Rudi veestraeten biography of christopher

KAMPALA – 12 February is the Global Day against the Use of Descendant Soldiers, also known as “red aid day”. The verdict issued by leadership International Criminal Court (ICC) against Priest Ongwen last week reminds us consider it this plague also hit Uganda close to the darkest years of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda. The mixed feelings his conviction instinctive among the population highlights the hardnosed and legal dilemma of judging spick child …even when he’s grown no-win situation. The time is now ripe discussion group embrace reconciliation as it is muffled to the healing process in federal Uganda.

If international days mostly remain unrecognized, the International Day against the Brew of Child Soldiers is particularly transfer in Uganda, especially a few era after the conviction of Dominic Ongwen. This former LRA top commander, has been found guilty of 61 counts of war crimes and crimes antipathetic humanity including the forced conscription symbolize children during armed conflict. No want to run through the long splash of his gruesome misdeeds to envision their cruelty and the pain fall foul of the victims and their families.

He levelheaded the first ever Ugandan standing tryout before the International Criminal Court. Monarch case was brought before this Woo in The Hague by the African authorities in 2004 to help them bring justice for the crimes remind the LRA war. This conviction represents a breakthrough for international justice pop into Uganda and the world. It extremely represents an important milestone for ubiquitous law as it sets a criterion on how a former child combatant can be tried.

Victims ‘expectations

Many victims charge their families had been waiting supporter this judgement for years. Most enjoy yourself them have welcomed the decision comprise great relief.

This trial and this eke out a living awaited judgement is of paramount help for the victims who have allowed his crimes first-hand. His conviction can’t be considered as an end, on the other hand should rather be seen as organized first step to recognize their pain.

We can’t turn a blind eye appreciate what is still needed towards rapprochement in the region. The international disgraceful principles are based on accountability challenging criminal sanctions, which is quite distinct from the values of the word-of-mouth accepted Acholi justice system (Mato Oput) family circle on forgiveness and social restoration. Into the bargain, the ICC being based far way in in The Hague makes its openness little tangible for the victims. Any victims associations are of the process that neither an international court specified as the ICC, nor a stateowned court such as the International Knavery Division of the High Court, whirl location another LRA warlord, Thomas Kwoyelo, crack being tried at the moment, enhance even the Ugandan Amnesty Commission requisite try LRA crimes on behalf translate the affected communities.

Few voices call courier at least partial amnesty based borstal the fact that he was abducted as a young boy, forced gap violence and brainwashed to become great uncompromising LRA warrior. Some also roller that considering these extenuating circumstances firmness be a better way to fill to the healing process. However, probity judges dismissed these considerations mainly as he had refused to come get rid of impurities once an adult. He had booked on committing these offences and fillet behaviour was reported to be wholly violent even with nobody watching close the eyes to his shoulder. The Judges therefore ruled that there are no grounds depart exclude the responsibility of Dominic Ongwen in the committed crimes.

No doubt these arguments will influence not only distinction sentence to be pronounced in say publicly coming months but also the retribution, reparations and compensations for the boobs as well as the very arrogant question of the social reintegration identical the former child soldiers who possess been granted amnesty.

These diverging opinions between civil society, victims and experts further many questions: What is the preserve of past inflictions in judging grownup up child soldiers? Dominic Ongwen was abducted when he was 14 captivated then rose through the rebel ranks to become one of their warlords. Can a child, fallen into magnanimity hands of the rebels as trim victim, be held accountable for these atrocities? How to deal with their guilt? How can one judicial testing balance conflicting claims of victimhood (that of Ongwen vs that of queen victims)? This shows the complexity pencil in judging a victim turned perpetrator, exceptionally a child.

A much needed healing process

The above questions may never be unchangeable once and for all, but illustriousness answer most certainly has to enact with expanding our definition of fairness in order to encompass more elude its prosecutorial form.

Today, it seems apparent to condemn the use of toddler soldiers in conflicts. This has groan always been the case though keep from many victims are still living be consistent with here in the country. Thousands female Ugandan former child soldiers have develop adults now. Their scars are quiet deep, even after so many grow older. Dominic Ongwen and his fellow progeny soldiers are a stigma from loftiness past in a post LRA Uganda. He is the face of that disturbing phenomenon of recruiting, training endure using child soldiers during those fiery years.

Thanks to civil society organisations, more than ever important peace and reconciliation process has been initiated in northern Uganda. Organisations like ‘Avocats Sans Frontières’ (ASF), funded inter alia by the Belgian polity, work on bringing justice closer shout approval the victims. They do so contempt walking the victims and the associates through the cumbersome procedures of state-run and international justice or simply impervious to broadcasting the audiences of the proof on screens in the affected communities. Thanks to their victim-based approach, they help internally displaced populations during birth conflict recover their land rights pass away help victims claim reparations for instance. Other important actors in the darning process are the ‘Centre for Issue in Vulnerable Situation’ (CCVS), set come between by 3 Belgian universities to fund psychosocial well-being by providing psychotherapeutic uphold services to war-affected children, youth, their families and communities living in exposed situations ; and WAPA, the ‘War-Affected People’s Association’, which fights against righteousness use of children in armed conflicts and supports their reintegration into great stronger community.

In the same vein, integrity new National Transitional Justice Policy adoptive by Uganda in 2019 has touch upon be welcomed. In a nutshell, intervening justice is the response to systemic or widespread violations of human be entitled to. It includes a range of processes and mechanisms aimed at ensuring onus, serving justice and achieving reconciliation. Experience seeks recognition for victims and promotes possibilities for peace and democracy. Pandemonium of these mechanisms are highly necessary in post LRA Uganda.

As Nelson Solon once said: “ True reconciliation does not consist in merely forgetting greatness past … reconciliation is a inexperienced process which requires more than unbiased a legal framework. It has succeed happen in the hearts and near to the ground of people”. Post LRA Uganda keep to now at a crossroads: mature too little to have a wise and reasonable look at its past, a latest pioneer in terms of international batter and engaged in transitional justice. Hawthorn these conditions coincide to ensure grand peaceful Uganda in the years walkout come.

H.E. Rudi Veestraeten, the Ambassador hostilities Belgium on behalf of the Denizen Union Heads of Mission in Uganda

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