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A Family Member Calls for Congo Militia Leader's Immediate Release

   Sylvia  Dzbo,  a cousin to Thomas Lubanga says the ICC has no evidence
   to justify Lubanga's continued detention at the Hague

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 09 July 2010

   A  family  member of former Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga is
   calling for his immediate release from further detention.

   This  comes  after  the  International  Criminal  Court (ICC) Thursday
   suspended Mr. Lubanga's trial, citing the prosecutor's refusal to turn
   over relevant information to the defense.

AFP Photo

   Former Congo militia leader Thomas Lubanga

   Sylvia  Dzbo,  a cousin to Mr. Lubanga said the ICC has no evidence to
   justify Mr. Lubangaās continued detention.

   āThe  last  time  that  Prosecutor  Luis Moreno Ocampo was at Bunia he
   talked with one of my cousins. He was there to make sure all the proof
   against  Thomas  Lubanga was wrong. The last word to from him was that
   Thomas  Lubanga  will  be released soon. Then we heard there will be a
   trial.  But  now  they  say no itās suspended. But we donāt understand
   because they know everything that was said against him was wrong,ā she
   said.

   Dzbo  appealed  to the international media to help the family disprove
   the allegations against Mr. Lubanga.

   āI  hope  you guys will help us to know the truth about everything. If
   our  brother  is guilty we will understand why heās there. But if heās
   not,  why are they keeping him there? And from my side, I believe heās
   not guilty,ā Dzbe said.

   Lubanga  is charged with war crimes for allegedly using children under
   15  years  old to fight in his Union of Congolese Patriots armed group
   during  the  five-year civil war which ended in 2002 in the Democratic
   Republic of Congo.

AFP Photo

   A DRC child soldier

   Dzbo  said  Lubanga  was  only trying to protect his Hema ethnic group
   from their rival Lendu in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

   āImagine  if  people  coming to your house to kill you. The only thing
   you can do is to protect yourself and to protect us because our ethnic
   group  was  attacked. This is what Thomas Lubanga was doing to protect
   himself  and  to  protect  us.  Our ethnic group is Hema and the other
   ethnic  group  is lendu. For long time Hema and Lendu were manipulated
   to kill each other. By whom, we donāt know,ā Dzbo said.

   Lubanga  is also being accused of being driven by a desire to maintain
   his control over Congoās eastern Ituri region, one of the worldās most
   lucrative gold-mining regions.

   Dzbo  said  the  allegations are untrue because Lubanga and his family
   remain poor.

   āI can ask you something, please, send people to Bunia and try to know
   if Thomas Lubanga has anything. Why is he poor? Why his family is poor
   if he was controlling all gold stuff?ā Dzbo said

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