2008 International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition, Memorial Of Iium

THE 5TH INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAWinformed did nothing to prevent them encourages
MOOT COURT COMPETITIONthe crimes to be committed by appreciating the spirit
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSSof the youth.
KUALA LUMPUR, SATURDAY, 13TH – 14TH2. GB IS LIABLE FOR INCITING THE COMMISSION
DECEMBER 2008OF GENOCIDE UNDER ARTICLE 25 (3) (E)
THE CASE CONCERNINGGB is liable for inciting genocide even if the actual
PROSECUTORv.genocide did not materialize . Remarks made by GB
GENERAL BUTCHERandfulfilled the elements required for liability.a) The
MAJOR GENERAL MARSHALLincitement was made publicly and directly
Leading Counsel : Mahyuddin bin Daud Junior Counsel :The incitement must be communicated to individuals
Marshila binti Mohtarin a public place and specifically urging another to take
INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIAspecific immediate criminal action. His manifesto urging
(IIUM)the commission of genocide was publicly distributed
THE APPLICANT’S BRIEFto all his cadres of 12 member central committees
(All articles are herein referred to the Rome Statuteand 1500 members of SNA. His message was filled
of International Criminal Court unless otherwisewith hatred and rage directing the Delphons to
stated)eliminate all links with Rumons ethnic.b) The direct and
TEAM 505Apublic incitement was intentional
STATEMENT OF FACTSGB knew that he was acting publicly and intended to
Suburbia and Megrisland are neighboring countries thatdo so as the manifesto was distributed to all
thrives on common oil resources which has beenDelphons.c) The incitement was made with intent to
gradually depleting. This strained their geopolitical ties.destroy a protected group in whole or in part
Suvidesh is a province in Suburbia dominated by theThe intent to provoke another to commit genocide
Delphons whilst the Rumons are the minority. Themeans the perpetrator and the incited persons have
Delphons were treated unfairly by Suburbianthe intention to commit genocide. GB’s intent
government causing them to feel discriminated.could be derived from the manifesto that he wanted
Consequently, Suvidesh Nationalist Alliance (SNA) wasto destroy an ethic group, the Rumons. The
established by Mr. Butcher to liberate Suvidesh fromDelphons subsequently killed more than 1000 Rumons,
the grasp of the Rumons.indicating their genocidal intent.
Styling himself as General Butcher, military trainingThus, GB had committed incitement to genocide.
was imparted to SNA members consisting of youths.3. GB IS LIABLE FOR ENLISTMENT OF CHILDREN
He provoked the Delphons to eliminate all links theyUNDER ARTICLE 8 (2) (e) (vii)
had with the Rumons and addressed them asGB is responsible for enlisting children under 15 years
enemies. Shortly, it was reported that Delphonold by using them to participate actively in hostilities .
youths killed as many men as they could catch andThe elements required are fulfilleda) The perpetrator
attacked unarmed women and children.enlisted one or more persons to participate in
The liberation was later supported by Megrisland ashostilities
one armed battalion was sent to help the SNA. LedGB had instructed military training and guerrilla warfare
by Major General Marshall, Megrisland forces attackedtechniques to a number of youth who joined SNA
a 14th century Shrine and oil fields. Large numbers ofand is responsible for youths under SNY as he
people were killed since the attack caused fire toacknowledged their acts .b) Such youths were under
spread to nearby villages.15 years old.
Sensing grave threat to international peace andGB is liable for enlisting persons under the age of 15.c)
security, UN Security Council issued resolutionThe perpetrator has the knowledge of the
directing the parties to stop the hostility. As ayouth’s age
measure to preserve justice, the Prosecutor of ICCGB should have known that the youngsters were
hereby indicted General Butcher and Major Generalunder 15 years old as he denied the existence of the
Marshall.youth wing to deny responsibilities.
PLEADINGS AND AUTHORITIES4. MAJOR GENERAL MARSHALL (MGM) IS
THE CONFLICT IN SUVIDESH BEFORE 1STINDIVIDUALLY LIABLE FOR CRIME OF ATTACKING
FEBRUARY 2007 CONSTITUTES AN INTERNALPROTECTED OBJECT AND VIOLATED THE ROME
ARMED CONFLICT AND NOT MERE DISTURBANCESSTATUTE AND ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL 1 TO THE
Internal armed conflict occurs when there is aGENEVA CONVENTION 1949.a) The internal armed
protracted armed violence between governmentalconflict in Suvidesh was internationalized after 1st
authorities and organised armed groups within aFebruary 2007
State. The situation in Suvidesh amounts to anAn internal armed conflict may become
internal armed conflict as the two elements to proveinternationalized when a conflicting party to the
the existence of a protracted armed violence isinternal armed conflict acts on behalf of another
established.a) The conflict in Suburbia was intense andState. Megrisland had endorsed SNA’s unlawful
not merely isolated sporadic acts of violence.acts by sending a battalion under MGM to assist
Intensity can be proven from circumstantial evidencethem. This amounts to involvement in the conflict.
