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Deputy President of Kenya Goes on Trial at the Hague Deputy President of Kenya Goes on Trial at The Hague
(about 1 hour later)
NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s deputy president pleaded not guilty to charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court at The Hague on Tuesday for his role in the violence that rocked the country following the disputed 2007 election. NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s deputy president pleaded not guilty to charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court at The Hague on Tuesday for his role in the violence that rocked the country after the disputed 2007 election.
William Ruto, the deputy president, went on trial before the court with his co-defendant, Joshua arap Sang, an influential radio executive. The election set off ethnic clashes across the nation that claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people and displaced 600,000 from their homes. The deputy president, William Ruto, went on trial before the court with his co-defendant, Joshua arap Sang, an influential radio executive. The election set off ethnic clashes across the nation that claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people and displaced 600,000.
“The evidence, which the prosecution will present, will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the crimes for which Mr. Ruto and Mr. Sang are charged were not just random and spontaneous acts of brutality,” the chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, told the court in her opening statement. “On the contrary this was a carefully planned, coordinated and executed campaign of violence.” “The evidence, which the prosecution will present, will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the crimes for which Mr. Ruto and Mr. Sang are charged were not just random and spontaneous acts of brutality,” the chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, told the court in her opening statement. “On the contrary, this was a carefully planned, coordinated and executed campaign of violence.”
The case is a prelude to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s expected appearance before the court in November, which will mark the first time a sitting president has appeared before the court to stand trial. The case is a prelude to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s expected appearance before the court in November, which will be the first time a sitting president has appeared before the court to stand trial.
The case has divided Kenyan society. Supporters and victims’ advocates say that the prosecution strikes a blow against impunity. Opponents describe the case as a humiliation and infringement on Kenyan sovereignty. The case has divided Kenya. Supporters and victims’ advocates say that the prosecution strikes a blow against impunity. Opponents describe the case as a humiliation and infringement on Kenyan sovereignty.
Opinion surveys show that support for the trial here has fallen off significantly. The court announced that Mr. Kenyatta and Mr. Ruto will not have to be at The Hague at the same time, a practical concern for the governance of Kenya.Opinion surveys show that support for the trial here has fallen off significantly. The court announced that Mr. Kenyatta and Mr. Ruto will not have to be at The Hague at the same time, a practical concern for the governance of Kenya.
Once opponents, Mr. Kenyatta and Mr. Ruto allied themselves in the most recent election and their Jubilee Alliance won the vote in March. Many fear that the cases could upset the fragile balance here and lead to renewed instability or violence.Once opponents, Mr. Kenyatta and Mr. Ruto allied themselves in the most recent election and their Jubilee Alliance won the vote in March. Many fear that the cases could upset the fragile balance here and lead to renewed instability or violence.
No one knows what the effect will be once the evidence of what the prosecution describes as carefully orchestrated violence begins to come out in court. In the aftermath of the vote, homes were set ablaze and attackers hacked victims to death with machetes. In one case, people were burned alive in a court where they sought refuge. No one knows what the effect will be once the evidence of what the prosecution describes as carefully orchestrated violence begins to come out in court. In the aftermath of the vote, homes were set on fire and attackers hacked victims to death with machetes. In one case, people were burned alive in a court where they sought refuge.
Mr. Ruto wore a charcoal suit and a striped tie. He did not react as the charges against him were read. Mr. Sang swiveled back and forth in his chair and at one point shook his head. Mr. Sang was described by Ms. Bensouda as “the main mouthpiece used by Mr. Ruto to spread his message.”Mr. Ruto wore a charcoal suit and a striped tie. He did not react as the charges against him were read. Mr. Sang swiveled back and forth in his chair and at one point shook his head. Mr. Sang was described by Ms. Bensouda as “the main mouthpiece used by Mr. Ruto to spread his message.”
The I.C.C. took up the prosecution after the Kenyan justice system failed to do so, as agreed to in the power-sharing deal brokered by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to stop the violence. But the case has proved challenging. The court took up the prosecution after the Kenyan justice system failed to do so, as agreed to in a power-sharing deal brokered by the former United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, to stop the violence. But the case has proved challenging.
Witnesses have been killed or were afraid to testify, Ms. Bensouda has said, and a witness recanted after accepting money to withdraw his testimony. In March, the chief prosecutor withdrew charges against Mr. Kenyatta’s co-defendant, Francis Kirimi Muthaura, who was accused of helping organize death squads.Witnesses have been killed or were afraid to testify, Ms. Bensouda has said, and a witness recanted after accepting money to withdraw his testimony. In March, the chief prosecutor withdrew charges against Mr. Kenyatta’s co-defendant, Francis Kirimi Muthaura, who was accused of helping organize death squads.
The tribunal finds itself the target of significant criticism in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa. The African Union accused the I.C.C. of targeting Africans. Kenya’s Parliament voted last week to withdraw from the court, but the government has yet to act on the resolution and Mr. Kenyatta and Mr. Ruto continue to cooperate. The tribunal finds itself the target of significant criticism in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa. The African Union accused the court of targeting Africans. Kenya’s Parliament voted last week to withdraw from the court, but the government has yet to act on the resolution and Mr. Kenyatta and Mr. Ruto continue to cooperate.
Some questioned whether they would do so after the vote but Mr. Ruto, accompanied by dozens of members of Kenya’s Parliament, flew to Holland on Monday and appeared voluntarily in court Tuesday morning. Some questioned whether they would do so after the vote but Mr. Ruto, accompanied by dozens of members of Kenya’s Parliament, flew to the Netherlands on Monday and appeared voluntarily in court Tuesday morning.