Justice Under Fire

Rule of law and accountability are early casualties in conflict settings. Michael Gordon describes the Rule of Law Complex established in the Green Zone to detain and try suspected militants. He notes, “Ultimately, it will depend on the Iraqis' ability to expand their capacity to try cases at the complex as well as their track record in applying justice evenhandedly to Shiites and Sunnis alike.” Negotiating the turbulent waters of conflict and post-conflict politics can result in the jettisoning of the evenhandedness of which Gordon speaks. That was the case with the ICTR, and now a similar set of issues is cropping up in Uganda. The ICC has drawn criticism for issuing indictments against the LRA but not the government. Joseph Kony and his rebels insist that the indictments be dropped and alternative modes of accountability be pursued. For a Ugandan perspective on the matter and a powerful critique of externally imposed justice, read Moses Okello’s brief address to the International Conference on Peace and Justice.