Kony must be arrested â€" ICC
The International criminal Court (ICC) expects Uganda to meet its obligation to arrest the Lord’s Resistance Army leader, Joseph Kony. <br>
By Vision Reporter
The International criminal Court (ICC) expects Uganda to meet its obligation to arrest the Lord’s Resistance Army leader, Joseph Kony.
Kony is wanted by the court for war crimes, but on Wednesday, President Yoweri Museveni offered him a peace deal.
Museveni said Kony had up to the end of July to end the war and his safety would be guaranteed.
But the ICC says the government referred the case to the court and must honour its commitment, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said yesterday.
The LRA has abducted thousands of children and forced them to fight since the conflict in the north began two decades ago.
“It’s the government of Uganda that referred the situation to the ICC in December 2003. They are now under obligation and made a commitment,†the court’s spokesperson, Sandra Khadouri, told the BBC’s Network Africa programme.
A statement from State House said during a meeting with British overseas development minister Hilary Benn, Museveni said Kony had until the end of July to end the war peacefully.
“If he got serious about a peaceful settlement, the government would guarantee his safety,†the statement added.
But Khadouri said the charges against Kony and four other LRA commanders were “serious international crimesâ€.
These included “murders, abductions, mass burning of houses, looting of entire villages, massive destruction, enslavement and inducement of rape,†she said.
The UN says 25,000 children have been abducted by the LRA since the rebellion began, to be used as sex slaves or to fight against the army.
“The governments of Uganda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are under a legal obligation to cooperate with the ICC,†Khadouri said.
The BBC’s Will Ross in Kampala says Sudanese government officials have recently met the rebel leaders, including Kony.
Some people will ask why Kony was not arrested, Ross says.
Past attempts to negotiate an end to the war have failed, with both the government and the rebels being accused of lacking commitment to peace talks.
The LRA has been weakened by a military offensive, but in recent months, the rebels have spread across southern Sudan and into the DR Congo.
Meanwhile, some displaced Ugandans are returning home, but sporadic attacks in northern Uganda continue to keep some 1.5 million people in squalid camps.
Ends
The International criminal Court (ICC) expects Uganda to meet its obligation to arrest the Lord’s Resistance Army leader, Joseph Kony.
Kony is wanted by the court for war crimes, but on Wednesday, President Yoweri Museveni offered him a peace deal.
Museveni said Kony had up to the end of July to end the war and his safety would be guaranteed.
But the ICC says the government referred the case to the court and must honour its commitment, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said yesterday.
The LRA has abducted thousands of children and forced them to fight since the conflict in the north began two decades ago.
“It’s the government of Uganda that referred the situation to the ICC in December 2003. They are now under obligation and made a commitment,†the court’s spokesperson, Sandra Khadouri, told the BBC’s Network Africa programme.
A statement from State House said during a meeting with British overseas development minister Hilary Benn, Museveni said Kony had until the end of July to end the war peacefully.
“If he got serious about a peaceful settlement, the government would guarantee his safety,†the statement added.
But Khadouri said the charges against Kony and four other LRA commanders were “serious international crimesâ€.
These included “murders, abductions, mass burning of houses, looting of entire villages, massive destruction, enslavement and inducement of rape,†she said.
The UN says 25,000 children have been abducted by the LRA since the rebellion began, to be used as sex slaves or to fight against the army.
“The governments of Uganda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are under a legal obligation to cooperate with the ICC,†Khadouri said.
The BBC’s Will Ross in Kampala says Sudanese government officials have recently met the rebel leaders, including Kony.
Some people will ask why Kony was not arrested, Ross says.
Past attempts to negotiate an end to the war have failed, with both the government and the rebels being accused of lacking commitment to peace talks.
The LRA has been weakened by a military offensive, but in recent months, the rebels have spread across southern Sudan and into the DR Congo.
Meanwhile, some displaced Ugandans are returning home, but sporadic attacks in northern Uganda continue to keep some 1.5 million people in squalid camps.
Ends