By Sovereign Hager
Managing Editor, Impunity Watch

THE HAGUE, Netherlands-The trial of Charles Taylor for war crimes, is being moved from an International Criminal Court (ICC) courtroom to the venue of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). The move to the  STL, also located in The Hague, was due to “increasing scheduling difficulties with ICC trials,” according to a statement by the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

The arrangement places all costs on the Special Court, as Mr. Taylor’s trial is still  being conducted by thee Special Court. The trial was moved from Sierra Leone to the Netherlands in 2006 after fears that his presence was destabilizing to the region. He has been on trial since 2008 for crimes related to the ten year civil war in Sierra Leone.

The ICC, the word’s only independent, permanent tribunal for the crimes of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, has three trials running simultaneously. The STN was established by the UN in 2007 to try suspected killers of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

Bina Mansaray, Registrar of the Special Court said, “We appreciate the ICC’s cooperation and support for the use of their facilities over the past three years . . . the scheduling challenges are a sing of the ICC’s progress in implementing their own mandate. We wish them success in their work.”

For more information, please see:

AFP-Trial of Liberia’s Taylor Moved to New Court-14 May 2010

The Canadian Press-Charles Taylor’s War Crimes Trial Shifts Venue from One International Court to Another-16 May 2010

Sierra Express Media-Special Court, Taylor Trial Update-13 May 2010