At UN, Chissano Downplays Roles of Otti in LRA and NGOs in Peace, Opines on ICC

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, November 13 --  As rumors swirl about the death or incarceration of Lord's Resistance Army second-in-command Vincent Otti, who along with commander Joseph Kony and two others has been indicted for war crimes, on Tuesday UN envoy Joaquim Chissano was dismissive of Otti's importance, and appeared to urge the dropping or suspension of the indictments. Mr. Chissano took questions from reporters for nearly an hour. Inner City Press asked if Chissano has spoken with International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo. He said that he has, then mused at length about how the Ugandan government may try to convince the ICC, or the UN Security Council, that local or "cultural" justice can replace the ICC process. Video here, from Minute 30:20.

            Regarding Otti, Chissano said that there have been so many rumors of his death that, apparently, Chissano tends to believe them. "I don't foresee any strong effect of his death," Chissano said, characterizing Otti as someone who would never give up to the ICC. Other analysts call Otti, in context, an LRA moderate, now replaced by a hard-liner. Asked about this by Inner City Press, Chissano declined to comment.

Joaquim Chissano at the UN, November 13, 2007

News analysis: Chissano was also asked about the role of some Western NGOs, who reportedly paid LRA hotel bills in Nairobi, while Chissano was waiting fruitlessly to meet the LRA "in the bush." Chissano said that the NGOs probably meant well, "to help," naming one "Africa for Peace," and saying it was led by Kenyans and "an Italian." Expert sources say Pax Christi is involved, and a Dutchman who became frustrated with the fruits of Holland's assistance to Uganda's Museveni government, and now assists Chissano, including to open an office in Kampala. UN Headquarters has told varying stories about this office and how it is funded. There is a story here, how to gain flexibility seen as needed for this kind of diplomacy, some activities are moved or kept off the UN's book. "A sort of diplomatic Enron," one wag commented. We're aware that might be too harsh. But transparency's important, especially when dealing with indicted war criminals. We'll see.

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Click here for a Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click here for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund.  Video Analysis here

  Because a number of Inner City Press' UN sources go out of their way to express commitment to serving the poor, and while it should be unnecessary, Inner City Press is compelled to conclude this installment in a necessarily-ongoing series by saluting the stated goals of the UN agencies and many of their staff. Keep those cards, letters and emails coming, and phone calls too, we apologize for any phone tag, but please continue trying, and keep the information flowing.

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