SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO WELCOMES DECISION TO ABOLISH MILITARY TRIBUNAL

29 April 2003




The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iulia Motoc, has welcomed the decision of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to abolish on 24 April 2003 the country's military tribunal - la Cour d'Ordre Militaire - and the court prosecutor's office, military institutions which did not meet international fair trial standards.
The Special Rapporteur recalled that during her meeting with President Joseph Kabila in March this year, the President had pledged to abolish the court at the end of March 2003.
The Special Rapporteur said that this step represented important progress for the administration of justice in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and encouraged the Government to continue in the same direction.



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