International Criminals Not Safe In Samoa

Written by Pio Sioa
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Seminar while in session on top of the DPS 6th floor conference room. Samoa is the last place in the South Pacific region any international criminal should seek refuge, if s/he is on the wanted listed of the International Criminal Court, ICC. Samoa is a signatory to the Rome Statute and is the only country in the region to have passed a domestic legislation to accede fully to the world body of justice. It is therefore obligated to bound up the runaway international fugative and send her/him off to the court. The information was an eye opener to the local community following a 2-day regional seminar, where legal minds from neighbouring island countries, delved deeper into the pros and cons of becoming members of the ICC. Samoa has already benefited from its membership, with the appointment of former Attorney General Tuiloma Neroni Slade a Judge of the Bench, not to mention a good standing for the country in the pursuit of justice. The legal academia from member countries like Australia and New Zealand with a few others from Europe, helped to explain important issues to regional participants, who will in turn have to convince their respective Government’s to join, Samoa is one of 108 countries who are now full members of the ICC, and the highlight of its membership so far is the 3 year appointment of Tuiloma onto the bench. First Pacific Islander to sit on the ICC Bench, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, with members of the seminar. ‘I was the presiding judge of the pre-trial chamber,” Tuiloma recalled during his mandatory 3 years on the bench from 2003-2006. He also recalled as the highlight of his tenure on the bench the situation in Uganda where children were kidnapped and turned into soldiers by warring factions. “The ICC deals with very serious crimes committed against humanity, where genocide is involved and other criminal activities in times of war,” Tuiloma explained. :Judges of the ICC are elected, and it is one of the aspects that made the appointed for Tuiloma a proud one for himself and Samoa as well. “Samoa shared in the belief and the values of justice for humanity, respect of law and security and those are qualities that has won us a good standing in the world community.” Tuilima did admit that the process Samoa took to become the first full member of the ICC in the region is a difficult one legally. “The process is a difficult one because the information is very technical, but Samoa has been through it and have left the door open for others in the region to follow.” The seminar on the 6th storey conference room of the Samoa Development Bank has the financial backing of the International Committee of the Red Cross, that works very closely with the ICC. Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment

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