Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim A.A. Khan KC: Request to hold hearing on confirmation of charges against Joseph Kony in his absence
Today, I filed a request before Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeking authorisation to hold a hearing on the confirmation of charges against Joseph Kony in his absence. This is the first time that my Office has made such a request since the establishment of the ICC.
The investigation into the situation in Uganda was opened in 2004. The arrest warrant against Joseph Kony, the founder and leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, was issued in 2005 for 33 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The allegations against him include murder, cruel treatment, enslavement, rape, and attacks against civilian population.
However, this arrest warrant remains unexecuted to this day. Mr Kony has sought to evade judicial proceedings at this Court for more than 17 years despite continuing efforts by my Office and the Registry of the ICC to locate and apprehend him - assisted by States, international organisations, and civil society actors. I have determined it is both necessary and appropriate to seek to advance proceedings against him to the fullest extent compatible with the Rome Statute.
After a careful review of the circumstances, I have accordingly requested the Pre-Trial Chamber to hold a hearing to confirm the charges against Mr Kony in his absence pursuant to article 61(2)(b) of the Rome Statute and rules 123 and 125 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
In parallel, my Office will intensify its work towards the arrest of Mr Kony who is the ICC’s longest standing suspect at large.
Should the Pre-Trial Chamber grant my request, it is my hope that this would represent a meaningful milestone for victims of Mr Kony’s crimes who have waited patiently for justice for almost two decades. It is a step that we can take together with civil society partners and with the direct engagement and participation of impacted communities. I will also renew my call to States to redouble efforts to execute the arrest warrant issued by the Pre-Trial Chamber 17 years ago.
As outlined in our application, these proceedings would also provide an opportunity to present the depth of evidence supporting the allegations of his criminal activities and allow for witnesses and survivors to provide their accounts to the Court. Crucially, if the charges are confirmed in his absence, a future trial following the arrest of Mr Kony could be taken forward faster and more effectively, in accordance with rule 126(3) of the Rules.
I have been clear since taking up the position of Prosecutor that my Office will be unwavering in its attempts “to guarantee lasting respect for and enforcement of international criminal justice”, as the Preamble to the Rome Statute mandates. Today is an important step in delivering on that promise in relation to the situation in Uganda and to provide impacted communities their opportunity to engage with the Court more fully in our common work towards justice.
For further details on "preliminary examinations" and "situations and cases" before the Court, click here, and here.
Tin, amiyo lega inyim Dul Kot me II ma mokko yoo pido pa ICC ma lega ne penyo twero me cako winyo pido pi mokko koko ma kimoro ikom Joseph Kony kadi en peke. Man tyen me acel ma opici na omiyo lega macalo man nicake ma Kot man cak tic.
Kweda ikom lok me Uganda kiyabo i 2004. Waraga amak ikom Joseph Kony, ngat ma ocako ki ma en aye latela pa dul adui LRA, kiyaro kamaleng i 2005 pi bal 33 ma gin aye bal maturo cik me lweny ki bal ikom dano. Koko ikome ikine tye nek akaka, tero dano i yoo gero, gwoko dano i opi, buto ki dano tek tek ki monyo reya.
Ento waraga amak man peya kiketo i tic wa tin. Ladit Kony oyero me weyo pido ikome inyim Kot man pi mwaka ma kato 17 kadi bed opici na ki jyang ICC, Rigistry, tye kamede ki tute me lingo kakare ki makko en – ki kony pa lobo ma patpat, dul ma patpat me wilobo ki dul mukene ma gitiyo pi lwak. Anongo ni pire tek dok pore me cako pido ikome i rwom weng ma rwate ki cik pa Roma.
Inge neno i lok weng maber, atyeko penyo Dul Kot, ma mokko yoo pido, me winyo pido me mokko koko ikom ladit Kony kadi en peke marwate ki dul cik 61(2)(b) me Roma ki cik 123 ki 125 me cik ma doro yoo tic pa Kot ki caden.
Kitung cel, opici na bimedo kero me ticce madok ikom mako ladit Kony ma en aye dano ma ICC tye ki koko ikome ma ori loyo weng ma pe kimako.
Ka Dul Kot ma mokko yoo pido ocwako lega na, tye genna ni man bibedo kawang guu ma pire tek pi jo ma Kony otimo bal ikom gi ma gubedo mot dong gukuro ngol-ma-atir pi mwaka cok pyeraryo kulo. Man yoo ma waromo kwanyo ne kacel ki dul luwotwa ma gitiyo pi lwak ki bene tic kacel ki bedo tye pa lwak ma peko man omako gin. Abiroco bene oduro na bot lobo me medo kero gi me keto i tic waraga amak ma Dul Kot ma mokko yoo pido pa Kot omiyo mwaka 17 angec.
Kit ma wayaro kwede kore ki kore i legawa, winyo pido man bene bimiyo kare me nyuto tek pa caden ma cwako koko ikom tim bal ne kabene miyo kare ki lucaden ki jo ma oloyo ki i bal ma kitimo ikom gi me miyo lok gi inyim Kot. Pire tek bene ni, kace koko ma kimoro ikome ni kimoko gi ma en peke, pido i anyim ma bilube kimako ladit Kony romo wot anyim oyot oyot dok maber, malube ki cik 126(3) me Roma.
Lokka tye maleng ma pe oloke nicake ma acak tic calo Lapilida lakel adot ni opici na bicung ma pe biyenge i temme ne “me neno ni woro ma bedo naka ikom ngol ma atir pi bal ma dongo ki neno kit me keto i tic ngol ma atir”, obedo lakwong me keto i tic cik me Roma. Tin yoo ma pire tek ma akwanyo me keto i tic cike meno malube ki lok me Uganda ki me miyo kare ki lwak ma tim bal meno omako kom gi me tic i yoo weng kacel ki Kot i yoo mewa acel me nongo ngol ma atir.
Pi ngec matut ikom “preliminary examinations” ki “Situation and cases” matye inyim Kot, dii kany, ki kany.
Oa ki i: Opici pa Lapilida lakel adot | [email protected]