The trial of former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre has resumed. A lawyer for the victims says the leader had, quote, the power of life and death over his people. Lawyer Yare Fall was detailing the accounts of the victims he represents. And said no one could do anything to stop the President. Habre is on trial in a special court set up in Senegal. He’s so far refused to recognise the proceedings.
When the trial first opened he was a disruptive presence at court and had to be removed. It’s estimated that over 40 thousands people were executed and more than 200 thousand tortured during his regime. Habre denies all the claims.
“For the civil parties Hissene Habre is the instigator of the crimes which were committed, he even participated in some of these crimes himself, and if he wasn’t the instigator then he carries some responsibility as a superior who did nothing to stop these crimes being committed by his subordinates.” Reed Brody,
counsel for Human Rights Watch
“The defence intends to plead not guilty, of course, convinced of the innocence of president Habr in these crimes, war crimes and crimes of torture. We have always thought that the accusation which has the burden of proving the allegations has absolutely not shown this evidence throughout the trial.” Mounir Balal,
court-appointed lawyer for Hiss ne Habr
