LRA accept responsibility for war crimes

Jun 23, 2007

LRA rebels have accepted responsibility for atrocities committed against the people of northern Uganda during more than 20 years of bloody insurgency.

By Vision Reporter

LRA rebels have accepted responsibility for atrocities committed against the people of northern Uganda during more than 20 years of bloody insurgency.

In papers presented to the mediator and the Government delegation at the talks in Juba on Thursday, the rebels said they were waiting for the Government’s response to determine their next move.

The Government plans to ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) to drop the charges against the rebel commanders for war crimes and crimes against humanity once a peace agreement is signed and an alternative justice system agreed.

The talks, which have been on and off since last year, have been debating how both sides should account for their role in the conflict and how to reconcile. Senior Sudanese and Ugandan clergy praying in Juba last week, called on Ugandans to forgive the rebels as a means to lasting peace.

The technical adviser of the rebels on ICC matters, David Matsanga, said yesterday Ugandans and the peace talks process would decide the punishment for the rebels, who are accused of brutal and savage acts such as cutting off the limbs of their victims, rape, murder and sexual slavery. “There is a general consensus in Uganda that the ICC’s is more of a retributive justice than a restorative justice. We want the justice that will give us long-lasting peace so that our people don’t hear of any rebellion and war again,” he explained.

Speaking on the US-based Voice of America, Africa programme, Matsanga explained that the papers outline the rebels’ views on how the ICC should proceed and suggests alternatives to the indictments.

He criticised the way the ICC has handled the case, and regretted that it had singled out the rebels for punishment.

“One side has been indicted. We are able to account on our side. But what about the UPDF (Ugandan People’s Defence Force) that has failed to account for the role that it played in the northern Uganda conflict?” Matsanga asked.

“There is no way that one side can be taken and the other side is left,” he noted.

He argued that while the ICC must start from somewhere, it should start “from the top, instead of starting from the bottom.”

Matsanga argued that it was the responsibility of the Government to resolve the issue of the ICC.

“They are the people who referred this matter (to the ICC), and at the same time, they are the people who have suggested an alternative mechanism of justice. So the ball is in the hands of the government of President Museveni to take this matter and show us a framework.”

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