coup in 1983 against military ruler Andre Kolingba and was suspected of being involved in a coup attempt against President Patasse in 2001, which was thwarted with the help of Libyan troops. ~snip~

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1067518.stm


Central African Republic
Covering events from January - December 2002

~snip~ From 25 to 31 October forces loyal to former army General Bozizé attempted to overthrow President Patassé. They were driven out of the capital, Bangui, by loyalist forces supported by Libyan government troops and combatants of the Mouvement de la libération du Congo (MLC), Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During and after the coup attempt in Bangui, and after the rebels had withdrawn, dozens of unarmed civilians were unlawfully killed and hundreds beaten by forces supporting the Central African government. Hundreds of women, girls and boys were raped. The main perpetrators were reported to be MLC combatants as well as Libyan and Central African government forces. Local and international humanitarian workers expressed concern that many of the people raped were at risk of HIV infection. Rebel forces also committed human rights abuses, including the taking of hostages. ~snip~

http://web.amnesty.org/report2003/caf-summary-eng