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LRA commander Dominic Ongwen goes on trial at ICC LRA commander Dominic Ongwen goes on trial at ICC
(about 1 hour later)
The trial of the first Lords Resistance Army commander to appear before the International Criminal Court is under way in The Hague. The first former child soldier to appear at the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges has told judges he was a victim too.
Dominic Ongwen is also the first child soldier to be tried by the ICC. Lords Resistance Army (LRA) commander Dominic Ongwen said the LRA was responsible and he had also suffered from the atrocities.
He faces 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Uganda, more charges than any other suspect. Ongwen was a boy when he was abducted by the notoriously ruthless rebel cult. He is now in his early 40s.
But the BBC's Anna Holligan says his past may present ethical and legal dilemmas, and his lawyers may use his traumatised youth to plea for leniency. He faces 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Uganda.
Dominic Ongwen was a boy when he was abducted and conscripted by the notoriously ruthless rebel cult. Mr Ongwen is accused of leading attacks on four camps for internally displaced people in northern Uganda, murdering and torturing civilians, and forcing women into marriage and children to take part in the fighting.
Our correspondent in The Hague says his story encapsulates many of the complexities of the conflict which has claimed more than 100,000 lives - he was a child groomed in the image of his oppressors. But he told the court the charges should be brought against the LRA and its leader Joseph Kony, not him.
"It is the LRA who abducted people in northern Uganda, killed people in northern Uganda and committed atrocities in northern Uganda. I'm one of the people against whom the LRA committed atrocities. It is not me who is the LRA," he said.
The BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague says Mr Ongwen's story encapsulates many of the complexities of the LRA conflict, which has claimed more than 100,000 lives, because he was a child groomed in the image of his oppressors.
Who is Dominic Ongwen?Who is Dominic Ongwen?
Dominic Ongwen - full profileDominic Ongwen - full profile
Mr Ongwen is accused of leading attacks on four camps for internally displaced people in northern Uganda, murdering and torturing civilians, and forcing women into marriage and children to take part in the fighting.
He was captured in the Central African Republic in January 2015, after being sought by US and African forces since 2011.He was captured in the Central African Republic in January 2015, after being sought by US and African forces since 2011.
He is said to be the deputy to LRA commander Joseph Kony, who is still on the run.He is said to be the deputy to LRA commander Joseph Kony, who is still on the run.
Uganda agreed that Mr Ongwen should be tried by the ICC despite being a fierce critic of the court.Uganda agreed that Mr Ongwen should be tried by the ICC despite being a fierce critic of the court.
Big screens have been set up in the Ugandan capital Kampala, where people are following the trial via video link.Big screens have been set up in the Ugandan capital Kampala, where people are following the trial via video link.
The LRA rebellion began more than two decades ago in northern Uganda and its estimated 200-500 fighters - many of them child soldiers - have since terrorised large swathes of central Africa.The LRA rebellion began more than two decades ago in northern Uganda and its estimated 200-500 fighters - many of them child soldiers - have since terrorised large swathes of central Africa.