January 8, 2015 | New York/The Hague
PGA, a global parliamentary network dedicated to promote human rights and the fight against impunity for international crimes that shock the conscience of humankind, earnestly applauds the arrest of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) ‘commander' by US forces in CAR, Dominic Ongwen, a senior commander in the rebel movement, LRA, and deputy commander to LRA chief, Joseph Kony.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Mr Ongwen in 2005 for he is allegedly criminally responsible for seven counts on the basis of his individual criminal responsibility including three counts of crimes against humanity (murder, enslavement, inhumane acts of inflicting serious bodily injury and suffering) and, four counts of war crimes (murder; cruel treatment of civilians; intentionally directing an attack against a civilian population and pillaging).
This development brings hope that the pursuit of other ICC fugitives will be achieved and by so doing, it will bring justice and redress to the victims and will contribute to lasting peace. PGA members therefore call on the international community to make every effort possible to arrest all individuals remaining at large so that they may be brought to justice.
The LRA continues to commit gross human rights violations in the territories of DRC and the CAR and while the absence of the LRA in the territory of Uganda has granted relative peace to Northern Uganda, due to the lack of accountability and truth-finding mechanisms, the conflict, more than two decades long, has not come to an end yet.
It is of outmost importance to remember the imperative need for perpetrators to be brought to justice – only by capturing suspects alive is this course of action possible. PGA members welcome this arrest and also encourage States, organizations and other relevant stakeholders to take all adequate and targeted actions to bring about the arrest and surrender to the International Criminal Court of any person wanted by it and present in their territories.
Statement by Hon. Marcel Djimassé, MP (CAR), Chair PGA CAR National Group: “This arrest not only represents a historic blow to the LRA's command structure, it also and most importantly, demonstrates that in spite of the numerous obstacles encountered for the arrest of those allegedly responsible for the most serious international crimes of international concern, fugitives will be caught, letting the course of justice take place by allowing judges render a decision on the guilt or innocence of the accused (there are no trials in absentia at the ICC). We hope that this will encourage other ICC fugitives to surrender in order to put an end to impunity for the atrocities that have been committed.”
Statement by Hon. Stephen Tashobya, MP (Uganda), Chair Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Chair PGA Uganda National Group: “The news of the surrender and arrest of Mr. Dominic Ongwen, a senior commander of the LRA, are welcomed by the PGA Uganda National Group, consisting of over 60 Members of Parliament. The ICC can have a deterrent effect in Africa, as we have witnessed in Northern Uganda after the issuance of the Arrest Warrants by the ICC in 2005. We are now looking forward to the trial of Mr. Ongwen, who deserves a fair trial in accordance with the law.
The arrest and surrender of this former LRA commander in the CAR demonstrate the international community's determination against impunity: We are working together with our brothers and sisters in Africa to guarantee that there shall be no safe havens for the alleged perpetrators of the most serious crimes. Accountability for international crimes continues to be crucial for durable and lasting peace not only in Uganda and the rest of Africa, but in the entire world.”
On 17 January 2015, Dominic Ongwen was transferred to the ICC's custody.