Violence victims want suspects referred to ICC
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By LUCIANNE LIMO Victims of post-election violence and the Civil Society have asked President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to co-operate with ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo. The group said the two principals must take a bold step and refer perpetrators of violence to the ICC to show their commitment to ending impunity. "The President and Prime Minister must take appropriate punitive measures against these individuals if they are not speaking or acting on their behest," said Ndung’u Wainaina, executive director, International Centre for Policy and Conflict (ICPC). "Kenya must remain faithful and committed to the ICC," Mr Wainaina added. administer justice The Kenyan situation, they said, should be taken over by ICC since the Government lacks the intention, commitment and will to administer justice in relation to post-election violence crimes perpetrated last year that left 1,113 people dead and more than 350,000 displaced. "Evidently, the right to justice and accountability is not guaranteed in Kenya. Efforts to establish a special tribunal have continued to be frustrated by partisan, individualised politics mobilised around ethnic expression by key political leaders," said Wainaina. The civil society and victims of last year’s post-election violence have been holding a series of meetings in Nairobi and Eldoret prior to Moreno-Ocampo’s visit today. The meeting organised by ICPC agreed on the importance of ending the vicious cycle of impunity, saying suspects must face the law. "Suspects must be individually held criminally liable and prosecuted appropriately through an effective and independent judicial mechanism else the next General Election or any other major political event, such as a constitutional referendum, will be violent since the perpetrators know they will not be punished," they said. The group wants Moreno-Ocampo to meet with victims of violence, especially those displaced, to understand their plight. open warrants They further want the Chief Prosecutor to issue open warrants and those under investigation suspended from holding public office. The victims have urged the Government to institute special mechanism to protect witnesses and preserve evidence related to post-election violence.