President Kenyatta granted permission by ICC to skip some sittings
October 18, 2013 ( THE HAGUE) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has granted Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s request to allow him not seat through all sessions of the hearing of crimes against humanity case against him in The Hague.
Kenyatta says not sitting through the entire hearing would allow him carry out his constitutional responsibilities as president of Kenya.
Kenyatta and his deputy Ruto are charged with crimes against humanity for their alleged role in the 2007-2008 post election violence in Kenya in which 1,200 people were killed and 600,000 displaced.
Ruto made a similar request to the court but it was not granted.
In a ruling on Friday, the judges by a majority of two against one granted Kenyatta’s request but ruled that he would have to attend ‘‘opening and closing statements of all participants, hearings when victims present their views and concerns in person, delivery of judgement in his case and any other attendance ordered by the chamber.’’
Kenyatta’s case is scheduled to begin n November 12.
In a two day summit last week in Ethiopia, the African Union (AU) resolved that no sitting head of state should be tried by an international court including the ICC.
The AU has also resolved that Kenya should write to the UN Security Council (UNSC) asking for a deferral of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s trial at the ICC.
The AU summit also discussed continent’s future relations with the ICC, amid accusations the court is biased and specifically targeting Africans an accusation the ICC has denied.
The position of the AU was criticised by Human Rights Watch(HRW) which said the continental body should instead focus more on pressing problems in Africa such as conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic, Sudan, human rights violations in Eritrea and deaths of African immigrants at sea desperate to reach Europe for a better life.
(ST)