Prosecuting Kony Won't Stop
the War, Govt Told
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
AS THE situation in northern Uganda deteriorated last week, with ethnic tensions between the Acholi and Langi resurfacing in the wake of the February 21 Barlonyo massacre, donor agencies and religious leaders appealed to government to once again seek peace talks with the Lords Resistance Army (LRA).
Said Reverend Canon Grace Kaiso, Executive Secretary of Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) which brings together the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox Churches : "The UJCC wishes to reiterate its long held view that the conflict in northern Uganda can only be resolved through dialogue. It is for this reason that we embraced the idea of having an amnesty law."
Save the Children, advised government and the International Court of Justice to drop the idea of prosecuting leaders of the rebellion as it is not good for reconciliation in the war-torn region.
The government and the ICJ have been gathering evidence to use to prosecute Kony.
Following the attack by the rebels, in which 200 people were massacred at Barlonyo camp in Ogur sub-county, Lira district, those against the prosecution have written to the European Union and other donors to try and persuade the ICJ to desist from prosecuting leaders of the rebellion. "We have written to the EU and government of Uganda, telling them that Kony should not be prosecuted when the war is still going on," said Oyat Geoffrey, Programme Manager, Save the Children in Uganda.
He said the prosecution of LRA leaders would put at risk the lives of some of the witnesses who are still in captivity.
Many local leaders in northern Uganda blamed LRA attack partly on the army's failure to provide enough security for the displaced people but also on the announcement of the planned prosecution of the rebel commanders.
"It was a terrible mistake, and innocent people are paying for it," said Francis Olobo, a trader in Lira town. The victims were hastily buried as authorities worked to avoid an epidemic. But bowing to pressure from relatives of the deceased, defence minister Amama Mbabazi announced the remains would be exhumed.
"We are going to exhume bodies and give them a decent burial as their relatives have demanded," explained army spokesperson Major Shaban Bantariza.
Bantariza, said the exercise would also help resolve the dispute over the death toll by establishing the actual number of the dead.
There have been contradictions on the actual number of people killed in the raid. The government says only 85 civilians were killed while people from the area say more than 200 people died in the attack, the worst in more than three years.
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