SUPPLEMENT TO JUSTICE AND PEACE NEWS
APRIL 2005.
ACHOLI
LEADERS VISIT INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
Here is the official statement
released at The Hague on 18 March2005 (from the ICC website).
On 16-18 March 2005, leaders of the
Acholi community of northern Uganda visited the International Criminal Court
in The Hague, the Netherlands, at the invitation of Chief Prosecutor Luis
Moreno Ocampo who heard their views on the situation in northern Uganda.
The delegation was led by Rwot David
Onen Acana II, and included Archbishop John Baptist Odama, Bishop
Onono-Onweng, Jane Akwero Odwong (MP Kitgum), Col. Walter Ochora and Hon.
Jacob Oulanyah (MP Omoro county).
The delegation held talks with
Prosecutor Moreno Ocampo and other Court officials.
The following are statements by the
Acholi delegation and by Prosecutor Moreno Ocampo.
Statement by the Acholi leaders
Having been invited by the Chief
Prosecutor, our mission to The Hague was to explain the concerns of our
people about the ICC investigation currently going on in northern Uganda. We
have held very successful meetings with him and now we have understood his
position, mandates, independence and also the limitations he has in what he
can do and what he has no control over.
Arising from these meetings, the
Prosecutor was asked to address the following:
-
That he is mindful of our
traditional justice and reconciliation process,
-
That he is also mindful of the
peace process and dialogue, that is why he is continually assessing the
situation.
-
That whoever has already benefited
from amnesty will not be investigated or prosecuted by the ICC.
Statement by the ICC Chief Prosecutor
I invited the Acholi leaders in order
to hear their views about the situation in northern Uganda.
Under the Rome Statute, the Prosecutor
has the responsibility to investigate and prosecute serious international
crimes, taking into account the interest of victims and justice.
I am mindful of traditional justice
and reconciliation processes and sensitive to the leaders’ efforts to
promote dialogue between different actors in order to achieve peace.
The Prosecutor has a clear policyto
focus on those who bear the greatest responsibility for the atrocities
committed. I also recognize the vital role to be played by national and
local leaders to achieve peace, justice and reconciliation.
We agreed on the importance of
continuing this dialogue in pursuit of the common goal of ending violence.
ARCHBISHOP ODAMA LEADS ONE THOUSAND
GULU NIGHT COMMUTING CHILDREN IN EASTER PARTY
More than one thousand children from
twelve different night commuters’ centres in Gulu had a joyful party on
Easter Monday, 28th March.
The feast, held at St. Monica
Tailoring School was organised by Gulu Caritas Counselling Centre, with the
support of Caritas Uganda and ARCHRO, a UK-based charity.
It began with an open-air Mass led by
archbishop John Baptist Odama, who remained with the chidren for the whole
celebration. Everybody was served lunch, and after some speeches and
enternaiments –including moving testimonies by some children- renowned
singer Bosmic Otim coloured up the party with his songs, which made the kids
dance until late evening.
Organisers commented that it was only
fair to give the children, who have been commuting for years from their
villages looking for safety in town at night, an occasion to enjoy and have
a good time during Easter. As sister Margaret Aceng, director of the
counselling centre, put it: “in all celebrations children are always the
most punctual guests, only to be pushed away when the big people come. Today
they are the guests of honour”.
The approximately one thousand
children who thronged the big compount are only a small fraction of the
regular night commuters in Gulu town. According to a local council source,
at present there are at least 10,000 children who continue to leave their
villages to spend the night in the different centres. Many others also
commute at night in Kitgum and Pader towns.
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EASTER
MESSAGE 2005 OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF GULU, JOHN BAPTIST ODAMA
Dear brothers and
sisters,
The Peace of the
Risen Lord be with you always!
Victory was the
message of the Risen Lord to His disciples on Easter Sunday. Victory over
suffering, death and sin!
I am addressing
you during this Easter Season. In recent weeks once again our defenceless
people have become the victims of murderous attacks in which a number of
persons have been killed, injured, mutilated or abducted. Violence is
escalating and, what is worse, hopes for peace, which had been very high
during the last months of 2004 and the beginning of 2005, are running low.
It seems to have
become a pattern that efforts for a lasting peace in our region do not bring
sustainable results and after brief periods of hope we are quickly thrown
into desperation and violence.
During these days
of Easter we are living in an intense way our Christian hope, which tells us
that the Lord Jesus Christ defeated death and brought us to new life. In a
practical way, this should mean in our lives that we never despair and give
up whenever we struggle for peace, human rights and dignity.
Therefore:
·
I
commend all those who have been involved in this latest peace effort from
all sides: the mediation team –particular Ms. Betty Bigombe-, the Government
of Uganda, the LRA, the Acholi civil society and the international
community. Every time that you perform this noble work you are doing God’s
work and He will always support your endeavours.
·
In
the name of God, I shout aloud, VIOLENCE AND KILLINGS MUST STOP. Human life
and dignity must be respected. The lives of the civilians, of the soldiers
and of the LRA are all lives of the children of God. They need to be
protected and respected, because each of these lives is dear to God. The
people of God deserve a better future. They have suffered enough and need to
go back home, leaving behind the intolerable misery of the displaced camps.
·
I
sound my strongest appeal to the LRA leadership to make all possible efforts
to go back to negotiating peaceful end to the war. Particularly, the cruel
maiming and killing of innocent people, especially women and children who
find suffering at your hands when going to look for food is a crime that God
rejects. I urge you to take dialogue as the only way forward to put an end
to this bloodshed which has lasted already for almost 19 years. God’s people
deserve a future of peace. As Jesus came out of the tomb on the third day
and rose to a new life, our suffering people –in whom the Lord is truly
present- must be given a chance to come out of this dark tomb of death and
fear and rise to a new life worth of a human being.
·
I
would like, in a special way, to appeal to our brothers and sisters involved
in the work of public life to leave all political differences aside and be
united for this common goal of peace. Our country is experiencing a sad
descend into intolerance and violence which needs to be quickly corrected by
fostering a culture of dialogue, unity, love, peace forgiveness and harmony.
Be peaceful and tolerant to one another as you strive to work for peace in
your own constituencies. We should avoid politics of intrigue and
dishonesty.
·
Arbitrary arrests and detentions of suspects for long periods of time must
stop.
·
Corruption, which is eating the fibre of society, has to be overcome.
I assure all of
you that the Church shall continue to bless and be in solidarity with all
genuine efforts for peace in our country and that we shall never give up
being involved in this work.
Let us work
tirelessly to make God’s plan for humanity become a reality: “My people will
abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting
places” (Isaiah 23:18).
Happy Easter.
Alleluia!
Affectionately,
in the Risen Lord,
+ JOHN BAPTIST
ODAMA
ARCHBISHOP OF
GULU
Gulu, 25th
March, 2005.
