Opening Statement

Your Honors, war is something that should never happen. War is gruesome and violent,
especially for people in the front lines. War puts people in inhumane and traumatic situations.
No one should ever have to experience the horrors of war, especially children. And children
should never have to participate in combat, it is wrong and immoral. When you put children into
war, especially for the intent of killing, it’s wrong to the children and their victims. Those who are
aware and or are willing to use children to fuel their army should be prosecuted.

Today, we are not here to discuss the unfortunate events that have transpired in Shansau, nor
are we here to discuss the fact that the PFLS used child soldiers in armed combat. Today your
honors, we are here to discuss whether or not the leader of the PFLS, Arthur Mabo, was
actively sending children to their deaths, or was aware and willing to let his subordinates commit
these heinous crimes. On this day we will the prove that Arthur Mabo is guilty of enlisting,
conscripting, and actively using child soldiers in armed combat.

We expect the defense to pin the blame on Arthur Mabos second in command, Charles Yitu, or
at least say that Arthur Mabo was unaware of his subordinates actions. They will say that
Mr.Yitu disobeyed Mr. Mabo’s orders. And they will also say that Mr. Mabo was focused on
strategic meetings and couldn't have known about his subordinates enlisting child soldiers for
combat . But we ask you ladies and gentlemen of the court, shouldn't a good leader know what
is happening in their own group? Shouldn’t they be responsible for the actions of their
subordinates? And even if he somehow didn’t know, he should have known, regardless of how
focused he was on other things, he should have known, as the leader it is his responsibility and
job to be in control of what is happening in the PFLS.

We also expect the defense to attempt to discredit our witnesses due to them not being present
at the same time as Mr. Mabo. This may be true for some of our witnesses, but others did testify
seeing him. And even though some never did meet Mr. Mabo, it does not mean that Mr. Mabo
did not witness child soldiers, it just means that they were not there at the same time he was.

We expect the defense to also attempt to discredit Anna Kabolo by saying she was given drugs
that can affect memory. While she may have been given drugs, she was not given drugs until
after her encounter with “the leader”.

● Finally we expect the defense to attempt to discredit Patrick Bateman and Alia Rutu for
not being directly involved with the case. While they may have never directly had an
encounter with Mr. Mabo, they did witness child soldiers.
As the prosecution we will prove that Arthur Mabo is guilty for the use of child soldiers. We will
prove him guilty under the Rome Statute. Anna Kobolo will prove command responsibility with
her encounter with “the leader”. Patrick Bateman will prove active use of child soldiers, he saw
children participating in armed combat. We expect Arthur Mabo to admit command
responsibility. We expect Thomas Gaba to prove command responsibility by testifying meeting
Arthur Mabo at a camp, at which he was enlisted to be a soldier at the age of 14, and he was
enlisted before he decided to start lying about his age. Alia Rutu will prove active use of child
soldiers and enlistment, she witnessed her eldest son being kidnapped, and her other son
Ismael was manipulated into being recruited at a camp due to desperation. And under
Command Responsibility, Arthur Mabo did know or should have known about the use of child
soldiers. Due to this we the prosecution are certain that Arthur Mabo is guilty.

How we’ll prove it:

Conscripting and Enlisting-
● Kidnapping of children and easily manipulated them
○ Raided villages and targeted children, rounded them up
● Children coming to the PFLS for “protection”
○ Children came for “protection” and food
○ What kind of protection are you giving the children when you are giving the
children arms to kill people?
Active Use-
● Seen on the front lines of active raids
○ Rutu and Bateman witnessed child soldiers on front lines and Anna Kabolo was
one of those children
● Gaba saw Mabo at the training camp
● Anna was almost killed by Mabo pointing a gun at her point blank
● Bateman was briefed on the child soldiers in Canada(eh), but Mabo doesn’t know about
child soldiers when he is the commander and chief of his army and in his own country?
Also how could he not know who his 2nd in command is recruiting?
What other side might try to prove-
● Mabo didn't know about child soldiers
● Charles Yitu is to blame
● Mabo thought the camps were for refugees
● He wasn’t seen on the front lines with the child soldiers
● He was at a meeting with other PFLS leaders
Steps to prove it- Witnesses
Kabolo
1. How did you become a soldier?
2. How old were you were first taken by the PFLS?
3. How old were you when you went on your first raid?
4. An incident happened when you were taken by the PFLS where you almost died what
happened, and how old were you?
5. Are there any similarities between this man (holds up picture) and the leader?

Mabo

Rutu
1. So you indeed did see child soldiers when your village was being attacked?
2. Can you please tell me what happened when your village was being attacked?
3. Who were taking your son and other children into the trucks? Were they adults or other
child soldiers?
4. Can you explain what happened on the day of the attack?

Gaba