Zegabi

Human rights group Amnesty International has called on the UN Security Council not to bend under pressure to postpone the trials of Kenya’s leaders for a year.

Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Law and Policy, Tawanda Hondura said “The victims of the post-election violence in Kenya have waited long enough for justice.

“It would be a shame if the Security Council members prioritized the personal interests of political leaders over those of victims of crimes against humanity,” he added.

Following last month’s attack on the Westgate mall in Nairobi, the African Union have demanded a deferral of the International Criminal Court’s trial of Kenya’s leaders to allow them deal with the ever present threat of the spread of terrorism in Kenya and the horn of Africa.

On the 31st of last month, a delegation of African Ministers visited the UN Security Council headquarters in New York to advocate their case for a deferral of the trials. Under the founding Rome Statute of the ICC, the UN Security Council can pass resolutions to defer ongoing cases with 9 votes.

But opponents of the resolution say a UN Security Council’s intervention in the trial undermines international justice and the authority of the ICC.

Amnesty International’s Deputy Director of Law and Policy explained that “Deferring the trial sets a dangerous precedent for international justice-paving the way for future trials to be derailed for political interests.”

This notwithstanding, there are reports that the resolution already has 7 supporters including Pakistan, China, Russia, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Rwanda and Togo.

According to Reuters, the Rwandan envoy to the UN Security Council has spread a draft resolution among the council’s members in anticipation for the vote expected to be held on Friday.

“The Security Council turned down a previous request by Kenya in 2011 and rejected a request in May this year. We expect them to do the same now, in the interests of the victims of crimes under international law committed in Kenya and around the world” Hondura said, speaking on behalf of Amnesty International.

Several African leaders have highlighted the ICC’s handling of the case against Kenya’s leaders to express their distrust for the court, which has been described as a neo-colonial tool.

In light of the recent developments, the ICC is reportedly planning to debate a proposition to make trial conditions more flexible for high profile defendants such as President Kenyatta.

Kenya’s leaders are on trial at the ICC for their alleged roles in post election violence in the rift valley region, which left over 1,000 people dead.

Kenya’s Deputy leader was given a short break to attend to the national crisis after the Westgate attack, but has since resumed his trial. While President Kenyatta’s trial has been postponed to February 5th next year to allow the prosecution prepare.

Source: Amnesty International