This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18779726#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| DR Congo warlord Thomas Lubanga sentenced to 14 years | DR Congo warlord Thomas Lubanga sentenced to 14 years |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for recruiting and using child soldiers in his rebel army in 2002 and 2003. | Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for recruiting and using child soldiers in his rebel army in 2002 and 2003. |
| Taking into account time in custody, he will now serve a further eight years. | Taking into account time in custody, he will now serve a further eight years. |
| In March, he became the first person to be convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) since it was set up 10 years ago. | In March, he became the first person to be convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) since it was set up 10 years ago. |
| The conflict between ethnic groups in Ituri, north-eastern DR Congo, is estimated to have killed 60,000 people. | The conflict between ethnic groups in Ituri, north-eastern DR Congo, is estimated to have killed 60,000 people. |
| The latest rebellion in eastern DR Congo, which has led some 200,000 people to flee their homes, is closely linked to the Thomas Lubanga case. | The latest rebellion in eastern DR Congo, which has led some 200,000 people to flee their homes, is closely linked to the Thomas Lubanga case. |
| Bosco Ntaganda, a general in the Congolese army, was accused of the same crimes as Lubanga - they had fought in the same UPC rebel group in Ituri. | |
| After Lubanga was convicted in March, pressure mounted for the ICC's long-standing arrest warrant against Gen Ntaganda to be implemented. | |
| Fighters loyal to Gen Ntaganda - known as "The Terminator" - then defected from the army and started attacking military and civilian targets in the east of the country. | Fighters loyal to Gen Ntaganda - known as "The Terminator" - then defected from the army and started attacking military and civilian targets in the east of the country. |
| His rebel group, known as M23, is now threatening the region's main city, Goma, home to some 400,000 people. | His rebel group, known as M23, is now threatening the region's main city, Goma, home to some 400,000 people. |
| A UN report has accused Gen Ntaganda's long-time ally Rwanda of aiding his fighters - charges denied in Kigali. | A UN report has accused Gen Ntaganda's long-time ally Rwanda of aiding his fighters - charges denied in Kigali. |
| But Congo watchers say the real reason for the fighting is that Gen Ntaganda - and his backers - fear seeing him on trial in The Hague like his former comrade. | But Congo watchers say the real reason for the fighting is that Gen Ntaganda - and his backers - fear seeing him on trial in The Hague like his former comrade. |
| Lubanga led the Union of Congolese Patriots, an ethnic Hema militia which was active in the war that started in the Ituri region and its main town of Bunia in 1999. | Lubanga led the Union of Congolese Patriots, an ethnic Hema militia which was active in the war that started in the Ituri region and its main town of Bunia in 1999. |
| This was a local conflict within the wider DR Congo war, which left an estimated five million people dead - mostly from hunger and disease. | This was a local conflict within the wider DR Congo war, which left an estimated five million people dead - mostly from hunger and disease. |
| The Lubanga case is closely related to the current fighting in DR Congo, where forces loyal to Gen Bosco Ntaganda are threatening the main eastern city of Goma. | The Lubanga case is closely related to the current fighting in DR Congo, where forces loyal to Gen Bosco Ntaganda are threatening the main eastern city of Goma. |
| Gen Ntaganda is accused of the same crimes as his erstwhile ally Lubanga and his M23 group resumed its rebellion shortly after Lubanga was convicted, amid mounting calls for Gen Ntaganda to be arrested. | Gen Ntaganda is accused of the same crimes as his erstwhile ally Lubanga and his M23 group resumed its rebellion shortly after Lubanga was convicted, amid mounting calls for Gen Ntaganda to be arrested. |
| During the trial, the court heard how Lubanga would go to people's homes and ask them to donate something for the war effort. He would ask for cash, a cow, or for a child to fight for his rebel army. | During the trial, the court heard how Lubanga would go to people's homes and ask them to donate something for the war effort. He would ask for cash, a cow, or for a child to fight for his rebel army. |
| The court also saw video footage of Lubanga at a training camp, galvanising children as young as 10. | The court also saw video footage of Lubanga at a training camp, galvanising children as young as 10. |
| Another video showed young children working as bodyguards. | Another video showed young children working as bodyguards. |
| Lubanga was arrested in March 2005 by UN peacekeepers, along with other militiamen. | Lubanga was arrested in March 2005 by UN peacekeepers, along with other militiamen. |
| He showed no emotion as he was sentenced. | He showed no emotion as he was sentenced. |
| He cried as he was transferred to The Hague in March 2006. | He cried as he was transferred to The Hague in March 2006. |
| Highly critical | Highly critical |
| Judge Adrian Fulford praised the former warlord for his conduct and co-operation throughout the trial, the BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague says. | Judge Adrian Fulford praised the former warlord for his conduct and co-operation throughout the trial, the BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague says. |
| But he was highly critical of the former prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, she says, accusing him of making errors, failing to submit evidence to support his claims and allowing his staff to give misleading statements to the press. | But he was highly critical of the former prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, she says, accusing him of making errors, failing to submit evidence to support his claims and allowing his staff to give misleading statements to the press. |
| He was also critical of the way he had used witnesses. | He was also critical of the way he had used witnesses. |
| During the trial, the court heard from former child soldiers, including one who had been sent into battle. | During the trial, the court heard from former child soldiers, including one who had been sent into battle. |
| When he came face to face with Lubanga in the dock, he crumbled and was unable to present his evidence. | When he came face to face with Lubanga in the dock, he crumbled and was unable to present his evidence. |
| In June, Mr Moreno-Ocampo said he was asking for a "severe sentence" of 30 years. | In June, Mr Moreno-Ocampo said he was asking for a "severe sentence" of 30 years. |
| He said the prosecution was requesting a sentence "in the name of each child recruited, in the name of the Ituri region". | He said the prosecution was requesting a sentence "in the name of each child recruited, in the name of the Ituri region". |
| Speaking outside court, the victims' legal representative, Franck Mulenda, said he was satisfied with the sentence. | Speaking outside court, the victims' legal representative, Franck Mulenda, said he was satisfied with the sentence. |
| "There's a sort of public revenge, revenge of justice, because the victims couldn't have revenge on their own," he said. | "There's a sort of public revenge, revenge of justice, because the victims couldn't have revenge on their own," he said. |
| But the question of compensation still needed to be resolved, he added. | But the question of compensation still needed to be resolved, he added. |
| Mike Davis, from the human rights organisation Global Witness, said that the sentencing of Lubanga was an "important development" but that it sounded like "a rather low sentence in relation to the crimes that he committed". | Mike Davis, from the human rights organisation Global Witness, said that the sentencing of Lubanga was an "important development" but that it sounded like "a rather low sentence in relation to the crimes that he committed". |
| Both sides now have 30 days to appeal. | Both sides now have 30 days to appeal. |