Jean-Pierre Bemba Arrested; His Major Sponsor was US-Backed Dictator Museveni

Trouble for Bemba's Sponsor Yoweri Museveni?
"Bemba's arrest could also spell trouble for his former sponsor, Uganda's U.S.-backed dictator, Yoweri K. Museveni. The ICC has also been investigating alleged crimes against humanity committed in Congo, by Uganda forces and its allied militias, according to The Wall Street Journal. The alleged crimes were committed when Uganda had occupied eastern Congo.

Uganda has allegedly armed and financed the Congo militias, much in the same manner in which Liberia, under Charles Taylor, once sponsored insurgents that committed war crimes in Sierra Leone. Taylor was later indicted and after he had been removed from office, arrested and taken to a special war crimes court set up in the Hague where he is currently being tried.

Uganda Abets Genocide of 6 Million Congolese
As many as 6 million Congolese are reported to have died as a result of the conflict sparked by the invasion, including by Uganda.

Allegedly, Uganda sponsored several militias including Bemba's Mouvement de Libération du Congo (MLC), when it then occupied eastern Congo.

Human Rights Watch in a 2003 report, "Ituri: Covered In Blood," identified at least 10 militias it said were Uganda-backed. These insurgent organizations were accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

International Court of Justice Fines Uganda $10 Billion
In 2005, Uganda was found liable by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for plundering Congo's resources and its army and allied forces of committing crimes against civilians, including massacres, mutilations, mass rapes and burning people alive.

The court agreed that Uganda should pay compensation, and the DRC government asked for $10 billion.

Kabila Refers Uganda to ICC
Meanwhile, on March 3, 2004, the Congo government under President Joseph Kabila, had referred crimes against humanity allegations against Uganda and its allied militias to the ICC; the court confirmed this to The Black Star News on July 27, 2007. The ICC then initiated an investigation of the alleged crimes, according to a front page news report in The Wall Street Journal on June 6, 2006.

Uganda Asks Annan to Block ICC Investigation
The seriousness with which the Uganda government took the ICC matter is clear from The Wall Street Journal. According to the Journal report: "President Museveni of Uganda asked U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to block the Congo investigation, according to one person
familiar with the matter. Mr. Annan replied that he had no power to interfere with the court, this person said. A Ugandan government spokesman, Robert Kabushenga, declines to comment on the matter."

Read the Full Article at Black Star News.com