The international criminal court and the lord's resistance army leaders: Prosecution or amnesty?

Netherlands International Law Review

Volumn 54, Issue 1, 2007, Pages 51-80

  Ssenyonjo, Manisuli ^a  

^a BRUNEL UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 77950905580     PISSN: 0165070X     EISSN: 17416191     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S0165070X07000514     Document Type: Article

References (165)

1. ICC-01/04 Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); ICC-02/04 Situation in Uganda; ICC-01/05 Situation in Central African Republic. See ICC, Situations and Cases, < www.icc-cpi.int/cases.html >.
2. ICC-02/05 Situation in Darfur, Sudan; SC Res. 1593 (2005), 31 March 2005, A/RES/1593 (2005).
3. O. Bekou and S. Shah, 'Realising the Potential of the International Criminal Court: The African Experience', 3 Human Rights L Rev. (2006) pp. 499-544.
4. See T. Allen, Trial Justice: The International Criminal Court and the Lord's Resistance Army (London, Zed Books 2006) ch. 2.
5. S. Farmar, 'Uganda Rebel Leader Breaks Silence', BBC News, 28 June 2006, < news.bbc.co.uk/ >.
6. M. Ojul, 'Latest Statement on Demands by the LRA Delegation', Daily Monitor, 25 October 2006.
7. See S. Nganda, 'Inside Kony Peace Talks', The Weekly Observer (Kampala, Observer Media Ltd.), 20 July 2006; J. Ochieno, 'NRA Sowed Seeds of the 20-year Old Rebellion in the North in 1986', Daily Monitor, 25 August 2006.
8. See F. Nyakairu, 'We are Fighting for 10 Commandments', Daily Monitor, 1 August 2006.
9. Ojul, supra n. 6.
10. See M. Ssenyonjo, 'Accountability of Non-State Actors in Uganda for War Crimes and Human Rights Violations: Between Amnesty and the International Criminal Court', 10 Journal of Conflict and Security Law (2005) pp. 405-434.
11. Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN), 'Sudan-Uganda: LRA Child Abductees Cry for Home', Nabanga, 31 July 2006, available at < www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=59792 >.
12. Anti-Terrorism Act 2002 (Act No. 14 of 2002), The Uganda Gazette No. 33, Vol. XCV, 7 June 2002.
13. US Department of State, 'Terrorist Exclusion List Designees', 5 December 2001, available at < www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2001/6695.htm >.
14. See '"Amnesty" for Uganda Rebel Chief', BBC News, 4 July 2006, available at < news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5147882.stm >.
15. The Prosecutor v. Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Raska Lukwiya, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen, Case ICC-02/04-01/05; P. Akhavan, 'The Lord's Resistance Army Case: Uganda's Submission of the First State Referral to the ICC', 99 AJIL (2005) pp. 403-421; see infra section 2.
16. See E. Allio, 'LRA Clash with DRC Forces', The New Vision, 29 August 2006.
17. See Submission of Information on the Status of the Execution of the Warrants of Arrest in The Situation in Uganda, ICC-02/04-01/05, 6 October 2006, hereinafter 'the Prosecutor's Submission'.
18. See infra section 3. The term amnesty has been defined as: 'A pardon extended by the government to a group or class of persons, usually for a political offence; the act of a sovereign power officially forgiving certain classes of persons who are subject to trial but have not yet been convicted.' See Black's Law Dictionary, 8th edn. (St. Paul, MN, Thomson 2004) p. 93.
19. See Vision Reporter, 'M7 Rejects Kony Hunt', The New Vision, 17 November 2006. See also n. 185 and accompanying text.
20. Infra n. 28. Art. 89(1) provides: 'The Court may transmit a request for the arrest and surrender of a person, together with the material supporting the request., to any State on the territory of which that person may be found and shall request the cooperation of that State in the arrest and surrender of such a person. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and the procedure under their national law, comply with requests for arrest and surrender.'
21. ICC Statute, Art. 63(1) states: 'The accused shall be present during the trial.'
22. ICC Press Release, 'Statement by the Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo', 12 July 2006, ICC-OTP-20060712-149-En; the Prosecutor's Submission, supra n. 18, at para. 27.
