The International Criminal Court (ICC) released a statement made by prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on Tuesday at the trial of LRA commander Dominic Ongwen at The Hague.
Mr Ongwen, now in his early 40s and who was a boy when he was abducted by the notoriously ruthless rebel cult, has pleaded not guilty to 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
These are a few key quotes:
- ‘He commanded attacks which destroyed innocent civilians’ livelihoods.’ ‘He presided over a systematic use of child soldiers and sex crimes on young girls in the units he commanded.’
- ‘The circumstances in which he himself was abducted and conscripted into the LRA many years before may perhaps amount to some mitigation of sentence in the event that he is convicted of these crimes.’ ‘They cannot begin to amount to a defence, or a reason not to hold him to account for the choice that he made; the choice to embrace the murderous violence used by the LRA and to make it the hallmark of operations carried out by his soldiers.’
- ‘The victims of Mr Ongwen’s brutal crimes have waited too long to see justice done. It is past time we deliver to them what they are owed.’
