LRA amnesty still stands
Apr 01, 2005
THE Amnesty to Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) fighters remains in place in spite of the Government’s insistence on prosecution of the rebel leaders at the Hague.
By Emmanuel Mulondo
THE Amnesty to Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) fighters remains in place in spite of the Government’s insistence on prosecution of the rebel leaders at the Hague.
Commissioner Thomas Kisembo said on Thursday the Amnesty Commission was ready to pardon any rebels who came out and renounced rebellion.
“We are ready to receive them and grant them amnesty when they come,†Kisembo said. He was responding to queries on whether the Government’s recent position on prosecution of LRA for war crimes meant that pardon was no longer in place.
The International Criminal Court in the Hague issued a warrant of arrest for LRA leader Joseph Kony (right) and his henchmen last year but Acholi opinion leaders recently visited the court and appealed to its prosecutor to drop the charges and give dialogue a chance.
The Government insisted that the prosecution should go on. “The Government wants these people prosecuted and I think that is the appropriate position,†Grace Akello, the minister in-charge of the north, said.
But Kisembo said amnesty for those who renounce rebellion remained in place and it was backed by law. “Our work was extended for six months,†he said.
Ends
THE Amnesty to Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) fighters remains in place in spite of the Government’s insistence on prosecution of the rebel leaders at the Hague.
Commissioner Thomas Kisembo said on Thursday the Amnesty Commission was ready to pardon any rebels who came out and renounced rebellion.
“We are ready to receive them and grant them amnesty when they come,†Kisembo said. He was responding to queries on whether the Government’s recent position on prosecution of LRA for war crimes meant that pardon was no longer in place.
The International Criminal Court in the Hague issued a warrant of arrest for LRA leader Joseph Kony (right) and his henchmen last year but Acholi opinion leaders recently visited the court and appealed to its prosecutor to drop the charges and give dialogue a chance.
The Government insisted that the prosecution should go on. “The Government wants these people prosecuted and I think that is the appropriate position,†Grace Akello, the minister in-charge of the north, said.
But Kisembo said amnesty for those who renounce rebellion remained in place and it was backed by law. “Our work was extended for six months,†he said.
Ends