MILITARY JUSTICE,MILITARY JUSTICE, SECURITY SECTOR REFORM

& STATE BUILDING& STATE BUILDING

KCISSECURITY & GOVERNANCE:

d i f i l iFoundations for International Security23 June 2010

AIMS•Consider the case of the DR Congo (DRC)

AIMSConsider the case of the DR Congo (DRC)

•Consider the importance of SSR to state building•Consider the importance of military justice to SSRp y j

CAUTIONS

• A race …• Assumptions regarding human rightsAssumptions regarding human rights• Avoid cultural imperialism

V li i ≠ C i• Volition ≠ Capacity• Perils of impatience & myopia• Get out of jail free …

ASSUMPTIONS

• Who hates the military?• The Rule of Law, epiphanies & Cadillacs, p p• Security sector includes justice sector• Justice sector pillars - investigation /Justice sector pillars investigation /

prosecution / adjudication / corrections / defence

• Competition from ‘customary’ or ‘traditional’ justicej

CONGO 101

• GeographyGeography• Kleptocracy & Security Sector

Ci il• Civil war• Post conflict• Security Sector Reform

Kleptocracy & Security Sector

• ‘Kleptocracy’Kleptocracy• FAC unpaid

I id f f i li• Incidents of professionalism• Operationally ineffective• Predatory relationship with population

Civil War

• Civil war, IDPs, millions deadCivil war, IDPs, millions dead• FAC operationally ineffective & lacking

popular supportpopular support• Infrastructure, economy, professional

l h l i d i t dclass, schools, prisons decimated

Post-conflict – Peace Accords

• UN & Contact Group• Peace accords – transitional government, power

h i l i i isharing, elections, new constitution, DDR & ‘Brassage’ (integration of FWF)

• UN PSO MONUC• UN PSO – MONUC– MILOBS– Elections– Maneuver brigades– DDR / Training

Post Conflict - Problems• State institutions in shambles• State institutions in shambles• Hospitals, schools, courts, prisons, roads, power

generation, water purification …decimated• FARDC statutory mission

– defend DRC territorial integrity– protect its people & their property– protect its people & their property

• FARDC reality– Operationally ineffective against rebels / foreign forces– Predatory relationship with population– People afraid, not proud

• No Rule of Law• No Rule of Law

Security Sector Reform (SSR)

• SSR means professional & capable• Biometric pay system• Brassage• Skills training

– Armed forces - FARDC– Police – PNC / prosecutors (civilian & military)– Judiciary (civilian & military)Judiciary (civilian & military)– Correctional service (civilian & military)

• Accountability & reconciliationy

Accountability & ReconciliationAccountability & Reconciliation - Security Sector as Abuser

• Correlation – conflict & crimeCorrelation conflict & crime• Abuse as tactic

E h d i / l i i• Entrenched corruption / exploitation• Incapable of defending population / territory• Lacking popular support• Cycle of impunityCycle of impunity

The problem and the solution…

Accountability & ReconciliationAccountability & Reconciliation - Security Sector as Protector

• Peace Process - Brassage of FormerPeace Process Brassage of Former Warring Factions

• Capacity to defend population / territory• Capacity to defend population / territory• End cycle of impunity with military justice• Symbol of pride / unity

SSR - Military Justice (MJ)

• DRC military justice system– Broad jurisdiction (FARDC, PNC, offences committed j ( , ,

with armes de guerre)– Modern military penal & procedural codes

• MissionMission– Ensure respect for law; – Reinforce public order & discipline within the FARDC

Post-Conflict – MJ & SSR

• 3 areas of SSR dependent upon MJ3 areas of SSR dependent upon MJ– FARDC operational effectiveness

Peace accord mandated integration of FWF– Peace accord mandated integration of FWF– Reconciliation of FARDC & Congolese people

B ildi bl k f SSR• Building block for SSR…

Strengthen & reform MJ system –Strengthen & reform MJ system Current situation

• Underfunded, Frais de justice• Irregular, slow or non-existent investigation of complaints,

charging & pre-trial detention & delaycharging & pre trial detention & delay• Judgments without reasoning, unwritten & undistributed• MJ stakeholders without access to the law & subject to

interference by third partiesinterference by third parties• Imprisonment in civil prisons with civilians, women & children,

without food budget & military rehabilitation – escapes commonF ti l i it f l & OPLAW d i f• Functional immunity for generals & no OPLAW advice for commanders

• Personnel under-strength & untrained

Strengthen & reform MJ system –Strengthen & reform MJ system Friendly forces

• Usual suspects:– DRC MJ stakeholdersDRC MJ stakeholders– US / UK / NL / BE / CAN / EC– UN: MONUC UNDP etcUN: MONUC, UNDP etc.– NGOs: ICDAA, ASF etc.

Strengthen & reform MJ system –Strengthen & reform MJ system Tasks

• Education – sensitization - prosecution• Capacity building – training, equipment, buildings,

O&MO&M…• Investigations – crimes, not human rights violations• Evidence / elements of offences / collection / analysis• Charging / arrest / detention / prosecution• Conviction / sentencing / appeal• Effective meaningful imprisonment• Effective - meaningful imprisonment • Victims – access to justice / input / closure /

indemnification

ADVISE, MENTOR, OVERSEE

Strategies for Assisting

• Mid-long term domestic capacity building• Leverage indigenous HR & infrastructureg g• National scope• ‘Made in DRC’ solution• Aid funding for capital / equipment / training• MentoringMentoring• Planning

AIMS•Consider the case of the DR Congo (DRC)

AIMSConsider the case of the DR Congo (DRC)

•Consider the importance of SSR to state building•Consider the importance of military justice to SSRp y j

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?