ICC judges authorise opening of an investigation regarding Burundi situation
Today, 9 November 2017, Pre-Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court"), composed of Judges Chang-ho Chung (Presiding Judge), Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua and Raul C. Pangalangan, issued a public redacted version of its decision authorising the ICC Prosecutor to open an investigation regarding crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court allegedly committed in Burundi or by nationals of Burundi outside Burundi since 26 April 2015 until 26 October 2017. The Prosecutor is authorised to extend her investigation to crimes which were committed before 26 April 2015 or continue after 26 October 2017 if certain legal requirements are met.
The decision was first issued under seal on 25 October 2017. The Chamber accepted, exceptionally, after ordering the Prosecutor to provide additional information, to conduct the authorisation proceedings under seal and only with the participation of the Prosecutor, in order to attenuate risks to the life and well-being of victims and potential witnesses. The Prosecutor was in addition exceptionally granted a limited delay of 10 working days in notifying the initiation of the investigation to States normally exercising jurisdiction over the alleged crimes in order to prepare and implement protective measures for victims and potential witnesses to mitigate the potential risks.
The Pre-Trial Chamber found that the Court has jurisdiction over crimes allegedly committed while Burundi was a State party to the ICC Rome Statute. Burundi was a State Party from the moment the Rome Statute entered into effect for Burundi (1 December 2004) until the end of the one-year interval since the notification of Burundi's withdrawal (26 October 2017). The withdrawal became effective on 27 October 2017. Accordingly, the Court retains jurisdiction over any crime within its jurisdiction up to and including 26 October 2017, regardless of Burundi's withdrawal. As a consequence, the Court may exercise its jurisdiction even after the withdrawal became effective for Burundi as long as the investigation or prosecution relate to the crimes allegedly committed during the time Burundi was a State Party to the Rome Statute. Moreover, Burundi has a duty to cooperate with the Court for the purpose of this investigation since the investigation was authorised on 25 October 2017, prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective for Burundi. This obligation to cooperate remains in effect for as long as the investigation lasts and encompasses any proceedings resulting from the investigation. Burundi accepted those obligations when ratifying the Rome Statute.
Pre-Trial Chamber III, considered that the supporting materials presented by the ICC Prosecutor, including victims' communications submitted to the Prosecutor, offer a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation in relation to crimes against humanity, including: a) murder and attempted murder; b) imprisonment or severe deprivation of liberty; c) torture; d) rape; e) enforced disappearance and f) persecution, allegedly committed in Burundi, and in certain instances outside of the country by nationals of Burundi, since at least 26 April 2015. The Chamber noted that, according to estimates, at least 1,200 persons were allegedly killed, thousands illegally detained, thousands reportedly tortured, and hundreds disappeared. The alleged acts of violence have reportedly resulted in the displacement of 413,490 persons between April 2015 and May 2017.
The crimes were allegedly committed by State agents and other groups implementing State policies, including the Burundian National Police, national intelligence service, and units of the Burundian army, operating largely through parallel chains of command, together with members of the youth wing of the ruling party, known as the "Imbonerakure".
The ICC Prosecutor is not restricted to the incidents and crimes described in the decision but may, on the basis of the evidence, extend her investigation to other crimes against humanity or other crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court (i.e. genocide or war crimes), as long as she remains within the parameters of the authorised investigation.
Lastly, the Chamber noted that, according to available information, the Burundian authorities have remained inactive in relation to potential cases arising out of the situation in Burundi. Despite the establishment of three commissions of inquiry and certain proceedings before domestic courts, the Chamber found that these steps were either deficient or did not concern the same persons or the same crimes that are likely to be the focus of an ICC investigation. Accordingly, there is no conflict of jurisdiction between the Court and Burundi.
The Office of the Prosecutor will collect the necessary evidence from a variety of reliable sources, independently, impartially, and objectively. The investigation can take as long as needed to gather the required evidence. If sufficient evidence would be collected to establish that specific individuals bear criminal responsibility, the Prosecutor would then request Judges of Pre-Trial Chamber III to issue either summonses to appear or warrants of arrest.
