Uganda wants LRA rebels court
2007-08-20 08:54
Kampala - The Ugandan government said on Sunday that it wanted to set up local war crimes courts for Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels after asking their alleged victims how they wanted trials of atrocities to be conducted.
The chief government peace negotiator, Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, said: "We have discussed this with legal experts... there is a possibility of forming a unique legal system to achieve lasting peace and accountability."
The government and rebels had been engaged in lengthy peace talks in neighbouring south Sudan aiming to end a brutal 20-year conflict that had killed tens of thousands and uprooted nearly two million in northern Uganda.
But, the rebels were wanted in the Hague-based International Criminal Court and had vowed never to sign a final peace deal unless Kampala could persuade the tribunal to drop the case - something analysts said was unlikely.
LRA 'might accept local courts'
Rugunda said the government would visit refugees in northern Uganda who bore the brunt of the conflict to ask them how they thought rebels should be tried in any alternative to the Hague.
Rugunda said: "We will be asking the affected communities how best we can deal with the issue of accountability ... which laws we need to change, processes the LRA must undergo."
The LRA, notorious for brutal attacks against civilians such as burning them to death and hacking their limbs off, said they might accept local courts, but warned the government not to make unilateral decisions.
Last month, the two sides signed an outline agreement meant to deal with war crimes committed during the conflict.
LRA spokesperson Godfrey Ayoo said: "It would be premature to say what position LRA is going to take before we have consulted. It is irresponsible of Uganda to talk about setting up court before we have entered any detailed agreement."
Govt, rebels 'should be held accountable'
Kampala did not accept the idea of putting its own soldiers accused of atrocities through the same courts, arguing that its own military courts could punish their wrongdoing, though the Ayoo said the LRA saw that as a breach of their agreement.
He said: "We agreed both parties have committed crimes, both parties will be held accountable. This has got no limit - it does not spare anyone at all, including the president (Yoweri Museveni) of Uganda."
This week, the United Nations human rights office published a report on the opinions of Uganda's war victims on justice.
It said: "The population ... believes that both the LRA and the government ... should be held accountable for the harms they have caused during the conflict."
Leaders from LRA leader Joseph Kony's Acholi tribe wanted the LRA to undergo a "Mato Oput" reconciliation ritual, where victims forgive a murderer after he admitted his crime. Rights groups rejected that.