Thread by @oryembley

Today judges at the ICC will deliver their verdict in the Dominic Ongwen case. He was accused of murder, torture, enslavement, & pillage as part of attacks on four camps in northern Uganda, SGBV crimes, conscription and use of child soldiers. #OngwenTrial

hrw.org/news/2021/01/2…

Live stream of the Dominic Ongwen ICC verdict in Acholi here --->

Judge Bertram Schmitt describing the LRA's attacks on Pajule and Odek IDP camps in 2004 including fighters led by Dominic Ongwen: "Witnesses told us they were shaking with fear if they would not be able to carry loads [after being abducted by the rebels]." #OngwenTrial

Earlier Judge Schmitt said something important, I thought: "It was difficult for the chamber to ascertain the names of the victims for every crime [but] that victims have a right not to be forgotten. They have a right not to be forgotten." #OngwenTrial

Judge Schmitt: Approximately 210 houses (he said “huts”) were burned during the LRA’s attack on Lukodi in May 2004. Fighters reported their “success” to Ongwen who took responsibility for the attack, specifically on the harm done. #OngwenTrial

Shortly after the #LukodiMassacre, Kony promoted Ongwen to the rank of colonel. #OngwenTrial

Dominic Ongwen was responsible for SGBV crimes committed by him personally against seven women. Between 1 July 2002 and 31 Dec 2005, five were forced to be Ongwen’s “wives”, and the others “ting tings” (helpers), and later forced to be his “wives”. #OngwenTrial

Horrible to hear. Judge Schmitt reads that Ongwen forced a witness - one of his forced "wives" - to beat a captured Ugandan army soldier to death. #OngwenTrial

This is the first time the crime of forced pregnancy is considered by this ICC. #OngwenTrial

Judge Schmitt describing how abducted women and girls were assigned to LRA fighters, and were forced to have sex with them. If you refused “that means you will be killed immediately … if they give you to a particular man and you decide to live, you go to that man.” #OngwenTrial

Dominic Ongwen abducted children, "who he saw as soldiers not children." They were beaten to “beat out the civilian” as part of their initiation. Recruits were forced to brutally kill and witness killings. #OngwenTrial

ICC judges reject defense claim that Ongwen suffered from any mental illness or committed these crimes under duress: "On the contrary, he was described as an extremely capable fighter … he planned the attacks carefully and assessed the risks." #OngwenTrial

He was not a puppet on a string. He frequently rejected orders from Kony. He had a realistic chance to leave the LRA but rose in rank and position because he was “performing very well”, per Kony. He also committed some of the crimes in private. #OngwenTrial

This is the end of the oral summary of the judges verdict. Judge Schmitt is now reading the verdict on each of Ongwen's charges. #OngwenTrial #OngwenVerdict

Reading of verdict now concluded. Dominic Ongwen has been found guilty at the ICC under 61 counts, out of ~70, of war crimes and crimes against humanity. #OngwenTrial #OngwenVerdict

He was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for a number of crimes committed during attacks on Lukodi, Abok, Pajule and Odek IDP camps, including murder, enslavement, pillaging and persecution (there were others that I wasn't able to capture). #OngwenTrial #OngwenVerdict

Also, found guilty for a number of SGBV crimes against 7 women who were abducted and placed into his household, forced into marriage with him, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy, and outrages on personal dignity. #OngwenTrial #OngwenVerdict

As well as number of further SGBV crimes committed against girls and women within his Sinia brigade in the LRA. #OngwenTrial #OngwenVerdict

And lastly the war crime of conscripting children and using them to participate actively in fighting. #OngwenTrial #OngwenVerdict

In due course the court will impose the sentence for the crimes he has been convicted. They'll consider submissions by the prosecutor, Ongwen's defense, and legal representatives of victims. Timelines have been issued and we will be notified. #OngwenTrial #OngwenVerdict

Having mixed feelings. Ongwen is the only person that's been held criminally liable for crimes committed during the LRA's 20 year war. Reparations, truth-telling, accountability for government-led abuses during that war still remain. #OngwenTrial #OngwenVerdict