World Court Probes Kony

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands, has started gathering evidence of atrocities committed by LRA rebels for a possible indictment of rebel leader Joseph Kony.

In what appears to be the first heavy step by the international community, the ICC is seeking documentary evidence on the 18-year long insurgency in northern Uganda.

“It would be very interesting for our office to view this material, and use it in our presentation, because this situation (Kony war) is a concern for the prosecutor,” said Wanda E. Hall, ICC Prosecutor’s outreach adviser.

In an e-mail on Friday, Hall said the court wanted photographic and video images of Kony’s atrocities, taken by journalists or anybody else.

“The prosecutor is hoping to establish a community around the world, of people like you, who are interested in documenting and bringing to attention crimes that must be brought to justice,” she said.

In Kampala, Attorney General Francis Ayume said yesterday he was not aware of the ICC’s actions but said it would be appropriate if the international court took up the matter.

“It’s within the domain of the ICC prosecutor that he initiates and follows certain procedures in order to have Kony prosecuted,” Ayume said.

He said Kony, who has waged a hit-and-run guerrilla war in northern Uganda, should be tried in the world court. He said there was enough evidence to indict him.

“Somebody who massacres and maims people, who abducts people and cuts their lips. I think those tantamount to crimes against humanity,” Ayume said.

Unlike the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which is an affiliate of the United Nations, the ICC is an independent international organisation.

President Yoweri Museveni has warned of issuing an international arrest warrant for Kony and his deputies if they fail to take the amnesty.

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