ICC urges arrest of LRA commanders, Iteso leader calls for forgiveness and compensation

The International Criminal Court (ICC) yesterday reiterated the court’s position that LRA commanders indicted in 2005 be arrested and put to trial. Deputy prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said, “It is time to marginalise, isolate and arrest individuals sought by the court. The international community must not support them.” Bensouda also said that it would be a mistake to withdraw the arrest warrants because of the ongoing Juba peace talks between the LRA and Ugandan government. Read more at The New Vision.

However, many members of Ugandan civil society, as well as the LRA and Ugandan government, continue to argue that domestic justice and reconciliation processes can be a viable alternative to trying indicted leaders at the ICC. A LRA delegation is currently touring northern Uganda to consult with war-affected communities on how to best pursue justice and reconciliation. Earlier this week a cultural leader from the Teso region of northern Uganda told the LRA delegation that, “The most important element in the Teso traditional justice is compensation of the aggrieved parties because it acts as a binding factor and deterrent tool against such a crime.” He also said that the people of Teso were willing to forgive LRA leaders if children abducted from their communities and forced to fight for the LRA were released. Read more at The New Vision.

Recent studies have shown that peace, return to home communities, viable livelihoods and education are the overwhelming priorities of northern Ugandans, and that many fear that ICC rigidity may be hurting chances to secure a peace deal. Also, a majority of northern Ugandans view truth-telling, compensation, a written historical record of wrongdoings and accountability of all parties guilty of crimes during the conflict as the most important elements of transitional justice.