afrol News, 6 July - Officials of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) expressed shock and dismay over the government’s comments to bring them before justice to answer charges of relating to war and crimes against humanity.

There is international arrest warrant looming over four officials of the LRA, the Northern Ugandan rebel group that had been at loggerheads with the Ugandan government for over two decades.

The LRA, through the head of the delegation at the Juba talks, Martin Ojul, said: it is disappointing news. The responsibility for the violence concerns both said Ojul.

Commenting on the proposed war crimes court, the Ugandan Interior Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, said since government soldiers accused of human rights violations have been subjected to internal military justice, they would not therefore be tried by the proposed war crimes court.

Minister Rugunda said penalties for the various committed crimes would be established in due course.

But LRA officials would not lay the Minister’s comments to lay idle. A top official of the rebel administration, Martin Ojul, expressed disappointment over the government’s intended moves.

“This is a disappointing news to us because both of should bear the responsibility for the violence,” he said, damning the government over the issue.

The Interior Minister’s comments would no doubt be a big blow to the fragile relations between the government and the LRA.

It followed an agreement the government had reached with the rebels concerning the understanding to establish the responsibility for the crimes perpetrated during the 20 year conflict. The agreement should also pave the way for reconciliation, among others.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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