ICC prosecutor seeks to move Darfur probe to Sudan News
ICC prosecutor seeks to move Darfur probe to Sudan

[JURIST] Luis Moreno-Ocampo [official profile; BBC profile], prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] at The Hague, is expected to tell the UN Security Council Tuesday that the ICC's investigation [JURIST report] in Darfur has revealed large numbers of killings, mass rapes, and other "grave" crimes [JURIST report] and has identified several alleged criminal incidents for full investigation. Moreno-Ocampo's report to the UN will also show, however, that his investigative team has been unable to interview witnesses in Sudan and instead has relied on potential witnesses who have been "screened" outside of Sudan. Moreno-Ocampo hopes to travel to Sudan in early 2006 to visit with Sudan's domestic Darfur tribunal [JURIST report] and other judicial bodies that are investigating crimes in Darfur [JURIST news archive]. Under the Rome Statute [PDF text; backgrounder], which established the ICC, the prosecutor may only try suspected war criminals when national courts are unable or unwilling to investigate. According to Moreno-Ocampo, the Sudanese special tribunal has convicted 13 of 160 suspects, though a new Human Rights Watch report [text] says that no mid- or high-level government official, military commander or militia leader has been suspended, prosecuted or investigated in Sudan. Reuters has more.

12:04 PM ET – Sudan's justice minister said Tuesday that ICC investigators will not be allowed to travel to Darfur to complete the investigation into suspected war crimes. Mohammed Ali al-Mardi said that the Sudanese judicial system is capable of prosecuting any Darfur war criminals and that ICC officials have no jurisdiction inside Sudan. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.