Sudan backs Kony amnesty
Jul 25, 2006
SUDAN has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to stay its warrant of arrest for the indicted leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in order to give the peace process a chance to succeed.
By Emmy Allio
SUDAN has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to stay its warrant of arrest for the indicted leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in order to give the peace process a chance to succeed.
The Sudanese ambassador, Hassan Gadkarim, yesterday said the ICC should be practical and “stay the warrant of arrest†against Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Dominic Ongwen, Odhiambo Okot and Raska Lukwiya.
President Yoweri Museveni granted limited amnesty ending September 12, to the indicted leaders to allow the peace process to go on. He said a full amnesty could be offered if a peace agreement is signed. But the indicted rebel commanders refused to travel to Juba for fear of their security.
Gadkarim said if a peace agreement is signed, Sudan and Uganda would work out how to resolve the legal issues involving the ICC.
“We should not allow these legal niceties of ICC to derail the peace process,†said the envoy, whose country has not yet ratified the Rome Statute.
Asked about Sudan’s role in the on-going peace process in Juba, Gadkarim said, “we are the ones who initiated the peace process.
We are hosting and mediating it. We are doing all this because we want security and peace in the entire Great Lakes region.â€
SUDAN has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to stay its warrant of arrest for the indicted leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in order to give the peace process a chance to succeed.
The Sudanese ambassador, Hassan Gadkarim, yesterday said the ICC should be practical and “stay the warrant of arrest†against Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Dominic Ongwen, Odhiambo Okot and Raska Lukwiya.
President Yoweri Museveni granted limited amnesty ending September 12, to the indicted leaders to allow the peace process to go on. He said a full amnesty could be offered if a peace agreement is signed. But the indicted rebel commanders refused to travel to Juba for fear of their security.
Gadkarim said if a peace agreement is signed, Sudan and Uganda would work out how to resolve the legal issues involving the ICC.
“We should not allow these legal niceties of ICC to derail the peace process,†said the envoy, whose country has not yet ratified the Rome Statute.
Asked about Sudan’s role in the on-going peace process in Juba, Gadkarim said, “we are the ones who initiated the peace process.
We are hosting and mediating it. We are doing all this because we want security and peace in the entire Great Lakes region.â€