23. President Museveni stated: 'Those conversations [Juba talks] are to enable Kony not to go to the International Criminal Court.' See R. Muhumuza, 'Kony Rebels Refuse to Sign Peace Deal', Daily Monitor, 10 October 2006. Uganda's Prime Minister, Prof. Apollo Nsibambi stated: 'We need all the military, legal and political pressure because we have been fighting for 20 years.' See C. Musoke, 'LRA Need ICC, Army Pressure - Nsibambi', The New Vision, 1 December 2006.
24. Amnesty International (AI), 'Uganda: Amnesty International calls for an Effective Alternative to Impunity', AI Index: AFR 59/004/2006 (4 August 2006).
25. Pre-Trial Chamber II, Order to the Prosecutor for the Submission of Additional Information on the Status of the Execution of the Warrants of Arrest in the Situation in Uganda, No. ICC-02/04-01/05, 30 November 2006, para. 2.
26. Akhavan, supra n. 16.
27. - 37 ILM (1998) p. 999, 104 States Parties as of 1 January 2007.
28. See ICC Press Release, 'President of Uganda refers Situation concerning the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to the ICC', 29 January 2004, available at < www.icc-cpi.int/pressrelease-details&id=16.html >.
29. See ICC, Situations and Cases, available at < www.icc-cpi.int/cases.html >.
30. ICC Press Release, 'Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court opens an investigation into Northern Uganda', 29 July 2004, available at < www.icc-cpi.int/pressrelease-details&id=33&l=en.html >.
31. Human Rights Watch (HRW), 'Human Rights Overview: Uganda', January 2004, available at < hrw.org/english/docs/2004/01/21/uganda6981.htm >; HRW, Uprooted and Forgotten: Impunity and Human Rights Abuses in Northern Uganda, Vol. 17, No. 12(A) (September 2005) p. 37 noted: 'Very little transparency or accountability for UPDF or LRA abuses exists in Northern Uganda. Both perpetrate abuses of civilians in the North with almost complete impunity.'
32. L. Moreno-Ocampo, 'Keynote Address: Integrating the Work of the ICC into Local Justice Initiatives', 21 Am. Univ. Int'l L Rev. (2006) pp. 497-503 at p. 501.
33. K. Glassborow, 'Peace Versus Justice in Uganda', Africa Report No. 77, 27 September 2006, available at < iwpr.net/?p=acr&s=f&o=324160&apc
34. See International Crisis Group (ICG), 'Shock Therapy for Northern Uganda's Peace Process', Africa Briefing No. 23, 11 April 2005, and 'Peace in Northern Uganda: Decisive Weeks Ahead', Africa Briefing No. 22, 21 February 2005.
35. Major General Raska Lukwiya, the LRA's third senior-most commander, was killed by the UPDF on 12 August 2006. See Submission of Information Regarding Raska Lukwiya, ICC-02/04-01/05-97, 14 August 2006; C. Ochowun, 'Wanted LRA Leader Killed', Sunday Vision, 13 August 2006; the Prosecutor's Submission, supra n. 18, at para. 9.
36. See Decision on the Prosecutor's Application for Warrants of Arrest Under Article 58, ICC-02/04-01/05-1, 8 July 2005; Warrant of Arrest for Joseph Kony, ICC-02/04-01/05-2-USExp, 8 July 2005; Warrant Of Arrest For Vincent Otti, ICC-02/04-01/05-4-US-Exp, 8 July 2005; Warrant of Arrest for Raska Lukwiya, ICC-02/04-01/05-6-US-Exp, 8 July 2005; Warrant of Arrest for Okot Odhiambo, ICC-02/04-01/05-8-US-Exp, 8 July 2005; Warrant of Arrest for Dominic Ongwen, ICC-02/04-01/05-10-US-Exp, 8 July 2005. Also on 8 July 2005, the Chamber issued corresponding Requests for Arrest and Surrender addressed solely to Uganda. See ICC-02/04-01/05-12-US-Exp to ICC-02/04-01/05-16-US-Exp, 8 July 2005.
37. See Decision on the Prosecutor's Urgent Application Dated 26 September 2005, ICC-02/04-01/05-27, 27 September 2005 (hereinafter '27 September 2005 Decision'). For the Requests for Arrest and Surrender addressed to the DRC, see ICC-02/04-01/05-30-US-Exp to ICC-02/04-01/05-34-US-Exp, 27 September 2005. For the Requests for Arrest and Surrender addressed to Sudan, see ICC-02/04-01/05-35-US-Exp to ICC-02/04-01/05-39-US-Exp, 27 September 2005. The Warrant naming Joseph Kony and the Request for Arrest and Surrender naming Kony addressed to the Government of Uganda were amended, also on 27 September 2005, at the request of the OTP. See 27 September 2005 Decision, p. 5.
