Kony does not deserve amnesty
Apr 16, 2006
Government has tabled before Parliament a Bill seeking to amend the Amnesty Act in order to exclude the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) leader, Joseph Kony and his top commanders from being eligible for pardon.
Government has tabled before Parliament a Bill seeking to amend the Amnesty Act in order to exclude the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) leader, Joseph Kony and his top commanders from being eligible for pardon.
Government argues that Kony and his top commanders, who are the authors of the prolonged northern insurgency, have persistently snubbed offers for dialogue. Government also argues that Kony and his top commanders are blocking their subordinates from surrendering. Government, therefore, wants Kony and the LRA top commanders excluded from being eligible for amnesty. But a section of MPs, however, oppose the amendment. The MPs argue that the amendment could lead to escalation of the conflict in northern Uganda.
While their fears are understandable, MPs shouldn’t oppose the Bill. A clear message must be sent to Kony that he is a criminal who, no matter how long it takes, will be brought to justice. Rejecting the Bill would send the wrong message.
Last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic Ongwen and Raska Lukwiya after they were indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Kony was indicted for 33 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Otti was indicted for 32 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. It is Uganda, which referred Kony’s case to the ICC. It should not backtrack. The amendment to the Amnesty Act is in harmony with the ICC indictment against Kony.
Over the years, Kony has snubbed all government’s offers for dialogue. Even after he was indicted by the ICC for war crimes, Kony has remained unrepentant. Lately the LRA has been perpetrating atrocities in southern Sudan against the civilian population. A group of LRA recently killed a number of UN peace keepers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Government argues that Kony and his top commanders, who are the authors of the prolonged northern insurgency, have persistently snubbed offers for dialogue. Government also argues that Kony and his top commanders are blocking their subordinates from surrendering. Government, therefore, wants Kony and the LRA top commanders excluded from being eligible for amnesty. But a section of MPs, however, oppose the amendment. The MPs argue that the amendment could lead to escalation of the conflict in northern Uganda.
While their fears are understandable, MPs shouldn’t oppose the Bill. A clear message must be sent to Kony that he is a criminal who, no matter how long it takes, will be brought to justice. Rejecting the Bill would send the wrong message.
Last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic Ongwen and Raska Lukwiya after they were indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Kony was indicted for 33 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Otti was indicted for 32 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. It is Uganda, which referred Kony’s case to the ICC. It should not backtrack. The amendment to the Amnesty Act is in harmony with the ICC indictment against Kony.
Over the years, Kony has snubbed all government’s offers for dialogue. Even after he was indicted by the ICC for war crimes, Kony has remained unrepentant. Lately the LRA has been perpetrating atrocities in southern Sudan against the civilian population. A group of LRA recently killed a number of UN peace keepers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ends