Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #ongwen

Most recents (7)

#Ongwen will soon be delivering his unsworn statement (at the start of the defence arguments in the sentencing hearings). I would imagine the main goal is to produce empathy for Ongwen's experience by putting the judges/public inside his perspective. #ICC
#Ongwen's speech is planned for around 45 minutes, followed by Obhof, then Ayena. #ICC
#Ongwen removing his mask and standing to speak (maybe he will sit after a while on account of his injured leg...) #ICC
Read 70 tweets
The most interesting aspect of day 1 of the #Ongwen sentencing hearings was the clearly divergent perspectives between the prosecution and victims. #ICC 🧵
Common Legal Representative for Victims Paolina Massidda was shaking her head while the prosecution said: #Ongwen's crimes "would normally warrant a sentence at the very highest level available under the Rome Statute - 30 years or even life imprisonment" #ICC
The prosecution addressed the victims' reps saying that participating victims have recommended such a sentence "and we share their desire for justice and we respect their views. In another case, against another Accused, we might well agree with their recommendation." #ICC #Ongwen
Read 18 tweets
🧵I've now had a look at the sentencing briefs in #Ongwen, which offer some new perspectives. (Victims: icc-cpi.int/CourtRecords/C…; Prosecution: icc-cpi.int/CourtRecords/C…; and Defence: icc-cpi.int/CourtRecords/C…). The starkest contrast seems to be between the victims and defence. #ICC
The victims (who submitted a joint brief) are recommending a life sentence, the prosecution 20 years, and the defence 10 years (if #Ongwen is not released to undergo Mato Oput).
The Victims' brief is categorical in condemning #Ongwen, arguing that "no mitigating circumstances apply in the present case" and that victims fear that once Ongwen is released, he would "rejoin the LRA...and perpetrate crimes against the communities once again." #ICC
Read 27 tweets
There is something very profound about the judge reading out the names of some of those who suffered at the hands of the LRA #OngwenJudgement
"Government forces were not able to protect the civilian population"

#OngwenJudgement acknowledges the failure of Uganda Government during conflict in the Northern part of the country
For the LRA, abducting, killing, maiming, raping civilians was called "work"😥 #OngwenJudgement
Read 86 tweets
Things to look for in the #Ongwen verdict (relying partly on input from people familiar w/ the trial that I cannot cite):
1. I think it quite likely Ongwen will be convicted of many of the charges. The Prosecution case was well-executed and evidence is (largely) strong.
#ICC
2. Areas where the evidence is weaker/contradictory: the attack on Pajule. Ongwen may have been in "sick bay" (LRA field hospital) nursing an injury, and may not have had control over the attack. #Ongwen #ICC
3. Persecution, which requires discriminatory intent to be tied to each individual attack. The Prosecution's argument is that the persecuted group was political - sympathizers/collaborators of the Ugandan government. This may be tricky to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. #Ongwen
Read 12 tweets
Tomorrow, the closing arguments will be held in the #Ongwen case, a case fraught with moral complexity – an abducted victim is being tried for crimes committed as an adult.

The seriousness of charges - and the evidence – often get little attention in this debate. A short THREAD:
#SGBC – 7 women allege the most horrific acts of rape, forced marriage, torture and cruel treatment imaginable, some as young as ten years old.
#Pajule – Hundreds abducted, homes pillaged, men, women and children beaten, enslaved and some killed. Ongwen was part of the attack.
Read 10 tweets
#DistantJustice Africa book tour THREAD

2 to 24 May 2019

From Cape Town to Kigali....

cambridge.org/core_title/gb/…
Foggy, blustery day in Cape Town. But it'll be clear & bluster-free when @tmurithi12 & I launch our books on international criminal justice in Africa @_IJR_ 5:30pm today.

Full house but I'm told some seats can be squeezed at the back if you RSVP here:

ijr.org.za/2019/04/05/inv…
Read 63 tweets

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