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Uyu munsi kw'igenekerezo rya 09 Munyonyo 2017, Igisata ca III ca Sentare mpanavyaha mpuzamakungu (« Sentare »), kijejwe amatohoza ntangamarara, kigizwe n'abacamanza Chang-ho Chung (umucamanza mukuru), Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua na Raul C. Pangalangan, catangaje icese zimwe mu ngingo z'urubanza rurekura umushikirizamanza wa Sentare ngo atangure amatohoza ku vyaha Sentare ifitiye ububasha vyoba vyarakozwe mu Burundi canke vyakozwe n'abarundi hanze y'igihugu cabo kuva igenekerezo rya 26 Ndamukiza 2015 gushika igenekerezo rya 26 Gitugutu 2017. Umushikirizamanza ahawe n'uburenganzira bwo kwagura amatohoza ku vyaha vyakozwe imbere y'igenekerezo rya 26 Ndamukiza 2015 canke bibandanya inyuma y'igenekerezo rya 26 Gitugutu 2017, igihe ivya ngombwa bitegekanywa n'amategeko vyoba bikwiye.
Igisata ca III kijejwe amatohoza ntangamarara cabanje gufata ingingo idatangazwa kw'igenekerezo rya 25 Gitugutu 2017. Imaze gutegeka Umushikirizamanza gutanga izindi nsiguro, yahavuye yemera, mu buryo butamenyerewe, ko ivyerekeye kwiga ibiraba uruhusha rw'ukugira amatohoza vyokwihwezwa mw'ibanga n'umushikirizamanza wenyene kugira bagabanure ivyoshobora kubangamira abashobora kuba bakorewe ivyaha n'ivyabona. Mu buryo budasanzwe kandi, Sentare yahaye uruhusha Umushikirizamanza rwo kurindira iminsi y'akazi 10 kugira amenyeshe itangugwa ry'amatohoza ibihugu bisanzwe bifise ububasha ku vyaha bivugwa, kugirango ategure kandi ashire mu ngiro ingingo zofasha gukingira abakorewe ivyaha n'amasura.
Igisata kijejwe amatohoza ntangamarara cemeje ko Sentare ifise ububasha bw'ukwihweza ivyaha vyoba vyarakozwe mu kiringo cose Uburundi bwari bwemeye kwisunga amasezerano y'i Roma, ni ukuvuga kuva kw' igenekerezo rya 01 Kigarama 2004 gushika igenekerezo rya 26 Gitugutu 2017, ni ukuvuga umwaka wose, uharuwe umunsi ku wundi. Kuri iryo genekerezo rya 26 Gitugutu 2017 ni ho Uburundi bwidohoye muri ayo masezerano.
Bisigura ko Sentare igumana ububasha bw'ukwihweza ivyaha vyose vyakozwe gushika igenekerezo rya 26 Gitugutu 2017, n'aho Uburundi bwavuye mu masezerano y'i Roma. Sentare iragumana ubwo bubasha n'inyuma y'ukwidohora kw'Uburundi igihe cose izoba iriko itohoza inakurikirana ivyaha vyakozwe mu gihe igihugu cari kikiri muri ayo masezerano y'i Roma . Bitereyeko, Uburundi burinda gufashanya na Sentare muri ayo matohoza kubera ko yatangiwe uruhusha igenekerezo rya 25 Gitugutu 2017, imbere y'uko ukwidohora kw'Uburundi kwemerwa. Iryo tegeko ry'ugufashanya na Sentare rizohaguma gushika amatohoza ahere kandi ryerekeye ibikorwa vyose bijanye n' ayo matohoza. Uburundi bwavyemeye igihe bwemeza ayo masezerano.
