IN THE NEWS: The ICC Prosecutor Met With Senior Leaders From Northern Uganda

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) Chief Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, recently met with senior leaders from Acholi, Lango, Iteso, and Madi communities to discuss the ICC's investigation of atrocities committed in Uganda.

The ICC has occasionally been criticized for insensitivity to local Ugandan concern that its investigation and indictment of key rebel leaders would undermine peace efforts. The ICC invited leaders from the affected communities to the Hague so they could express their concerns about the ICC process and learn more about how the ICC operates. After several meetings over 3 days, the ICC Prosecutor and the Ugandans released a joint statement saying they had "agreed to work together as part of a common effort to achieve justice and reconciliation" in Uganda. Privately, the Ugandan community leaders indicated that they were "satisfied" with the outcome of the talks.

The Prosecutor further demonstrated his sensitivity to local concerns by saying he would consider suspending prosecutions against the Lord’s Resistance Army if the prosecutions were not "serving the interests of justice." However, he stressed that while prosecutions could be suspended if they were interfering with the peace process, they could not be closed: "Timing is possible but immunity is not possible."

Updated April 25, 2005