Annan Hails International Criminal Court's Arrest Warrants For Five Ugandan Rebels
New York, Oct 14 2005
Issuing its first-ever arrest warrants, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has targeted five Ugandan rebel leaders
on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity – a move welcomed today by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi
Annan.
The unsealed warrants should "send a powerful signal around the world that those responsible for such crimes will be
held accountable for their actions," Mr. Annan, who was in Spain, said through his spokesman.
Since the ICC only intendedto prosecute those Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) senior leaders alleged to bear the greatest responsibility for the most
serious crimes, the Secretary-General urged "all eligible LRA combatants to take advantage of existing disarmament and
reintegration programmes."
"He is mindful that many of those associated with the LRA were abducted as children and are therefore victims
themselves, in need of assistance," the spokesman said.
Unsealing the warrants yesterday, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II said: "The Chamber concluded that "there are reasonable
grounds to believe" that Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic Ongwen and Raska Lukwiya "ordered the
commission of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court."
In his statement, the Secretary-General also condemned the on-going violence in northern Uganda and called on all concerned to "cease
all acts of violence against the civilian population."
"He hopes that people of northern Uganda will soon be able to enjoy peace and a return to normalcy after 19 years of
turmoil and despair," the spokesman said. "He supports all efforts to reach a peaceful resolution of the conflict."
Mr. Annan also called on all States, especially those in the region, to cooperate with the ICC by such actions as acting
expeditiously to execute arrest warrants against the suspects, while taking seriously their responsibility to protect
civilians, particularly women and children.
He urged the international community to continue to help provide humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the
northern Ugandan conflict.
ENDS