By Frank Nyakairu
Aug 16, 2004
KAMPALA -The army has asked the Internatioanal Criminal Court (ICC) to have those suspected of war crimes in the northern war to be tried by Ugandan courts.
The ICC is investigating allegations of war crimes in the Lord Resistance Army's (LRA) 17-year rebellion.
Our position is if they come across any allegations against government officials, they should let them be tried by the government,said the Army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza in an interview last week.
This follows calls by rights bodiess that the ICC should investigate and prosecute both sides in the conflict. We are not asking the ICC to carry out a partial investigation but prosecution in a different jurisdictional matter,Bantariza said. The ICC investigations kicked off last month.
The Ugandan parliament ratified the ICC treaty on June 14, 2002. Through its referral, the Ugandan government commits to cooperate with the ICC to investigate crimes, provide evidence, arrest and surrender persons sought by the court, and protect witnesses and victims.
Such cooperation must extend to investigation by the prosecutor into UPDF crimes. According to the defense ministry officials the investigations target five LRA leaders including Joseph Kony.
The LRA has fought President Yoweri Museveni government since 1988. The rebel group has gained infamy for alleged brutal killings abductions and turning children into soldiers and girls into sex slave.
© 2004 The
Monitor Publications
Ochan OtimNB: I hope you will find time to read and sign a petition to stop the Northern Uganda carnage at: http://www.petitiononline.com/savacoli/petition.html
