DP's Mao wants captured Kony commander pardoned

May 16, 2012

The Democratic Party has asked govt to grant amnesty to the captured LRA strongman, Caesar Acellam

By Jeff Andrew Lule         

THE Democratic Party (DP) has asked government to grant amnesty to the captured senior commander of the brutal Lord's Resistant Army (LRA), Caesar Acellam Otto.

Addressing journalists at the party's weekly press briefing at the party headquarters in Kampala on Tuesday, the party boss, Norbert Mao said amnesty will attract more senior rebels to surrender.

"This is a great success no matter how this man was captured. If government accepts to grant amnesty to Acellam, I am sure more rebels will abandon Kony knowing they are safe when they give in," he noted.

But Mao also noted that failure to pardon Acellam will push rebels into more rebellion.

He stressed that government needs to give amnesty to Acellam and others who might surrender as long as they respect the conditions like other former rebels who were pardoned.

The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) captured Acellam last Saturday during their routine operations against Kony rebels in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Mao said many fighters in the LRA were forced to join the group at very a tender age by Kony .

"We need to create an atmosphere to attract them from the bush. I know many will surrender if their security is assured.

“There is no reason why they should be tried in courts like the foreign forces are suggesting when they give in willfully. What we want is peace in this country," Mao said.

Subjecting Acellam to the International Criminal Court (ICC) of justice for trial will only derail UPDF's efforts to wipe out Kony rebels, the DP leader explained.

He said UPDF and other regional forces need to advance their operations to capture Kony to bring peace.

Mao said ending or capturing Kony will be good for democracy and development of the country.

"Government has been spending a lot of money on this war. I am sure if Kony is captured, the group will automatically perish. This will easily bring about development and accountability since more funds will be injected in other development programs," he added.

Mao disclosed that he also met with the Atrocities Prevention Board at the White House in United States last week and briefed them about how Kony rebels operate if they were to support UPDF in the hunt.

"These people in the Western world think that Kony is a small issue which can be solved within two or three days. They need to know why the UPDF and other forces have still failed to capture him over the years," he said.

Mao also called on government to consider injecting more funds in the health, agriculture, education and infrastructure in the coming budget.

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