{UAH} Why Museveni Still Fears ICC

http://www.burkinastyle.com/content/ugandadecides-gen-musevenis-sudden-interest-26-billion-congo-debt-icc

Gen. Museveni's Sudden Interest in $26 Billion Congo Debt is ICC 

[Comment]

A Ugandan regime official, Justice Minister Kahinda Otafiire announced that Gen. Yoweri Museveni's government intends to pay billions of dollars in reparations awarded to Congo by the World Court in 2005, according to a March 30 article in The New Vision, the government mouthpiece.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1420779/uganda-pay-drc-ususd1...

The multi-billion dollars award followed a judgment in favor of Kinshasa by the court, also known as the International Court of Justice (ICJ).  Congo sued Uganda for alleged crimes committed in Eastern Congo when Uganda was the occupying power between 1998 to 2005.

The crimes attributed to Uganda's army in Congo included: massacres; mass rapes as weapon of war; ethnic cleansing through displacements; destruction of physical properties; and, plunder of natural and mineral resources. 

The reparations awarded was $10 billion; but that was over 10 years ago. At a mere 10% annual interest the amount owed by Uganda would now stand at $26 billion.

Otafiire preposterously claimed Uganda would try to strike a deal "outside the court" system. Such deals are typically made before judgment is rendered. 

There are some points worthy of exploration. The real story is always hidden; especially when it involves Gen. Museveni.

Always keep that in mind.

Since Uganda is not in any position to repay $26 billion in reparation to Congo upon the $6 billion it already owes in foreign debt why is Kampala now announcing intention to pay?

The top reason why Museveni's regime suddenly wants to talk to Kabila involves the International Criminal Court (ICC). After the ICJ ruled in favor of Congo, Kabila referred a complaint to the ICC --which deals with criminal complaints such as war crimes and crimes against humanity-- and it launched an investigation (separate from the ICJ's which many Ugandans are unaware of, confusing the two courts to be the same, which The New Vision also tried to intentionally do at the very end to deceive readers) -- as reported in an article by Jess Bravin on June 8, 2006 in The Wall Street Journal.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB114971481626174102

The newspaper reported that Museveni urged the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to block the investigation. The Wall Street Journal also reported that other prosecutors at the ICC were furious at Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo for posing with Gen. Museveni to announce the court's efforts to go after the LRA's Joseph Kony since Museveni himself could face an ICC case in the future.

So while Uhuru Kenyatta thought Museveni was coming to his aid by denouncing the ICC as a racist imperialist tool, the cunning dictator was also making his own defense. How could the same court he had invited to prosecute Kony now be a Western instrument?

For years the investigation of that potentially explosive case went nowhere even though the ICC could have indicted Gen. Museveni and other senior Uganda military commanders with the same evidence the ICJ used to rule in  Congo's favor.

But since the fallout from the fraudulent Feb. 18 elections Washington will no longer be keen on protecting Museveni from prosecution.

Back to the ICJ matter: for the past decade, based on whatever private understanding Gen. Museveni had with Congo's president, Joseph Kabila did not seek to vigorously enforce the ICJ judgment. 

Now, Gen. Museveni knows that even if he manages to extend his regime for some period he needs to settle the ICJ judgment quickly. This is because a post-Kabila Congo government would likely enforce the judgment. 

Museveni may hope to secure a favorable deal while Kabila is in office. He may also try to get Kabila to withdraw the ICC complaint, which is not within his power.

Congolese citizens must reject a deal that short-changes their country -- DRC lost over six million citizens as a result of multiple invasions of their country by Museveni and Rwanda's Gen. Paul Kagame.

In any event Gen. Museveni has no legitimacy following the sham elections and any deal he strikes with Kabila would be worthless.

Another reason why Gen. Museveni is now taking the matter seriously is because if he once thought Congo could never collect on the money, he now knows otherwise.

Recently Argentina was forced to agree to repay foreign creditors more than $4 billion after holding out for years. The creditors attempted to secure liens against Argentine assets. They were successful in cutting off Argentina from outside capital needed for economic development. Foreign direct investment shied away.

Congo can use similar measures to enforce the $26 billion judgment whose amount grows daily with interest.

There is a better solution which is also tied in with Uganda's sudden interest in dealing with Congo.

The people of Congo and Uganda are victims of Gen. Museveni's dictatorship and militarism. Congolese know that most Ugandans want Museveni out of office as well. 

Congo, perhaps with a post-Kabila regime should enforce the judgment only as long as dictator Museveni remains in power. 

Congo could then settle on amicable terms with a legitimate Ugandan authority and offer debt forgiveness since the crimes were committed under the dictator's orders.

Ugandans and Congolese are victims of Museveni's terrorism.

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Milton Allimadi, Publisher/CEO
The Black Star News

www.blackstarnews.com

P.O. Box 1472

New York, N.Y., 10274

(646) 261-7566

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