38. See Decision on the Prosecutor's Application for Unsealing of the Warrants of Arrest, ICC-02/04-01/05-52, 13 October 2005, pp. 7-8; ICC Press Release, 'Warrant of Arrest unsealed against five LRA Commanders', 14 October 2005, available at < www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/114.html >.
39. These warrants are available at < www.icc-cpi.int/cases/UGD.html >. The warrant of arrest for Joseph Kony lists thirty-three counts on the basis of his individual criminal responsibility (Arts. 25(3)(a) and 25(3)(b) of the ICC Statute) including twelve counts of crimes against humanity (murder - Art. 7(1)(a); enslavement - Art. 7(1)(c); sexual enslavement - Art. 7(1)(g); rape - Art. 7(1)(g); inhumane acts of inflicting serious bodily injury and suffering - Art. 7(1)(k)), and other counts of war crimes (murder - Art. 8(2)(c)(i); cruel treatment of civilians - Art. 8(2)(e)(i); intentionally directing an attack against a civilian population - Art. 8(2)(e)(i); pillaging - Art. 8(2)(e)(v); inducing rape - Art. 8(2)(e)(vi); forced enlisting of children - 8(2)(e)(vii)).
40. ICC Press Release, 'Interpol Issues First ICC Red Notices', 1 June 2006, available at < www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/151.html >. The notices can be viewed at the following links: Kony: < www.interpol.int/public/data/wanted/notices/data/2006/20/2006-26320.asp?HM=1 >; Otti: < www.interpol.int/public/data/wanted/notices/data/2006/17/2006-26317.asp?HM=1 >; Lukwiya: < www.interpol.int/public/data/wanted/notices/data/2006/15/2006-26315.asp?HM=1 >; Odhiambo: < www.interpol.int/public/data/wanted/notices/data/2006/18/2006-26318.asp?HM=1 >; Ongwen: < www.interpol.int/public/data/wanted/notices/data/2006/21/2006-26321.asp?HM=1 >.
41. ICG, 'A Strategy for Ending Northern Uganda's Crisis', Africa Briefing No. 35, 11 January 2006.
42. Pre-Trial Chamber II, Situation In Uganda: In the Case of the Prosecutor v. Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Raska Lukwtya, Dominic Ongwen, ICC-02/04-01/05, 15 September 2006; the Prosecutor's Submission, supra n. 18, at para. 9.
43. ICC Statute, Preamble, para. 11 and Art. 1.
44. M.C. Bassiouni, 'The ICC - Quo Vadis?', 4 Journal of International Criminal Justice (2006) pp. 421-427 at p. 422.
45. Under Art. 17(3): 'In order to determine inability in a particular case, the Court shall consider whether, due to a total or substantial collapse or unavailability of its national judicial system, the State is unable to obtain the accused or the necessary evidence and testimony or otherwise unable to carry out its proceedings.'
46. As noted by Prof. Kanyeihamba: 'Uganda Courts, have not only the jurisdiction, the power and courage to intervene in cases where the rights and freedoms of citizens are allegedly violated or the exercise of government powers challenged but have been prepared to grant appropriate remedies.' See G.W. Kanyeihamba, Kanyeihamba's Commentaries on Law, Politics and Governance (Kampala, Renaissance 2006) p. 55.
47. See also H. Moy, 'The International Criminal Court's Arrest Warrants and Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army: Renewing the Debate over Amnesty and Complementality', 19 Harv. Human Rights Journal (2006) pp. 267-273 at p. 273; A. Slaughter and W. Burke-White, 'The Future of International Law is Domestic (or, the European Way of Law)', 47 Harvard ILJ (2006) pp. 327-352 at p. 347.
48. See C. Rodriguez, 'More Talk Than Peace in Northern Uganda', The Weekly Observer, 1 June 2006.
49. The government delegation was led by Ruhakana Rugunda, Minister of Internal Affairs. The LRA delegation was led by Obonyo Olweny.
