Int’l Criminal Court in need of funds to prosecute Gaddafi

The International Criminal Court (ICC) does not have enough funds to prosecute Libya’s beleaguered leader, Muammar Gaddafi, its president Judge Sang-Hyun Song revealed Monday. “I have to figure out where we (can) get the budget to finance this case," Song said during the ICC’s briefing with the Philippine Senate’s committee on foreign relations. The ICC, which began operating in 2002, is the world’s first permanent war crimes tribunal. It has jurisdiction over the most serious international crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Last February, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution referring the deadly crackdown against anti-government demonstrators in Libya to the ICC for investigation and possible prosecution. Song said that the prosecutor of the ICC had found “reasonable grounds" to believe that crimes under their jurisdiction were committed in Libya. He said they plan to interview defectors if their prosecutor is not allowed entry to Libya. However, Song said he was worried how he can get extra human resources to enable their prosecutor to handle the case. “My worry is how to budget this new extra prosecution activity." He explained that they are not really part of the UN so they have to source funds on their own, most usually from their member states. “State parties might be approached for some monetary donation to finance Libya situation activities," Song said. President Benigno Aquino III had earlier signed the Rome Statute of the ICC and sent it to the Senate for concurrence. Under the treaty, the court can step in only when countries are unwilling or unable to dispense justice themselves for genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate foreign relations committee, said they have committed to prioritize the ratification of the treaty. “It is something that the Philippines needs and we’ll be in good company with 114 states," she said in an interview after the briefing. Song said if the Philippines decides to become a member state of the ICC, it shall be required to pay a yearly membership fee of $150,000. Song is set to meet with Aquino later in the day. “We all just want to contribute to the prevention of these heinous crimes. We want to achieve the peace through justice," he said. — KBK, GMA News