The Defence Opening Statement of Dominic Ongwen trial reaches Pajule, Pader District

On October 22^nd, the population of Pajule and its surroundings had the opportunity of watching the September 18^th 2018 opening statement from the Defence counsel in the on-going trial of Dominic Ongwen at the ICC, in The Hague.

The screening of the open statement from the defence was organized by the ICC focal group of Pajule Sub-County in five different parishes. The parishes where the screenings took place were Ogole, Ojile (in Paluo), Paiula, Lokaci, and Koyo.

The exercise received a very high turn-out from the locals with an estimated 1,000 (both male and female of all ages) community members attending. For instance, in Paiula 250 people attended the broadcast. However, the ICC focal group had a few challenges during the process. In Ogole Parish for example, there was a technical problem that delayed the start of the exercise. Besides community members also arrived late since a number of them were engaged in their farm gardens because of the current rainfall in the area

Amazed by the large turnout of community members, an FJDI staff who joined the affected community members in Pajule at the different venues wondered how the mobilization was effectively conducted. “we spent days announcing the upcoming screening…,some of us walked door to door to ensure that every member of the community got the information about the exercise” said one of the ICC focal group member.

At the screening, some of the community members were attending for the first time. Asked why they chose to attend the opening of the defense screening in particular, one said “the defense opening statement couldn’t be missed… In my opinion Ongwen should’ve been found guilty a long time ago, this is why I am curious to hear what the defense has to say”.

Eighty-two (82) kilometres apart from Gulu, comments from the public attending the screening are the same. Many are similar to those made by people who attended previous screenings in Gulu at the district council hall. As some wondered why he (Ongwen) was still in court answering charges on war crimes and crimes against humanity even though he was abducted at a tender age, others expressed their frustrations that the court is taking so long to reach a verdict. In certain instances, people within the community claimed Ongwen can be forgiven by those who suffered during the conflict and want him to come back to Uganda.

Article 68 of the Rome Statute provides for the participation of victims in proceedings of trials of those that harmed them. With support from the Danish Embassy the ICC outreach team has been able to support the participation of victims in the trial process. They have involved and engaged with victims through screening of the trial proceedings in communities affected by the LRA.

Besides the screenings the ICC has gone an extra mile to support victims to attend live court sessions in the Hague. This has largely created awareness about the ongoing trial and boosted victim participation. “with the screening by the ICC, I am informed about what is going on in the court” said a community elder in Abok (one of the case locations in Lango sub-region)

Although perpetrators are of primary importance in any criminal justice process, it’s very important that victims are held close in the on-going trial of Dominic Ongwen because their participation is the driving force to the debates that take place in court. Primary in any court proceeding, victims serve as witnesses to provide court with evidence needed for judges to make their judgement thus supporting court in administering justice for the atrocities committed against them.