50. See H. Mukasa, 'Government, LRA Sign Peace Deal', Sunday Vision, 27 August 2006.
51. See 'Under Secretary-General Calls for Greater Security Council Commitment to Ending Conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo, Northern Uganda', Press Release re Security Council 5525th Meeting, 15 September 2006, pp. 3-4, available at < www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sc8831.doc.htm >.
52. 'Post-conflict amnesty' involves the grant of an amnesty by the government to rebel groups (non-state actors) for crimes committed during an internal armed conflict. This can be distinguished from 'self-excusing amnesties' and 'transitional amnesties'. Self-excusing amnesties are granted by governments for their own human rights violations, for example in Peru. Transitional amnesties are granted by governments for acts committed during the state's previous regime, for example the amnesty granted in South Africa. See, e.g., K. Gallagher, 'No Justice, No Peace: The Legalities and Realities of Amnesty in Sierra Leone', 23 Thomas Jefferson L Rev. (2000) p. 149.
53. See Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II), 1125 UNTS p. 609, entered into force 7 December 1978.
54. See Special Court for Sierra Leone, Separate Opinion of Justice Robertson, Prosecutor v. Allieu Kondewa, Decision on Lack of Jurisdiction/Abuse of Process: Amnesty Provided by the Lome' Accord, Decision of the Appeals Chamber, SCSL-04-14-T-128-7347, paras. 32-33 (hereinafter Robertson).
55. Moy, supra n. 50, at p. 272.
56. N. Roht-Ariaza, 'Amnesty and the International Criminal Court', in D. Shelton, ed., International Crimes, Peace, and Human Rights: The Role of the International Criminal Court (Ardsley, NY, Transnational Publishers 2000) p. 79.
57. S. Williams, 'Amnesties in International Law: The Experience of the Special Court for Sierra Leone', 5 Human Rights L Rev. (2005) pp. 271-309 at p. 295.
58. See Robertson, supra n. 57, at para. 23.
59. Quoted in A. Branch, 'International Justice, Local Injustice: The International Criminal Court in Northern Uganda', Dissent Magazine, Summer 2004, available at < www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=336 >.
60. See R. Muhumuza, 'Kony Rebels Refuse to Sign Peace Deal', Daily Monitor, 10 October 2006.
61. Report of the Under Secretary-General, supra n. 54, at pp. 2-3. See also n. 185.
62. IRIN, 'Uganda: Locals Want Rebel Leader Forgiven', Pader, 1 August 2006, available at < www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=59805 >; see also Refugee Law Project, 'Peace First, Justice Later', July 2005, available at < www.refugeelawproject.org/resources/papers/workingpapers/RLP.WP17.pdf >; Refugee Law Project, 'Whose Justice? Perceptions of Uganda's Amnesty Act 2000', February 2005 - interviewed 409 individuals and found strong support for giving a blanket amnesty to all LRA, including Kony (available at < www.refugeelawproject.org/resources/papers/workingpapers/RLP.WP15.pdf >.
63. IRIN, 'Uganda: Gov't Ready for Conditional Truce with Rebels', Kampala, 25 August 2006, available at < www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=60463 >.
64. IRIN, 'Uganda: Widespread Support for Forgiveness', Gulu, 29 August 2006, available at < www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=60480 >.
65. See the Amnesty Act 2000, Cap. 294; the Amnesty (Amendment) Act 2006; and R. Murphy, 'Establishing a Precedent in Uganda: The Legitimacy of National Amnesties under the ICC', 3(1) Eyes on the ICC (2006) pp. 33-56.
66. See Rebel Leader Kony to Face the Music, Mail & Guardian on Line, 12 July 2006.
67. R. Rugunda, 'Govt Position on Kony Peace Talks in Juba', The New Vision, 18 July 2006. Uganda's Minister of Internal Affairs, Ruhakana Rugunda, stated: 'Uganda's position is that if Joseph Kony (the LRA leader) respects the truce, we shall convince the ICC not to arrest him.' See F. Ahimbisibwe, 'Uganda to Appeal to ICC for LRA Leaders', The New Vision, 30 August 2006.
