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The
Hague, 6 October 2008
ICC-OTP-20081006-PR359-ENG
SItuation:
Uganda
Case: The Prosecutor v. Joseph Kony, Vincent
Otti, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen
In the light of serious and
converging information on attacks by the LRA against civilians
in the DRC, ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo calls for renewed
efforts to arrest LRA leader Kony and his top commanders.
Reports indicate that on 17
September 2008 the Lord’s Resistance Army (“LRA”) attacked
Congolese villages in the Haut Uelé District of the DRC (Dungu
Territory). These attacks all follow a similar method with
markets surrounded and looted, students abducted from school,
properties burned and dozens of civilians killed,
including several local chiefs. Tens of thousands have now been
displaced.
The Prosecution collected
information indicating that at the end of 2007, Kony issued
orders to abduct 1,000 persons to expand the ranks of the LRA.
Kony is now implementing his plan. In 2005, the ICC issued
arrest warrants against the top LRA commanders Joseph Kony, Okot
Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen. Kony-just as he has many times in
the past--uses the peace talks to gain time and support, to
rearm and attack again. The price paid today by civilians is
high. The criminals remain at large and continue to commit
crimes and they are threatening the entire region. Arrest is
long overdue.
The OTP again urges all
actors, including regional and international organizations, to
support and work together with the DRC and Uganda in the
planning and execution of the arrests. The OTP thanks all those
which have complied with OTP requests to cut off financial and
other support to the indicted criminals |