Igisata ca III kijejwe amatohoza ntangamarara cashinze ko ivyemezo vyatanzwe n'Umushikirizamanza wa Sentare, harimwo n'ivyo yahawe n' abakorewe ivyaha bifise ishingiro rikwiye kugira habe amatohoza ku vyaha vy'agahomerabunwa vyoba vyarabaye kuva igenekerezo rya 26 ndamukiza 2015 mu Burundi, hamwe n'ivyoba vyakozwe n'abarundi mu mahanga, ivyo bikaba : a) ubwicanyi n'ukugerageza kwica ; b) ugupfunga abantu canke kubabuza umwidegemvyo bikomeye ; c) kuboreza igufa umuntu; d) gushurashuza ku nguvu ; e) kugenda mazimayongo ; et f) guturatuza.
Sentare yasanze abantu bashika 1200 boba barishwe, abantu ibihumbi bagapfungwa bidaciye mu mategeko, ibindi bihumbi bikaborezwa igufa, n'uko abantu amajana boba bagiye mazimayongo. Ayo mabi avugwa yoba yatumye abantu 413 490 bata izabo bagahunga hagati ya Ndamukiza 2015 na Rusama 2017.
Ivyo vyaha vyoba vyakozwe n'abakozi ba Leta n'iyindi mirwi ishira mu ngiro imigambi ya Leta, aho hakaba harimwo urwego rw' inyamiramabi, urwego rw'iperereza n'ibigo bimwe bimwe mu rwego rw' intwaramiheto bikora cane cane bikurikiza amategeko y' inzego zitazwi zibangabanganye n'izemewe n'amategeko, kandi abo bose bakaba bafadikanya n'Imbonerakure; umuhari w'urwaruka rugize ishami ry'umugambwe uri ku butegetsi.
Umushikirizamanza wa Sentare mpanavyaha mpuzamakungu ntarinda gukurikira ingorane n'ivyaha vyavuzwe mu rubanza gusa. Ashobora, akurikije ivyemezo afise, gukora amatohoza no ku bindi vyaha vy'agahomerabunwa canke ibindi vyaha Sentare ifitiye ububasha (ni ukuvuga icaha c'ihonyabwoko n'ivyaha vyo mu ngwano), igihe atarenze akarimbi k'amatohoza yaherewe uburenganzira.
Mu guheza, Igisata ca III kijejwe amatohoza ntangamarara, gikurikije amakuru caronse, casanze abayobozi b'Uburundi ataco bakoze ku vyerekeye imanza zoba zifise amamuko ku vyabaye mu gihugu. N'aho bashinze imirwi itatu y'amatohoza mbere bagatanguza ibikorwa mu ma sentare y'igihugu, Igisata ca III kijejwe amatohoza ntangamarara cabonye ko izo ngingo zitari zikwiye canke zitari zerekeye abantu canke ivyaha bishobora gukorwa ko amatohoza na Sentare mpuzamakungu mpanavyaha. Nico gituma ububasha bw'iyo Sentare n'ubw'ubutungane bw'Uburundi ataho bugonganira.
Ibiro vy' Umushikirizamanza bizokwegeranya canke bizokwakira ivyemezo aho bishobora kuboneka hose hakwiye kwizerwa, kandi ababijejwe bazobikora ata gitsure, ata nkunzi, bacishije aho ukuri kuri. Amatohoza azomara igihe cose kizokenerwa kugira ivyemezo biboneke. Habonetse ivyemezo bikwiye vyerekana ko hari abantu bashobora kwagirwa n'ivyaha bakoze, Umushikirizamanza azoca asaba abacamanza bo mu gisata ca III kijejwe amatohoza ntangamarara gusohora imitahe y'ukurenguka canke y'ugufatwa.
Icegeranyo c'ukumenyesha bose ingingo yafashwe hakurikijwe Ingingo ya 15
y'Amasezerano y'i Roma ku vyerekeye uruhusha rw'amatohoza ku biriko biraba mu
Burundi.
Ibimenyeshejejwe: Ingingo iri mu gifaransa izoboneka bitarenze igenekerezo rya 1 Kigarama 2017.
Urwandiko rw'ibibazo n'inyishu
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Murashobora kandi kumenya ibijanye n'ibikorwa vya Sentare mpanavyaha mpuzamakungu mukoresheje YouTube na Twitter.
