A victim of the crimes Congolese military commander Bosco Ntaganda is accused of has told judges at the at International Criminal Court (ICC) that, as a result of the ongoing trial, she would like to have peace and medical services in her community.
“As a victim of war, what are you expecting in this case at the ICC?” asked Dmytro Suprun, a lawyer representing victims in the trial.
The witness replied, “What I would like to request is that we be provided with assistance in finding peace once again. If we have peace, our children will be able to go to school.” She continued that she wished there was access to medical treatment whenever they needed it. “This is my request.”
Witness P892 stated that she and members of her family have been unable to rebuild their lives since the 2002–2003 ethnic conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She said she had not received any assistance or support from Congolese authorities or non-government organizations in the struggle to rebuild her life. Read the rest of the story here.
Quick info:
A former leader of Rwanda-backed rebel group the National Congress for the Defense of the People, Ntaganda and his fighters were integrated into the Congolese army in 2009. Ntaganda led a mutiny in 2012 and became a leader of a new rebel group, the M23. The M23 have participated in summary executions, rapes, and forced recruitment of children. In March 2013, following infighting between M23 factions, Ntaganda turned himself in to the United States embassy in Rwanda. He was flown to The Hague where the trial in his case began in September 2015. He is charged with 13 counts of war crimes and 5 counts of crimes against humanity.
