Ex-soldier says children fought in Congo militia (Lubanga ICC trial)

[struggle4progress]

Source: Associated Press

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- ... The witness was testifying in the war crimes trial of Thomas Lubanga at the International Criminal Court. Lubanga has pleaded not guilty to recruiting and using child soldiers under age 15 in 2002-2003 ...

The witness said he joined Lubanga's militia in 2002 after senior officers threatened to torch his village unless the young people joined up. He said children were among the group that went with them to a training camp ...

The witness said he taught Lubanga's recruits to fire AK47 rifles and the basics of fighting. Underage children often were assigned to officers as armed "bodyguards or escorts," the witness said.

Later, he said he saw child soldiers fight and die in several battles ...



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