68. A. Wasike, 'Kony Must Apologise - Museveni', The New Vision, 30 July 2006.
69. G. Matsiko, 'I cannot betray Kony - Museveni', Daily Monitor, 16 August 2006.
70. C. Maddux, 'Amnesty Offer for Ugandan Rebel Kony Raises Controversy', Voice of America, 1 August 2006.
71. LRA Leaders Declare Ceasefire, BBC News, 4 August 2006, available at < news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/5243038.stm >.
72. See n. 53 above. The parties agreed 'to cease all hostile military action aimed at each other and any other action that may undermine the Peace Talks'.
73. ICG, 'Peace in Northern Uganda?', Africa Briefing No. 41, 13 September 2006, p. 1. The LRA second in command, Vincent Otti, was quoted to have stated in October 2006: 'The ICC is the greatest obstacle in all that I see. And unless they [warrants] are withdrawn, we shall not leave here for anywhere.' See P. Halera, 'LRA's Otti Vows to Kill ICC Captors', Daily Monitor, 13 October 2006. Otti further noted that with the ICC international arrest warrant still in place, the government's much-hyped amnesty offer is just a ploy to lure them out of the bush, so that they can be arrested by the ICC. See C. Banya, 'Otti Wants Trial in Uganda', Sunday Vision, 15 October 2006.
74. The Prosecutor's Submission, supra n. 18, at para. 32. 'OCHA' is an acronym for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 'UNICEF' is an acronym for the United Nations Children's Fund.
75. A. Wasike, 'M7 Warns LRA on Breaking Truce', The New Vision, 28 August 2006.
76. Akhavan, supra n. 16, at p. 410; A. Di Giovanni, 'The Prospect of ICC Reparations in the Case Concerning Northern Uganda: On a Collision Course with Incoherence?', 2 Journal of International Law & International Relations (2006) pp. 25-64 at p. 62.
77. A. O'Brien, 'ICC: UN Security Council is Key', Daily Monitor, 31 October 2006.
78. ICC Statute, Preamble, para. 5.
79. Mato Oput literally means 'drinking of the bitter root from a common cup'. It is an Acholi traditional ritual performed to cleanse somebody and reconcile him/her with the victims that he/she offended. See Liu Institute for Global Issues, 'Restoring Relationships in Acholiland: Traditional Approaches to Justice and Reconciliation', September 2005, available at < www.ligi.ubc.ca/admin/Information/543/Roco%20Wat%20I%20Acoli-2005.pdf >.
80. B. Ochola, 'The Acholi Traditional Justice Enough for Kony', Sunday Vision, 27 August 2006; J. Muto, 'Acholi Prefer Mato Oput to ICC for Kony rebels', Daily Monitor, 3 October 2006.
81. E. Gyezaho, 'Govt Briefs Donors on Kony Peacetalks', Daily Monitor, 1 August 2006.
82. H. Mukasa, 'Rugunda Explains Otti Phone Call', Sunday Vision, 27 August 2006.
83. Ochola, supra n. 92. See also C. Rodrigue, 'What is Mato Oput?', The Weekly Observer, 28 September 2006, noting that 'mato oput was designed for simple, clean-cut cases. Can it also work in a complicated situation involving thousands of offenders - often unknown - who have committed lots of atrocities, cutting across different clans?'
84. In the three presidential elections held since President Museveni became the President of Uganda in 1986, most voters in Northern Uganda (especially in Lango and Acholi) have consisTreattently voted overwhelmingly against President Museveni in 1996, 2001 and 2006. At a national level President Museveni's support has declined 'from 75% in 1996, to 69% in 2001 and now 59% in 2006'. See S. Nganda, 'Besigye Support Worries Museveni', Weekly Observer, 30 November 2006.
85. See, e.g., F. Ssekandi, 'Should the ICC Drop Charges on LRA's Joseph Kony?', The New Vision Discussion Board, 21 July 2006, available at < www.newvision.co.ug/B/D/532/1 >; HRW, 'Uganda: No Amnesty for Atrocities', New York, 28 July 2006, available at < hrw.org/english/docs/2006/07/27/uganda13863.htm >; AI, supra n. 25.
86. See UN Commission on Human Rights, Resolution 2002/79, para. 2 'recognizes that amnesties should not be granted to those who commit violations of international humanitarian and human rights law that constitute serious crimes'; The Princeton Principles on Universal Jurisdiction (2001), Principle 7; ICC Statute, Arts. 5-8; L. Sadat, 'Exile, Amnesty and International Law', 81 Notre Dame L Rev. (2006) pp. 955-1036.
