Dutch Court Prosecutes Former Congo Colonel for Torture

In January 2004, the Dutch began a criminal trial against Sebastien Nzapali, a colonel in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?s civil guard, under the country?s former leader Mobutu Sese Seko, for crimes against humanity during the civil war in the 1990s. In particular, the Dutch are prosecuting Mr. Nzapali, known as ?the king of the beasts,? with torture, rape and cruel treatment. The proceeding constitutes the first case of war crimes committed in another country to reach a Dutch national court. The Dutch see the trial as monumental. They hope to convey a message that The Netherlands will not serve as a refuge for war criminals. The Dutch Government established a special genocide and war crimes team five years ago, to find and prosecute suspects hiding in The Netherlands and try them under Dutch law...[more]