ICC says LRA leaders must be arrested

Sept 26, 2006 (THE HAGUE) — The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor said on Tuesday leaders of Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army must be arrested to stop them from committing more crimes, despite calls for an amnesty to allow for peace talks.

Last week, deputy LRA leader Vincent Otti said lifting the ICC war crimes indictments against himself and other top LRA leaders was a pre-condition to a full peace deal.

The LRA launched one of the world’s most vicious insurrections from northern Uganda 20 years ago, killing civilians and often slicing off victims’ lips and noses.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said war crimes could not go unpunished.

“If we do not execute the arrest warrants, the crimes can start again,” Moreno said at a public hearing with non-governmental organizations.

The NGOs backed the ICC’s efforts to arrest and prosecute those responsible for war crimes.

“It is critically important that the ICC gets convictions under its belt,” said Nicholas Grono of the International Crisis Group,” If it is continuously trumped by peace processes it will never have a deterrent effect.”

Amnesty International’s senior legal adviser, Christopher Keith Hall, said it was extremely disturbing that the LRA leaders had not yet been arrested and that the ICC needed more policing power.

“We urge the prosecution to press the United Nations and other international government organizations to establish law enforcement teams,” he said.

On September 15, the ICC ordered an urgent report into Uganda’s efforts to arrest and hand over LRA leaders, stressing that the arrest of LRA leader Joseph Kony and his deputies was vital for their effective prosecution and the prevention of further crimes.

(Reuters)