KIBAKI GENIOUS
Member
- Jan 29, 2020
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International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, has confirmed receipt of two formal letters alleging human rights violations by the Tanzania government in the wake of the October 28 election and its aftermath.
The Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), one of the main opposition parties and Maria Sarungi Tsehai, an independent human rights activist, have separately written to court, requesting an official ICC inquiry into their claims of atrocities committed against Tanzanian citizens in opposition and those who are disputing the election’s conduct and results.
In an e-mailed response to a query from The EastAfrican, the ICC prosecutor’s office said although the court was by law ‘’duty-bound’’ to protect the confidentiality of information received on alleged crimes, “in this instance we can confirm we have received the communications as the senders have made that fact public.”
THE ROME STATUTE
“We analyse material submitted, as appropriate, in accordance with the Rome Statute which established the court and with full independence and impartiality,” the office said.
The first step would be to assess whether the communication concern “matters that are manifestly outside the jurisdiction of the court. As soon as we reach a decision on the appropriate next step, we inform the sender and provide reasons for our decision,” it added.
ACT-Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe told the media on November 8 that the party had already submitted evidence to the ICC, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
“We have also written to the Commonwealth and the AU asking them to investigate the October 28 elections and oversee the holding of new elections. We refuse to recognise this election and will continue to protest peacefully for a return of democracy,” Mr Kabwe said.
Ms Tsehai, the director of the independent Kwanza Online TV station and founder of the #ChangeTanzania social movement, tweeted on November 9 that she had also canvassed the ICC, though she was not available for comment on the content of her letter by the time of going to press.
“I used my skills, training as a journalist to fulfil my duty and submit to the ICC evidence of crimes against humanity in Tanzania,” she tweeted.
The Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), one of the main opposition parties and Maria Sarungi Tsehai, an independent human rights activist, have separately written to court, requesting an official ICC inquiry into their claims of atrocities committed against Tanzanian citizens in opposition and those who are disputing the election’s conduct and results.
In an e-mailed response to a query from The EastAfrican, the ICC prosecutor’s office said although the court was by law ‘’duty-bound’’ to protect the confidentiality of information received on alleged crimes, “in this instance we can confirm we have received the communications as the senders have made that fact public.”
THE ROME STATUTE
“We analyse material submitted, as appropriate, in accordance with the Rome Statute which established the court and with full independence and impartiality,” the office said.
The first step would be to assess whether the communication concern “matters that are manifestly outside the jurisdiction of the court. As soon as we reach a decision on the appropriate next step, we inform the sender and provide reasons for our decision,” it added.
ACT-Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe told the media on November 8 that the party had already submitted evidence to the ICC, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
“We have also written to the Commonwealth and the AU asking them to investigate the October 28 elections and oversee the holding of new elections. We refuse to recognise this election and will continue to protest peacefully for a return of democracy,” Mr Kabwe said.
Ms Tsehai, the director of the independent Kwanza Online TV station and founder of the #ChangeTanzania social movement, tweeted on November 9 that she had also canvassed the ICC, though she was not available for comment on the content of her letter by the time of going to press.
“I used my skills, training as a journalist to fulfil my duty and submit to the ICC evidence of crimes against humanity in Tanzania,” she tweeted.