Leo, tarehe 9 Novemba 2017, Chumba cha Utangulizi III cha Mahakama ya Kimataifa ya Jinai (« Mahakama ya ICC « au « Mahakama ») kinachoundwa na majaji Chang-ho Chung (jaji Rais), Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua na Raul Pangalangan, kiliweka hati rasmi ya hadharani iliyofutwa maneno na ambayo inamhurusu Mwendesha Mashtaka wa Mahakama ya ICC kuuanzisha upelelezi kuhusu makosa ya jinai yaliyo chini ya mamlaka ya Mahakama, yanayodaiwa kuwa yalitendwa Burundi au yalitendwa na raia wa Burundi wanaoishi inje ya nchi yao, tangu tarehe 26 Aprili 2015 hadi tarehe 26 Oktoba 2017. Mwendesha Mashtaka anaruhusiwa kupanua upelelezi hata kuhusu makosa ya jinai yaliyotendwa kabla ya tarehe 26 Aprili 2015 au yale yaliyotendwa baada ya tarehe 26 Oktoba 2017, ilimradi masharti fulani ya kisheria yaheshimishwe.
Kwanza, Chumba cha Utangulizi III kilitoa uamzi wake wa siri tarehe 25 Oktoba 2017. Baada ya kumuomba Mwendesha Mashtaka habari za ziada, Chumba kilikubali kwa namna ya pekee ya kwamba utaratibu unaohusu ruhusa ya uanzishaji wa upelelezi, unaweza kwendeshwa kwa siri, kwa kumshirikisha tuu Mwendesha mashtaka. Hiyo ni namna ya kunusuru hatari zinazoweza kumba maisha na maslahi ya waathiriwa na wale wanaotarajiwa kuwa mashahidi. Pia, na kwa namna ya kipekee, Chumba kilimruhusu Mwendesha Mashtaka kusukuma baada ya siku 10 za kazi kabla ya kuzijulisha nchi zinazohusika na makosa ya jinai yanoyodaiwa, taarifa ya uanzishaji wa upelelezi, ili zijitayarishe na kutekeleza mipango ya usalama kwa ajili ya kuzuia hatari zinazoweza kuwakumba waathiriwa na mashahidi wanaotarajiwa.
Chumba cha Utangulizi kilibaini ya kwamba Mahakama ina uwezo wa kisheria kuhusu makosa ya jinai ambayo yanadaiwa kutendwa wakati Burundi ilikuwa bado nchi mojawapo ya zile zinazounda Mahakama chini ya Mkataba wa Roma. Burundi ilikuwa kweli mmoja kati ya nchi zinazounda Mahakama tangu Mkataba ulianza kutumika na kuhusika na nchi hii (tarehe 1 Desemba 2004) hadi mwisho wa mwaka ambayo Burundi iliomba kujitoa (tarehe 26 Oktoba 2017). Kujitoa kwake kulikubaliwa tarehe 27 Oktoba 2017. Kwa hiyo, Mahakama inabaki na uwezo wa kisheria kuhusu kosa lolote la jinai lililo chini ya mamlaka yake ikiwa kama lilitendwa hadi tarehe 26 Oktoba 2017. Inamaanisha ya kwamba Mahakama inaweza kutumia uwezo wake wa kisheria hata baada ya Burundi kujiondoa na kutoka kwake rasmi, ikiwa kama upelelezi au mashtaka yanahusu makosa ya jina ambayo yanadaiwa kutendwa wakati nchi hii ilikuwa mmoja kati ya nchi zinazounda Mahakama chini ya Mkataba wa Roma. Isitoshe, Burundi inaombwa kushirikiana na Mahakama katika upelelezi huu, kwa sababu kuanzisha upelelezi iliruhusiwa tarehe 25 Oktoba 2017, kabla ya tarehe ya kutoka rasmi kwa nshi hii. Wajibu wa kushirikiana unahitajika wakati wote upelelezi utakapoendeshwa, na utatekelezwa kwa ajili ya utaratibu wote unaohusiana na upelelezi huu. Burundi ilikubali mapashwa haya wakati ilisaini rasmi Mkataba wa Roma.