87. Preamble, SC Res. 1315 (2000) (on establishment of a Special Court for Sierra Leone), 14 August 2000.
88. See also SC Res. 1663 (2006), 24 March 2006, p. 2, paras. 7-8.
89. SC Res. 1653 (2006), 27 January 2006, p. 3, para. 6.
90. HRC, Rodríguez v. Uruguay, Communication No. 322/1988, UN Doc. CCPR/C/51/D/322/1988 (1994), para. 12.4.
91. Williams, supra n. 61, at p. 293.
92. UN Doc. A/6316 (1966), 999 UNTS p. 171, entered into force for Uganda on 21 September 1995.
93. UN Doc. A/39/51 (1984). Uganda acceded to this Convention on 3 November 1986.
94. ICC Statute, Preamble, para. 7: 'it is the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for international crimes'.
95. HRC, General Comment 20, UN Doc. HRIΕN1Úv.1 at 30 (1994) paras. 14-15. See also the Report of the Committee against Torture, UN Doc. A/55/44 (2000), para. 61(d).
96. See CAT, Art. 1(1); Dragan Dimitrijevic v. Serbia and Montenegro, Communication No. 207/2002, UN Doc. CAT/C/33/D/207/2002 (2004); Jovica Dimitrov v. Serbia and Montenegro, Communication No. 171/2000, UN Doc. CAT/C/34/D/171/2000 (2005); Danilo Dimitrijevic v. Serbia and Montenegro, Communication No. 172/2000, UN Doc. CAT/C/35/D/172/2000 (2005).
97. M. Nowak, 'What Practices Constitute Torture?: US and UN Standards', 28 Human Rights Quarterly (2006) pp. 809-841 at p. 839.
98. See, e.g., European Court of Human Rights, HLR v. France (1997) 26 EHRR, para. 40; A. v. United Kingdom (1999) 27 EHRR 611; Z. and Others v. United Kingdom (2002) 34 EHRR 97, para. 73.
99. Committee against Torture, Conclusions and Recommendations: Uganda, UN Doc. CAT/C/CR/34/UGA (2005) para. 10(g).
100. ICC Statute, Preamble, paras. 6 and 12.
101. Art. 58(1) provides: At any time after the initiation of an investigation, the Pre-Trial Chamber shall, on the application of the Prosecutor, issue a warrant of arrest of a person if. it is satisfied that: (a) There are reasonable grounds to believe that the person has committed a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court;.
102. Under Art. 17(1) a case is inadmissible, inter alia, if it is being genuinely investigated or prosecuted by a state which has jurisdiction over it or the case is not of sufficient gravity to justify further action by the Court.
103. Ssekandi, supra n. 99.
104. ICC Statute, Art. 16: 'No investigation or prosecution may be commenced or proceeded with under this Statute for a period of 12 months after the Security Council, in a resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, has requested the Court to that effect; that request may be renewed by the Council under the same conditions.'
105. See SC Res. 1653 (2006), 27 January 2006, and 1663 (2006), 24 March 2006.
106. SC Res. 1653 (2006), 27 January 2006, para. 8.
107. Rodríguez v. Uruguay, supra n. 104, at para. 12.4. See also HRC, Basilio Laureano Atachahua v. Peru, Communication No. 540/1993, UN Doc. CCPR/C/56/D/540/1993 (1996), para. 10. The HRC urged 'the State party to open a proper investigation into the disappearance of Ana Rosario Celis Laureano and her fate, to provide for appropriate compensation to the victim and her family, and to bring to justice those responsible for her disappearance, notwithstanding any domestic amnesty legislation to the contrary'.
108. Ley de Caducidad de la Pretensión Punitiva del Estado.
109. Prosecutor v. Kallon, Case No. SCSL-2003-07-PT, 16 June 2003; Prosecutor v. Kamara, Case No. SCLS-2003-10-PT, 16 June 2003.
110. W. Schabas, 'Amnesty, the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court for Sierra Leone', 11 University of California, Davis Journal of International Law and Policy (2004) pp. 145-169 at p. 162.
111. See 'Report of the Secretary-General on the Establishment of a Special Court for Sierra Leone', UN Doc. S/2000/915 (2000), paras. 22-23: 'The United Nations interprets that the amnesty and pardon. shall not apply to international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international law.'
