First cut on a possible new initiative re. impunity

April 03, 2005

I only marginally shared my views on the subject as my being at another meeting in Mamba Point made it impossible for me to be with the discussion group.

I had earlier discussed the paper with Michael but specifically on the the creation of a Special Criminal Tribunal for Liberia I fully share Anna's views. I have
separately pointed out the need for us who are involved in the UN work on the ground in Africa to be pragmatic about the hard finacial realities. The donors
who already experience hardships in paying up pledges for the implementation of current programmes should not be receiving demands for funds to duplicate
facilities which already exist on the continet. In fact for this reason I had even suggested that the ICTR in Arusha be considered as an all Africa Tribunal for the major perpetrators of crimes in Liberia while minor actors could be tried in the Criminal Court in Sierra Leone.

The approach we recommend should reflect also convey to the people of Africa that in future, henious crime perpetrators expose themselves to being tried not just at home
but most likely by institutions where they cannot even remotely influence. This would bwe the answer to the so called ownership sentiment. In serving transparent and fair justice to the likes of Pinoche, many countries in Africa lack the minimum infrastructures and/or sufficiently trained and experienced human resources. Realism and humility dictates that resources be pooled together to meet our needs. Anna, you have said it all.