Rights body raps govt on Kony’s amnesty
Jul 14, 2006
AN international human rights body has expressed concern over President Yoweri Museveni’s recent offer of blanket amnesty to LRA leader Joseph Kony, who is facing indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC),
AN international human rights body has expressed concern over President Yoweri Museveni’s recent offer of blanket amnesty to LRA leader Joseph Kony, who is facing indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC), reports Joyce Namutebi.
In a statement issued yesterday, co-chair of the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Human Rights Institute, Justice Richard Goldstone, said, “The ICC is not a political tool of the Ugandan Government. Uganda is party to the Rome Statute. It cannot unilaterally withdraw the warrants as it is under an international legal obligation to ensure that they are enforced.â€
Museveni offered amnesty to Kony “if he responds positively to the talks with government in Juba, southern Sudan and abandons terrorism.†Kony is one of five LRA leaders against whom the ICC issued arrest warrants in 2005 for allegedly committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Goldstone said to avoid a case going before the ICC, a state must demonstrate that it is genuinely able to investigate and prosecute these crimes.
In a statement issued yesterday, co-chair of the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Human Rights Institute, Justice Richard Goldstone, said, “The ICC is not a political tool of the Ugandan Government. Uganda is party to the Rome Statute. It cannot unilaterally withdraw the warrants as it is under an international legal obligation to ensure that they are enforced.â€
Museveni offered amnesty to Kony “if he responds positively to the talks with government in Juba, southern Sudan and abandons terrorism.†Kony is one of five LRA leaders against whom the ICC issued arrest warrants in 2005 for allegedly committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Goldstone said to avoid a case going before the ICC, a state must demonstrate that it is genuinely able to investigate and prosecute these crimes.