LRA call for suspension of ICC arrest warrants
Apr 19, 2007
NAIROBI, Thursday, The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels demanded a 12-month suspension of international Criminal court (ICC) arrest warrants against its top leaders, which are seen as the main hurdle to a deal ending the war.
NAIROBI, Thursday, The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels demanded a 12-month suspension of international Criminal court (ICC) arrest warrants against its top leaders, which are seen as the main hurdle to a deal ending the war.
The rebels have insisted that ICC indictments for war crimes against its leader, Joseph Kony, and three others be scrapped in favour of traditional justice.
But Kampala, which asked the global human rights court to investigate the LRA, has repeatedly said a peace deal should be signed before it considers asking the ICC to drop the case.
Despite the stand-off, both sides agreed on Saturday to a new two-month truce and a resumption of talks to end the two-decade conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people and forced nearly two million more into squalid camps.
LRA representative James Obita said the LRA hoped a request for the suspension of the arrest warrants would be made after a range of issues, including reconciliation and the fate of displaced Ugandans, were resolved.
He said the LRA had asked former Mozambique president Joaquim Chissano, the UN envoy in the peace efforts, to speak to the Security Council on its behalf.
“We want the government of Uganda through Chissano to go to the Security Council and say surely we have now reached a point of no return,†Obita told a news conference.
“We’re saying at the very minimum, suspend the warrants for 12 months so that we can complete the process and have the comprehensive peace agreement signed,†he added.
The LRA still hopes the charges against its leaders will be rescinded completely, but the ICC has repeatedly refused to withdraw the indictments in what is seen as a test case for the Hague-based court.
The LRA is known for massacring civilians, slicing the noses and lips off their victims and kidnapping thousands of children.
The traditional ‘Mato Oput’ justice it advocates involves a ritual in which a murderer faces relatives of the victim and admits his crime before both drink a bitter brew made from a tree root mixed with sheep’s blood.
The rebels have insisted that ICC indictments for war crimes against its leader, Joseph Kony, and three others be scrapped in favour of traditional justice.
But Kampala, which asked the global human rights court to investigate the LRA, has repeatedly said a peace deal should be signed before it considers asking the ICC to drop the case.
Despite the stand-off, both sides agreed on Saturday to a new two-month truce and a resumption of talks to end the two-decade conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people and forced nearly two million more into squalid camps.
LRA representative James Obita said the LRA hoped a request for the suspension of the arrest warrants would be made after a range of issues, including reconciliation and the fate of displaced Ugandans, were resolved.
He said the LRA had asked former Mozambique president Joaquim Chissano, the UN envoy in the peace efforts, to speak to the Security Council on its behalf.
“We want the government of Uganda through Chissano to go to the Security Council and say surely we have now reached a point of no return,†Obita told a news conference.
“We’re saying at the very minimum, suspend the warrants for 12 months so that we can complete the process and have the comprehensive peace agreement signed,†he added.
The LRA still hopes the charges against its leaders will be rescinded completely, but the ICC has repeatedly refused to withdraw the indictments in what is seen as a test case for the Hague-based court.
The LRA is known for massacring civilians, slicing the noses and lips off their victims and kidnapping thousands of children.
The traditional ‘Mato Oput’ justice it advocates involves a ritual in which a murderer faces relatives of the victim and admits his crime before both drink a bitter brew made from a tree root mixed with sheep’s blood.