This is the best assurance I have ever heard from Europe. Kony must and I know
will, be arrested. Kaguta will do a Taylor on him, too - no doubt.
Belgium wants LRA chief Kony arrested
Publication date: Wednesday, 26th September, 2007
Premier Verhofstadt
By Felix Osike
and Henry Mukasa
BELGIUM has called for the arrest and prosecution of the leaders of the Lord’s
Resistance Army (LRA). Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt told the UN
Security Council on Tuesday that Kony should be arrested and made “an example
to all criminals that the exploitation of children in armed conflicts will not
be tolerated”.
He said Kony was responsible for 70,000 of the 300,000 child soldiers in
Africa.
“The offenders themselves must be put on trial. An international warrant has
been issued for his (Kony’s) arrest and his whereabouts are known. He has
spread terror in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Southern
Sudan,” he stated.
The leaders of the 15 member states also heard from Verhofstadt that each of
the child soldiers, including a former LRA abductee whom he had adopted, had a
personal horror story to tell.
“The 14-year-old girl was forced to kill her own uncle and was then given as a
present to a commander who raped her. In escaping, she had to shoot one of the
guards and was shot herself. In the hospital, it was discovered that she was
pregnant. That story is just one of many, and each is a stain on the soul of
humanity,” he said.
The current “naming and shaming” policy was not enough, the Belgian Prime
Minister noted. He proposed that an arms embargo be imposed on all countries
that use child soldiers, and that all humanitarian assistance should be
suspended.
The summit on Peace and Security in Africa was chaired by French President
Nicolas Sarkozy. Echoing Verhofstadt’s remarks, Sarkozy said African countries
must be categorical about respecting human rights, the rule of law and the need
to bring criminals to justice. “In Africa, as elsewhere, murderers should be
caught and punished,” he said.
Darfur was a prime focus of the discussion, with most speakers stressing the
importance of a timely deployment of the AU-UN peacekeeping force.
___________________________
Peter-Rhaina Gwokto
Remember: "LRA leader Joseph Kony is named in 12 counts for crimes against
humanity and 21 counts for war crimes. His deputy, Otti, is named in 11 counts
for crimes against humanity and 21 counts for war crimes. Alleged crimes
include rape, murder, enslavement, sexual enslavement and forced enlisting of
children". ICC must not withdraw its indictments.
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