THE HAGUE / KENYA OCAMPO

International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said today that Monday's ruling by ICC requiring four prominent Kenyans to stand trial for crimes against humanity allegedly committed in late 2007 represents a significant step towards a peaceful future in the country. ICC

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:08
• Production Date: 24 January 2012
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT - ICC
• Subject Topical: CRIMES; CRIMINAL JUSTICE
• Geographic Subject: KENYA
• MAMS Id: U120124d

Description

STORY: THE HAGUE / KENYA OCAMPO
TRT: 2.08
SOURCE: ICC
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 24 JANUARY 2012, THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, press conference
2. Cutaway, reporters
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Louis Moreno-Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC):
“Yesterdays ruling is very important in different dimensions in the way the facts are analyzed and identify individual responsibilities at this stage, but also in the way its helping Kenyans to move ahead.”
4. Cutaway, reporter
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Louis Moreno-Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC):
“I think it’s crucially important the dissidence. Because what the judges are debating is something that was established in Nuremberg. Nuremberg for the first time established the concept of ‘crimes against humanity’. That includes that the government can attack people in its own country and its not just a national crime, it’s a crime against humanity.”
5. Cutaway, reporter
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Louis Moreno-Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC):
“Some of the suspects have stated that they will appeal the decision and we should respect this right. Some people will be frustrated because maybe this delays the beginning of the trial, but I think that this decision, yesterday, shows that the activities of the court are important, each step is important. Maybe, I don’t when will be a trial and a decision but yesterdays decision is crucial and maybe its what we need to have a peaceful election and we’ll see when the trial starts because we respect the right of the suspect to appeal the decision. We’ll see what they say and the judges have to know the pre-trial chamber shall decide grand or not the need for appeal.”
7. Wide shot, press conference

Storyline

International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said today that Monday’s (23 January) ruling by ICC requiring four prominent Kenyans to stand trial for crimes against humanity allegedly committed in late 2007 represents a significant step towards a peaceful future in the country.

Moreno-Ocampo said at a press conference today in the Hague that “yesterdays ruling was in the way its helping Kenyans to move ahead.”

He said the Court was appreciative of the fact that Kenyan judges explained the decision in a public session and that there have been no reports of violence since the result.

The ICC confirmed charges against Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; William Samoei Ruto, former Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology; Francis Kirimi Muthaura, Head of the Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet; and Joshua arap Sang, Head of Operations for KASS FM radio station, who are accused of being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

He stressed the prosecution is already preparing for trial, but its start could be delayed if judges accept the appeal that has been put forward by some of the accused.

According to the ICC, more than 1,100 people were killed, 3,500 injured and up to 600,000 forcibly displaced in the violence that followed the December 2007 elections. There were also hundreds of rapes, possibly more, and at least 100,000 properties were destroyed.