Thursday 1 December 2011

Laurent Gbagbo's Trial at the ICC?

My heart weeps so much for my African brother, the former Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo who was sent to the ICC in the Hague. Four charges of crimes against humanity have been proffered against him. We all know that this is just a formality he is going through. They would surely find him guilty as the trial of the former Liberian president Charles Gankey Taylor seems to show the hall marks of a predetermined agenda. These people would make sure that Gbagbo is kept away from Ivory Coast for a long time. I keep on asking this question, was the ICC created for only African Leaders? Why cant the likes of Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, George Bush Snr and Jnr, Gordon Brown and a host of other former western leaders who have committed atrocities in Afghanistan, Vietnam, Somalia, Iraq,  and Libya. Imagine you have a system where the leaders are the judge, jury and prosecutors. The conclusion would be that, the guilty verdict would surely be pronounced on any African president sent to the Hague. Why cant the African Union do something about this invasion of our African continent by these neocolonialists. Now they are threatening us with aid with so many conditions, some of which are that, we should allow homosexuals and lesbians to have their way all in the name of human rights. This is an insult to the African culture. Are these western powers signatories to the ICC Convention? I hope to find out the number of countries that have signed up to this incongruous convention. Sudan's president, Al Bashir is their next target, as to when they would get him to be sent to the ICC, only time will tell. Right now, the ICC has put an international arrest warrant on him. This has brought a big diplomatic row between Sudan and Kenya as they have both expelled their diplomats as a result of a Kenyan court ruling that states that the Sudanese president should be arrested the moment he steps foot on Kenyan soil. Why cant Africans be allowed to decide their own fate and settle their own disputes. Alhassane Outtara's forces also committed  atrocities during the Ivorian crisis, he should also be invited to the ICC to face charges of crimes against humanity. His forces embarked on an ethnic cleansing campaign, and the evidence is so overwhelming, but the ICC Chief Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo's visit to Ivory Coast was a one sided affair. Gbagbo could have been tried by the African Union's own Judicial body. I would like to end with this question, who is going to pay for the cost involved in Laurent Gbagbo's ICC trial. I know the Ivorian people would be made to compromise on so many fronts for the western powers to have their way. Alhassane Outtara should beware, because Gbagbo's supporters are still alive. A word to the wise they say, is in Ouattara's north. My last question is, will Gbagbo be given a fair trial?  

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