and involvement of the United Nations’ SecurityThenceforth, it became an internationalized armed
Council (UNSC). GB imparted military and guerrillaconflict.b) MGM directed an unlawful attack at the
warfare training to the SNA members who wereGopada Shrine which is a protected object
responsible for the insurgency operations shortlyAn attack was made by MGM’s troops causing
after. The intensity of the conflict came to its climaxforty percent damage to the front side of the
when the Delphon youths killed as many as 500Gopada Shrine . Gopada Shrine is a protected civilian
Rumon men, women and children in Suvideshobject and cannot be attacked. Attack may only be
pursuant to GB’s manifesto. Furthermore, thedirected against military objectives and not civilian
conflict was intense enough to involve the UNSC.b)objects. As a consequence, MGM had a duty to
The SNA was an organised military group and not adifferentiate between civilian objects and military
random group of riotersobjects which he failed.c) MGM intended the Gopada
A group is organised if they have significant territorialShrine to be attacked
control. As the SNA had conducted military trainingsThe mens rea required to incur liability is intention .
and meetings at several places, it is clear that theyMGM had a duty to cancel the attack but he clearly
possess a significant territorial control over Suvidesh.intended to attack the Shrine as it was a hideout for
INDICTMENTSthe Suburbian forces.d) The attack on the Gopada
1. GENERAL BUTCHER (GB) IS LIABLE AS AShrine was not justified by military necessity
SUPERIOR FOR THE WAR CRIMES COMMITTED BYMilitary necessity must exist together with the
THE DELPHON YOUTHS UNDER ARTICLE 28 (A)principle of proportionality. An attack becomes
The Delphon youths committed war crimes ofunlawful and disproportionate if it causes excessive
murder and attacking civilians . GB as a superior todamage to civilian objects. There was excessive
the Delphon youths is subject to liability for their act.damage done to the Shrine as more then forty
GB is a military commander and fulfilled the elementspercent of the shrine was destroyed. It is not
to impose liability.a) There was a superior-subordinateproportionate compared to the main purpose of
relationship between GB and the Delphon youthsattacking the Suburbian forces.
Relationship can be proven through effective5. MAJOR GENERAL MARSHALL IS INDIVIDULLY
command and control . GB’s effective controlLIABLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
can be proven by his de facto and de jure authority .CAUSED BY THE FIRING TOWARDS THE OIL
He was officially appointed and regarded asFIELDS
SNA’s leader by the members. Furthermore, hisMGM is prohibited to launch an attack knowing that
leadership was immensely influential amongst SNAsuch attack will cause widespread, long-term and
members, prompting them to launch attacks againstsevere damage to natural environment which would
the Rumons. These facts prove his relationship andclearly be excessive and disproportionate in relation
effective control over the Delphon youths.b) GB hadto the concrete and direct overall military advantage
reasons to know about the crimes committed oranticipated. MGM fulfilled all elements to incur liabilitya)
about to be committed by themThe attack caused excessive widespread, long-term
Prior to the attack on 7th January 2007, leaflets andand severe damage to the natural environment.
posters with caricatures portraying a group of peopleExcessive means disregarding the safety of the
with swords and axes chasing other group consistingcivilian population. MGM had the knowledge that the
of women and children were distributed. Thisoil wells were located near a village but ignored them
information was available to GB when the mediaand continued attacking which caused excessive
asked him about the leaflets and posters. At thisdamage . UNEP and environmental experts’
instant, GB had a duty to make additionalreports showed that the fire would leave a severe
investigation about the commission of the crimes.damage for a long term in the area of both
Failure to investigate cannot render a defense for GBcountries.b) MGM knew that his act would cause such
to deny his knowledge . However, he failed toeffect
further investigate but instead encouraged the crimesMGM had a duty to make value judgment that the
to be committed. Thus, GB had reasons to know ofdamage would be excessive based on the requisite
the information about the crime committed or aboutinformation available to him at that time. MGM
to be committed by the Delphon youths.c) GB failedknowing the oil wells’ locations had the requisite
to prevent and punish the Delphon youthsinformation to judge that his attack would cause
GB had effective command and control proving thatsevere damage.
he had the material ability to prevent and punish the*The original document has references &
commission of the crimes . However, GB after beingfootnotes.