112. Report of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission, October 2004, ch. 3, p. 362.
113. Ssenyonjo, supra n. 10, at p. 406.
114. ICC Statute, Preamble, para. 6. See also W. Punyasena, 'Conflict Prevention and the International Criminal Court: Deterrence in a Changing World', 14 Michigan State JIL (2006) pp. 40-57 at p. 57 stating that 'the threat of ICC prosecution in particular situations may have an ultimate deterrent effect, reducing hostilities and providing greater accountability worldwide'.
115. See E. Denza, 'The Relationship Between International and National Law', in M. Evans, ed., International Law, 2nd edn. (Oxford, Oxford University Press 2006) pp. 423-448 at p. 425.
116. Argentina offers a good example, Argentina's Supreme Court (in a 7-1 vote, with one abstention), held in June 2005 that two amnesty laws, adopted in the late 1980s in order to shield authors of serious human rights violations committed during the so-called 'Dirty War' (1976-1983), were unconstitutional and void. The Court confirmed the precedence of international law (human rights principles) over national law in dealing with the most serious crimes against humanity. See Case of Julio Héctor Simon (14 June 2005); C. Bakker, 'A Full Stop to Amnesty in Argentina: The Simon Case', 3 Journal of International Criminal Justice (2005) pp. 1106-1120.
117. OAU Doc. CAB/LEG/23.15, entered into force 26 May 2001.
118. Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, 'Poverty and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights', E/C.12/2001/10, 4 May 2001, para. 14.
119. OAU Doc. CAB/LEG/67/3 rev. 5, 21 ILM (1982) p. 58, entered into force 21 October 1986.
120. Constitutive Act of the African Union, Preamble, para. 9.
121. M. Doyle, 'Africa's Mixed Amnesty Precedents', BBC News, 4 July 2006, available at < news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/5148226.stm >.
122. Indictment Case No. SCSL-03-I, The Prosecutor v. Foday Saybana Sankoh, available at < www.sc-sl.org/Documents/SCSL-03-02-I-001.html >.
123. See HRW, 'Prompt Action to Ensure Taylor's Surrender Needed', 26 January 2006, available at < hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/26/liberi12538.htm >.
124. HRW, 'Trying Charles Taylor in The Hague: Making Justice Accessible to Those Most Affected', June 2006, available at < www.hrw.org/backgrounder/ij/ij0606/ij0606.pdf >.
125. AI, supra n. 25.
126. F. Ahimbisibwe, 'LRA War Resumes', The New Vision, 3 October 2006; IRIN, 'Uganda: Monitoring Team Finds No Rebels at Assembly Area', 3 October 2006, available at < www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=61242 >.
127. S. Farmar, 'Uganda Rebel Leader Breaks Silence', BBC News, 28 June 2006, available at < news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/5124762.stm >.
128. The OTP has issued public statements inviting the named individuals to come forward to the ICC and respond to the charges. See, e.g., 'Kony Offered Free Passage to Hague', Daily Monitor, 30 June 2006; 'NewsNight Talks', BBC News Broadcast, 28 June 2006.
129. ICTY Statute, Arts. 1 and 7(1); ICTR Statute, Art. 1; ICC Statute, Art. 1.
130. G.K. Young, 'Amnesty and Accountability', 35 UC Davis L Rev. (2002) p. 427 at p. 482.
131. IRIN, Sudan-Uganda: LRA Child Abductees Cry for Home, supra n. 11.
132. IRIN, 'Uganda: Government, Rebels to Resume Talks in Sudan', Nabanga, 2 August 2006, available at < www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=60001 >.
133. P. Nyanzi, 'German MPs Oppose LRA Impunity', Sunday Monitor, 18 June 2006.
134. Moreno-Ocampo, supra n. 33, at pp. 497-503; ICC Statute, Art. 53(2). A 2006 Survey revealed that a majority of Ugandans, at least 96 percent, are opposed to any other means of ending the conflict other than peace. See A. Atuhaire, '96% Ugandans Reject War Over Kony Rebels', Daily Monitor, 14 October 2006.
