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Lord's Resistance Army commander faces 70 war crimes charges Lord's Resistance Army commander faces 70 war crimes charges
(35 minutes later)
Lord’s Resistance Army commander, Dominic Ongwen, was the “tip of the spear” of the group which sowed terror in northern Uganda, prosecutors told the international criminal court, as they unveiled 70 war crimes charges against him.Lord’s Resistance Army commander, Dominic Ongwen, was the “tip of the spear” of the group which sowed terror in northern Uganda, prosecutors told the international criminal court, as they unveiled 70 war crimes charges against him.
“For well over a decade until his arrest in January 2015, Dominic Ongwen was one of the most senior commanders in the LRA,” prosecutor Benjamin Gumpert told the court in The Hague on Thursday.“For well over a decade until his arrest in January 2015, Dominic Ongwen was one of the most senior commanders in the LRA,” prosecutor Benjamin Gumpert told the court in The Hague on Thursday.
Ongwen was the “tip of the spear”, Gumpert said of the brutal rebel movement led by fugitive chief Joseph Kony, who has evaded a years-long international search. Ongwen was a key figure in the brutal rebel movement led by fugitive chief Joseph Kony, who has evaded a years-long international search.
Related: Surrender of senior aide to Joseph Kony is major blow to Lord's Resistance ArmyRelated: Surrender of senior aide to Joseph Kony is major blow to Lord's Resistance Army
Images of bodies of LRA victims, burned-out huts and the abandoned corpses of children were shown on the opening day of a hearing during which prosecutors sought to convince ICC judges that the evidence was solid enough to put him in the dock. The judges will then have to determine whether Ongwen should stand trial. Images of LRA victims, burned-out huts and the abandoned corpses of children were shown on the opening day of a hearing during which prosecutors sought to convince ICC judges that the evidence was solid enough to put him in the dock. The judges will then have to determine whether Ongwen should stand trial, while
Ten of the charges against Ongwen were kept secret for “security reasons”. 10 of the charges against Ongwen were kept secret for “security reasons”.
Prosecutors allege that from 2002 to 2005, Ongwen bears significant responsibility for terrifying attacks in northern Uganda when civilians were treated by the rebel group as the enemy. “This was not just a civil war between people in uniform,” Gumpert said. “The LRA attacked ordinary Ugandan citizens who wanted no more than to live their lives.”Prosecutors allege that from 2002 to 2005, Ongwen bears significant responsibility for terrifying attacks in northern Uganda when civilians were treated by the rebel group as the enemy. “This was not just a civil war between people in uniform,” Gumpert said. “The LRA attacked ordinary Ugandan citizens who wanted no more than to live their lives.”
In a brief address to the court, Ongwen said reading out the charges was “a waste of time”.In a brief address to the court, Ongwen said reading out the charges was “a waste of time”.
Gumpert showed a video of bodies in a grave, saying the court would also see other evidence of the ferocity of the attacks by the LRA. Ongwen, who is about 40 years old, ordered attacks and killings of civilians and the abduction and enslavement of children to be rebel soldiers, Gumpert said.Gumpert showed a video of bodies in a grave, saying the court would also see other evidence of the ferocity of the attacks by the LRA. Ongwen, who is about 40 years old, ordered attacks and killings of civilians and the abduction and enslavement of children to be rebel soldiers, Gumpert said.
Witnesses said Ongwen ordered his hostages “at least on one occasion to kill, cook and eat civilians”. Prosecutors also played recorded intercepts of LRA radio communications, which they said would help judges step into the mind of Ongwen and other LRA commanders.Witnesses said Ongwen ordered his hostages “at least on one occasion to kill, cook and eat civilians”. Prosecutors also played recorded intercepts of LRA radio communications, which they said would help judges step into the mind of Ongwen and other LRA commanders.
A former child-soldier-turned-warlord, Ongwen was Kony’s one-time deputy. A child-soldier-turned-warlord, Ongwen was Kony’s one-time deputy.
The LRA is accused of slaughtering more than 100,000 people and abducting 60,000 children in its bloody rebellion against Kampala that began in 1986. The prosecution is focusing on four attacks on camps housing people forced to flee from the LRA. More than 130 people – many of them children and babies – died in these attacks and dozens of others were abducted, prosecutors said.The LRA is accused of slaughtering more than 100,000 people and abducting 60,000 children in its bloody rebellion against Kampala that began in 1986. The prosecution is focusing on four attacks on camps housing people forced to flee from the LRA. More than 130 people – many of them children and babies – died in these attacks and dozens of others were abducted, prosecutors said.
Related: My husband the warlord: an extract from the memoir of Joseph Kony's wifeRelated: My husband the warlord: an extract from the memoir of Joseph Kony's wife
The LRA first emerged in northern Uganda in 1986, where it claimed to fight in the name of the Acholi ethnic group against the government of Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni. But over the years it has moved freely across porous regional borders, shifting from Uganda to southern Sudan before heading into the Democratic Republic of Congo, before crossing into Central African Republic in March 2008. The LRA first emerged in northern Uganda in 1986, where it claimed to fight in the name of the Acholi ethnic group against the government of Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni. Over the years it has moved freely across porous regional borders, shifting from Uganda to southern Sudan before heading into the Democratic Republic of Congo, before crossing into Central African Republic in March 2008.
Combining religious mysticism with guerrilla tactics and ruthlessness, Kony has turned scores of young girls into his personal sex slaves while claiming to be fighting to impose the Bible’s Ten Commandments.Combining religious mysticism with guerrilla tactics and ruthlessness, Kony has turned scores of young girls into his personal sex slaves while claiming to be fighting to impose the Bible’s Ten Commandments.
Born in 1975, Ongwen was transferred to The Hague a year ago shortly after he unexpectedly surrendered to US special forces operating in CAR. Experts believe Ongwen fled after falling out with Kony and almost being killed.Born in 1975, Ongwen was transferred to The Hague a year ago shortly after he unexpectedly surrendered to US special forces operating in CAR. Experts believe Ongwen fled after falling out with Kony and almost being killed.
But rights groups say Ongwen was himself initially a victim – abducted at 14 by the LRA as he was walking to school – which may prove a mitigating factor in sentencing if he is found guilty at trial. “The tragedy of this case is the fact that Dominic Ongwen was a perpetrator but also a victim,” Gumpert said. “But this is no reason to expect that crimes can be committed with impunity.” But rights groups say Ongwen was himself initially a victim – abducted at 14 by the LRA as he was walking to school – which may prove a mitigating factor in sentencing if he is found guilty at trial.
“The tragedy of this case is the fact that Dominic Ongwen was a perpetrator but also a victim,” Gumpert said. “But this is no reason to expect that crimes can be committed with impunity.”