America declares Kony global terrorist
Aug 30, 2008
THE United States government has slapped new sanctions on LRA leader, Joseph Kony, as patience wears thin over the slow pace of the peace talks and the possible signing of a peace agreement.
By Henry Mukasa
THE United States government has slapped new sanctions on LRA leader, Joseph Kony, as patience wears thin over the slow pace of the peace talks and the possible signing of a peace agreement.
In a brief statement on Thursday, the US Treasury Department added Kony to its list of “specially designated global terrorists,†which carries financial and other penalties.
It is unclear whether the elusive rebel leader, who has fought a bloody two- decade rebellion and is currently holed up in the dense Garamba Forest in the DR Congo, has any assets that might be affected by the order.
The LRA is already considered a terrorist group by the US, but there had been no sanctions applied to Kony. His brutal rebellion has devastated the North. The LRA is accused of atrocities that include rape of children, abduction and conscription of child soldiers, massacre, deadly raids or villages, amputation of civilians and torching of huts.
Kony and his commanders, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen, were were indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity and arrest warrants were issued against them in 2005.
Since July 2006, the LRA and the government have been engaged in peace talks in Juba, brokered by the Government of South Sudan. Internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda is the government’s chief negotiator, while the LRA team has led by Martin Ojul, Dr Alfred Obita and David Nyekorach Matsanga.
Kony refused to sign a peace agreement on April 10, leaving dignitaries, observers and journalists stranded at Nabanga in South Sudan.
He claimed he needed further clarification on the traditional justice and the special division of the High Court that was agreed on to try his fighters.
“What has been done by the US is what is expected. The only way that Joseph Kony can extricate himself from that type of high level ranking of a terrorist is for him to disarm and submit himself to the jurisdiction of the High Court of Uganda for purposes of accountability and to provide a basis to lasting peace and reconciliation,†Rugunda commented.
He said although money to the LRA has not been transmitted through official channels, a message has been sent to his backers in the diaspora. “Ranking him highly is also a warning by the international community to those who have been abetting Kony’s activities to stop their support,†Rugunda added.
The ICC chief prosecutor, Maurice Ocampo, has accused the LRA of using the peace talks to recruit and regain strength for renewed conflict. The ICC has, therefore, dismissed calls for it to suspend indictments for the rebel leaders during the peace talks.
Kony also refused to assemble his fighters at Ri-kwangba on the Sudan-DRC border as demanded by the cessation of hostilities agreement signed on August 28, 2008.
Fearing arrest because of the ICC warrants of arrest, Kony has never come out in the open but meets selected guests including Acholi leaders, at his base.
THE United States government has slapped new sanctions on LRA leader, Joseph Kony, as patience wears thin over the slow pace of the peace talks and the possible signing of a peace agreement.
In a brief statement on Thursday, the US Treasury Department added Kony to its list of “specially designated global terrorists,†which carries financial and other penalties.
It is unclear whether the elusive rebel leader, who has fought a bloody two- decade rebellion and is currently holed up in the dense Garamba Forest in the DR Congo, has any assets that might be affected by the order.
The LRA is already considered a terrorist group by the US, but there had been no sanctions applied to Kony. His brutal rebellion has devastated the North. The LRA is accused of atrocities that include rape of children, abduction and conscription of child soldiers, massacre, deadly raids or villages, amputation of civilians and torching of huts.
Kony and his commanders, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen, were were indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity and arrest warrants were issued against them in 2005.
Since July 2006, the LRA and the government have been engaged in peace talks in Juba, brokered by the Government of South Sudan. Internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda is the government’s chief negotiator, while the LRA team has led by Martin Ojul, Dr Alfred Obita and David Nyekorach Matsanga.
Kony refused to sign a peace agreement on April 10, leaving dignitaries, observers and journalists stranded at Nabanga in South Sudan.
He claimed he needed further clarification on the traditional justice and the special division of the High Court that was agreed on to try his fighters.
“What has been done by the US is what is expected. The only way that Joseph Kony can extricate himself from that type of high level ranking of a terrorist is for him to disarm and submit himself to the jurisdiction of the High Court of Uganda for purposes of accountability and to provide a basis to lasting peace and reconciliation,†Rugunda commented.
He said although money to the LRA has not been transmitted through official channels, a message has been sent to his backers in the diaspora. “Ranking him highly is also a warning by the international community to those who have been abetting Kony’s activities to stop their support,†Rugunda added.
The ICC chief prosecutor, Maurice Ocampo, has accused the LRA of using the peace talks to recruit and regain strength for renewed conflict. The ICC has, therefore, dismissed calls for it to suspend indictments for the rebel leaders during the peace talks.
Kony also refused to assemble his fighters at Ri-kwangba on the Sudan-DRC border as demanded by the cessation of hostilities agreement signed on August 28, 2008.
Fearing arrest because of the ICC warrants of arrest, Kony has never come out in the open but meets selected guests including Acholi leaders, at his base.