135. L. Moreno-Ocampo, 'Sudan to Execute Kony Arrest Warrant - ICC', Daily Monitor, 12 June 2006. Under Art. 87(5)(b) of the ICC Statute: 'Where a State not party to this Statute, which has entered into an ad hoc arrangement or an agreement with the Court, fails to cooperate with requests pursuant to any such arrangement or agreement, the Court may so inform the Assembly of States Parties.'
136. IRIN, 'Uganda: LRA Rebels Ready to Talk Peace - Joseph Kony', Kampala, 25 May 2006, available at < www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=59108 >.
137. H. Mukasa, '1,604 LRA Assemble as Deadline Closes', The New Vision, 17 September 2006.
138. P. Okino, 'Kony Vows to Fight On', The New Vision, 1 December 2006.
139. 'Report of the Secretary-General pursuant to Resolutions 1653 (2006) and 1663 (2006)', UN Doc. S/2006/478 (2006), paras. 5, 7, available at < daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/415/40/PDF/N0641540.pdf?OpenElement >.
140. Rodríguez v. Uruguay, supra n. 104.
141. General Comment 20, supra n. 109, at para. 15.
142. ICC, 'Statement by the Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo', The Hague, 12 July 2006, available at < www.icc-cpi.int/pressrelease-details&id=167&l=en.html >.
143. HRW, supra n. 99.
144. AI, supra n. 25.
145. SC Res. 1663 (2006), 24 March 2006, p. 2, paras. 7-8.
146. ICC Statute, Preamble, para. 7.
147. ICC Statute, Preamble, para. 10.
148. ICC Statute, Art. 17(1)(c) provides that a case is inadmissible where a 'person concerned has already been tried for conduct which is the subject of the complaint'. Art. 20(1) states: 'Except as provided in this Statute, no person shall be tried before the Court with respect to conduct which formed the basis of crimes for which the person has been convicted or acquitted by the Court.'
149. C. Stahn, 'Complementarity, Amnesties and Alternative Forms of Justice: Some Interpretative Guidelines for the ICC', 3 Journal of International Criminal Justice (2005) pp. 1-26 at p. 6.
150. ICC Statute, Art. 21.
151. ICC Statute, Art. 89(1).
152. ICC Statute, Art. 87(7).
153. Judge Philippe Kirsch, 'Address to the United Nations General Assembly', 9 October 2006, available at < www.icc-cpi.int/library/organs/presidency/PK-20061009-en.pdf >.
154. See Government of Uganda Letter dated 4 October 2006 signed by the Solicitor General of Uganda in response to a request from the ICC Registrar following the ICC Chamber's 15 September 2006 Order; E. Gyezaho, 'Govt Still Wants ICC to Arrest Kony, Otti', Daily Monitor, 11 October 2006.
155. Y. Mugerwa, 'MPs Attack Govt over Kony's ICC Arrest Warrants', Daily Monitor, 4 December 2006 (emphasis added).
156. See also Y. Naqvi, 'Amnesty for War Crimes: Defining the Limits of International Recognition', 85 International Review of the Red Cross (2003) No. 851 pp. 583-624 at p. 593; Stahn, supra n. 179, at p. 4.
157. R. Muhumuza, 'Talks in Trouble as LRA Makes U-Turn', Daily Monitor, 6 September 2006.
158. Charter of the United Nations, 26 June 1945, 3 Bevans 1153, < www.un.org/aboutun/charter/ >, Ch. VII, Art. 39.
159. ICG, supra n. 83.
160. F. Nyakairu, 'Kony, Otti Cross to Ri-Kwangba', Daily Monitor, 19 November 2006.
161. IRIN, 'Sudan-Uganda: LRA Rebels Should Leave Sudanese Territory - Bashir', 10 January 2007, available at < www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=63029 >.
162. C. Akena, 'Museveni not Interested in Peace Talks, Says Kony', Sunday Monitor, 28 January 2006.
163. G. Matsiko, 'LRA Quit Juba Talks, Govt Rejects Rebels' Demands', Sunday Monitor, 21 January 2007; IRIN, 'Sudan-Uganda: Rebel Delegation Quits Talks, Seeks "Neutral" Venue', 12 January 2007, available at < www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=64301 >.
164. IRIN, 'Uganda: Displaced Civilians Still Scared of Rebels, Says Gov't', 24 January 2007, available at < www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=64550 >.
165. See Vision Reporter, 'Museveni Insists on Juba', The New Vision, 4 February 2007.