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06.01.2009
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| |  | | Peter Van Niekerk | | | context : | DRC  | | judgement place : | Democratic Republic of the Congo | | status : | Acquitted | | particulars : | Cleared of war crimes charges by a military court in Lubumbashi on 28 June 2007 | | position : | Director of Security for Anvil Mining |
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| | | | Peter Van Niekerk is a South African citizen and was in charge of security with Anvil Mining for its copper and silver mine in Dikulushi, Kilwas at the time of the allegations.
On 14 October 2004, the town of Kilwa, situated in the mineral rich province of Katanga, came under the control of the Revolutionary Movement for the Liberation of Katanga. On 15 October, the town was retaken by the 62nd Brigade of the FARDC led by Colonel Adémar Ilunga. During this operation, the FADRC were held to be responsible for serious violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law against persons and their property (by looting, summary executions, arbitrary arrest and detention, extortion…). The Colonel and his men are said to have summarily executed at least 25 civilians, and to have indulged in rape, torture and looting throughout the town. In a report drawn up in October 2004, but published one year later, the MONUC (United Nations Mission to Congo) described how more than 100 persons were killed during this attack. The objective, according to the report, was to “dislodge an insurrection movement which was badly organised and poorly armed and which had occupied the locality of Kilwa in the early hours of 14 October 2004”.
Peter Van Niekerk, together with two other colleagues (see “related cases”), has been accused of complicity in war crimes for having willingly omitted to withdraw the vehicles at the disposition of the 62nd brigade of the FARDC during the counter-offensive to retake the town of Kilwa, and for having thereby facilitated knowingly the commission of war crimes by Colonel Adémar Ilunga (see “related cases”) and his men. Anvil Mining reacted publicly to this accusation by declaring that the “allegations against Anvil Mining and the above mentioned individuals are entirely without foundation and not worthy of consideration”.
Peter Van Niekerk was the only one of the three Anvil employees indicted to appear on one occasion before the Lubumbashi Military High Court. | |     click for more... | |  |  | | last time seen : | | | Lumumbashi, DRC | | | period of charges : | | | 14.10.2004 - 18.10.2004 | | | judgement period : | | | 12.12.2006 | | | charges : | | | War crimes | | | profile last modified : | | | 01.10.2007 |
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