World court must punish Uganda rebels-rights group

KAMPALA, Apr 25 (Reuters) War criminals from Uganda's 20-year civil conflict must be punished if peace is to last, a leading human rights watchdog said today on the eve of a resumption of talks with rebels.

The government and Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) are due to resume negotiations tomorrow in a push to end one of Africa's most brutal wars, which has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted 1.7 million more to squalid camps.

Fugitive guerrilla leader Joseph Kony and four other commanders are wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Kony has said he will never sign a peace deal until the ICC charges are dropped -- the biggest sticking point in the talks.

''Prosecutions ... are crucial to achieving a sustainable peace in northern Uganda,'' Human Rights Watch said in a statement. ''The LRA leadership has been responsible for shocking crimes against civilians.'' It said besides being a legal obligation, the arrest and trial of LRA leaders by the world court would encourage peace and respect for human rights around the world.

''Such prosecutions send the message ... to would-be perpetrators that no one is above the law,'' the statement said.

Despite the stand-off over the ICC indictments, both sides agreed this month to extend an truce signed in August until June while they resume talks in Juba, southern Sudan.

Campaigners in Uganda see the ICC indictments as an obstacle to a final peace deal, and want them scrapped.

''The ICC is ... the make or break issue,'' Norbert Mao, a northern politician and peace campaigner, told Reuters. ''They are being disruptive to the peace process.'' Traditional leaders from Kony's own Acholi tribe -- who have borne the brunt of attacks by rebels notorious for mutilating victims and abducting children to use as soldiers -- want Kony and his henchmen to undergo a reconciliation ritual instead.

''Mato Oput'' justice involves a murderer facing relatives of the victim and admitting his crime before both drink a bitter brew made from a tree root mixed with sheep's blood.

Others feel that would be letting Kony off too lightly.

''Prosecutions ... need to involve fair trials and penalties that reflect the gravity of the crimes committed. Anything less would be justice denied,'' Human Rights Watch said.

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