Chumba cha Utangulizi III kiliamua ya kwamba alama za ushuhuda ambazo Mwendesha Mashtaka alileta pamoja na mawasiliano yake na waathiriwa, zinaonesha kuwa kuna sababu za kutosha kwa kuanzisha upelelezi kuhusu makosa ya jinai dhidi ya ubinadhamu yanayodaiwa kuwa yalitendwa na raia wa Burundi tangu tarehe 26 Aprili 2015 katika nshi ya Burundi na, katika hali zingine, inje ya nchi ; ni kusema : a) mauwaji na kujaribu kuuwa ; b) kufunga gerezani au kunyima kwa kiwango kikubwa uhuru wa mtu ; c) mateso ; d) ubakaji, e) upotezaji wa watu kwa kulazimisha ; f) utesaji. Iliripotiwa ya kwamba takriban zaidi ya watu 1,200 waliuwawa, maelfu ya watu waliwekwa kizuizini kinyume na sheria na maelfu ya watu wengine waliteswa ; na mamia ya watu walilazimishwa kupotea. Matendo ya ukatili yanadaiwa kutendeka na kulazimisha watu 413,490 kuhamishwa kati ya mwezi wa nne na mwezi wa tano 2017.
Madai ni kwamba makosa yale ya jinai yalitendwa na wafanyakazi wa Serkali na makundi mengine ambayo yanatekeleza siasa ya Serkali, kati yao kuna Polisi ya Burundi, Kikosi cha upelelezi na tawi la jeshi la Burundi waliofanya kazi wakiheshimisha nguzo za utawala zenye muundo moja, pamoja na wanamemba wa Imbonerakure, Kikosi cya vijana ambao wanaunga mkono chama chama kinachotawala.
Mwendeesha mashataka wa ICC hatakiwe kuchunguza tu matendo na makosa ya jinai kama vile inaandikwa kwatika azimio la majaji, lakini anaweza, kwa msingi wa alama za ushuhuda, kupanua upelelezi wake kwa makosa mengine ya jinai dhidi ya ubinadamu au makosa mengine yaliyo chini ya uwezo wa kisheria ya Mahakama (ni kusema mauaji ya kimbari au makosa ya jinai ya kivita), ilimradi afanye kazi yake bila kutambuka mipaka ya ruhusa alipewa kuhusu upelelezi.
Kwa kumalizia, Chumba kilitambua ya kuwa, kufuatana na habari zilizoko, wakubwa wa Serkali ya Burundi hawakufanya kitu chochote kuhusu maswala ambayo yanasababisha hali ya leo nchini. Hata kama kamati tatu za upelelezi ziliundwa na taratibu kadhaa zilianzishwa mbele ya makakama za kitaifa, Chumba kiliazimu ya kwamba hatua zile hazikutosha au hazikuhusu watu au makosa ya jinai ambayo yatacungunzwa na upelelezi wa ICC. Kwa hiyo, hakuna kugongana kati ya Mahakama na Burundi kwa mujibu wa uwezo wake wa kisheria.
Ofisi ya Mwendesha Mashtaka itakusanya alama za ushuhuda ambazo zinahitajika kutokea vyanzo mbalimbali vya kuaminika, kwa namna ya huru, kwa adili, na bila upendeleo. Upelelezi utachukua muda unaohitajika kwa kuzipata zile alama za ushuhuda. Kama Mwendesha Mashtaka anapata alama za kutosha za kuonesha ya kwamba kuna watu kadhaa ambao wana dhima ya kosa la jinai, ataomba majaji wa Chumba cha Utangulizi III watoe samansi au hati za kuwakamata wale watu.
Toleo la umma ambalo maneno yalifutwa la " Uamuzi kwa mujibu wa Ibara 15 ya Mkataba wa Roma kuhusu kuruhusu upelelezi katika Jamhuri ya Burundi »
kufahamishwa : utafsiri wa Kifaransa wa uamuzi huu utakuwa tayari kamili tarehe 1 Desemba 2017
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