International Criminal Law and Atrocities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a Critical Analysis
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1 UNIVERSITEIT VAN PRETORIA UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA YUNIBESITHI YA PRETORIA Fakulteit Regsgeleerdheid / Faculty of Law/Fakhalthi ya Malao Department Publiekreg / Department of Public law INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW AND ATROCITIES IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS By Ngoie Ngalingi Joseph Antoine Ngoto Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the degree Doctor Legum (LLD) June 2012 Supervisor: Professor CJ Botha 2 1 Declaration I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the work contained in this study for the degree of Doctor of Laws at the University of Pretoria is my own independent work and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it at any University for a degree. Where secondary material is used, this has been carefully acknowledged and referenced in accordance with University requirements. I am aware of University policy and implications regarding plagiarism. 6 June 2012 ------------------------------- Ngoie NgalingiJoseph Antoine Ngoto 2 Dedication Dedicated to all victims of international crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to my wife Elvine Ngoto Mikalo Bonyale and my children Joseph Roger Ngoto Ngalingi, Charlie Ngoto Yadunga, Josiane Ngoto Ngoie Tangalingi, Christiane Ngoto Mobimbi and Annick Ngoto Loda. 3 Summary Since its independence in 1960, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has undergone egregious violations of human rights and humanitarian law. This study appraises the responses to international crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 1990 and 2010. It appears from the study that mass atrocities have taken place recurrently during the above period. Millions of people have either died or forcibly fled from their homes as a result of international crimes. This study distinguishes two eras: pre-ICC and post-ICC in relation with the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) 1 July 2002. For the pre-ICC era, it argues that criminal prosecutions (though possible) are no longer opportune, but suggests a focus on the issue of reparation for victims. It mentions that the DRC was unwilling rather than unable to prosecute international crimes prior to the ICC era. It recalls that the UN does not need to appoint an ad hoc tribunal because it has restored peace by non- coercive means. As for the post-ICC era, this study questions the ability of the DRC, the ICC and the UN to counter international crimes. The deterrent effect of national prosecution is lower than that of the ICC, but the ICC suffers from congenital weaknesses, hampering its efficacy. The study highlights the UN‘s failure to protect civilians. The study suggests a focus on the guarantee of non- repetition as genuine response to post-ICC crimes. It suggests a strengthening of traditional institutions aimed at protecting civilians (including states and the UN). Furthermore, it suggests the enhancement of judicial bodies at both domestic and international level, including by a lowering of political involvement in judicial matters. 4 Key terms: amnesty, reparation, duty to prosecute, transitional justice, transitional justice, International Criminal Court, international crimes, United Nations, responses to international crimes, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 5 Opsomming Sedert onafhanklikheid in 1960 het die Demokratiese Republiek van die Kongo gebuk gegaan onder skendings van menseregte en humanitêre reg. Hierdie studie beoordeel die reaksie op die internasionale misdade in die Demokratiese Republiek van die Kongo tussen 1990 en 2010. Dit blyk uit die studie dat massa-gruweldade van tyd tot tyd gedurende bogenoemde tydperk plaasgevind het. Miljoene mense het gesterf, of is met geweld uit hul huise gedwing as gevolg van internasionale misdade. Hierdie studie onderskei twee tydperke, naamlik die voor-ICC en die post-ICC met verwysing na die inwerkingtreding van die Statuut van die Internasionale Strafhof op 1 Julie 2002. Vir die voor-ICC era word argumenteer dat strafregtelike vervolgings (hoewel moontlik) nie meer die gepaste respons is nie. Die studie plaas eerder die fokus op die kwessie van vergoeding vir slagoffers. Dit wys daarop dat die die DRK in die voor-ICC era nie in staat was om die internasionale misdade te vervolg nie, eerder as om onwillig te gewees het. Dit wys weer eens daarop dat dit nie vir die VN nodig was om 'n ad hoc-tribunaal in te stel nie, aangesien die VN vrede op ‗n nie-geweldadige wyse herstel het. Soos vir die post-ICC era ondersoek hierdie studie die vermoë van die DRK, die Internasionale Strafhof en die VN om internasionale misdade te voorkom. Alhoewel die die afskrikkingswaarde van plaaslike vervolgings laer is as vervolgings deur die Internasionale Strafhof, het die internasionale hof egter sekere inherente swakpunte wat die doeltreffendheid daarvan belemmer. Die studie beklemtoon die VN se versuim om die burgers te beskerm. Die studie plaas ook die fokus op waarborge om die herhaling van die misdade in die 6 post-ICC era te voorkom.Die studie ondersoek die versterking van tradisionele instellings (insluitend ander state en die VN) wat gemik is op die beskerming van burgers. Verder word die versterking van beide plaaslike en internasionale juridiese instansies bepleit, onder andere deur 'n verlaging van politieke betrokkenheid in regsaangeleenthede. Sleutelterme: amnestie, herstel, plig om te vervolg, oorgangsgeregtigheid, die Internasionale Strafhof, internasionale misdade, die Verenigde Nasies, reaksies op internasionale misdade, die Demokratiese Republiek van die Kongo. 7 Table of Contents Declaration .............................................................................................................................. 1 Dedication ................................................................................................................................ 2 Summary .................................................................................................................................. 3 Opsomming ............................................................................................................................. 5 Table of Contents ................................................................................................................... 7 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. 11 Abbreviations and Acronyms .............................................................................................. 13 Introductory Part ..................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: Introduction and conceptual framework .......................................................... 1 1.1.2 Thesis Statement ...................................................................................................... 3 1.1.3 Explanation of Suggested Title ............................................................................... 3 1.1.4 Research Methodology ............................................................................................ 4 1.1.5 Literature review ........................................................................................................ 4 1.1.6 Brief explanation of outline ...................................................................................... 4 Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 3: Responses from the United Nations ................................................................ 5 Chapter 4: Review of responses from States .................................................................... 5 Part II: Analysis of responses to crimes committed after the entry into force of the Rome Statute. ......................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 5: Background .......................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 6: Appraisal of responses provided by the Democratic Republic of Congo ... 6 Chapter 7: Analysis of the ICC‘s role in the Congolese context ..................................... 6 Chapter 8: Responses provided by the United Nations. .................................................. 6 Chapter 9: Concluding remarks ........................................................................................... 7 1.2.2.1.1 Adoption of basic principle of reparation .......................................................... 11 1.2.4.1.1. Challenges of the duty to prosecute ................................................................ 18 1.2.4.1.1.1. The large number of alleged perpetrators ................................................... 18 1.2.4.1.1.2. The immunities of foreign suspects .............................................................. 19 1.2.7.1 War crimes ............................................................................................................ 27 8 1.2.7.2 Crimes against humanity: ................................................................................... 29 1.2.7.3 Genocide ............................................................................................................... 30 1.2.9. Responses to international crimes ...................................................................... 32 Part 1: Critical appraisal of legal responses to international crimes committed