Should captured LRA commander Dominic Ongwen be punished for his crimes or forgiven?

BACKGROUND

Dominic Ongwen is considered by some to be a deputy commander to the chief of the rebel group Lord's Resistance Army, Joseph Kony. He and his men are accused of being responsible for rape, enslavement, abduction of children, maiming, mutilation, the murder of civilians, torture, inhuman treatment and the burning of villages.

He was captured earlier this month in the Central African Republic and will be tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC is located in the Netherlands, and is responsible for trying criminals for crimes like genocide, war crimes and other crimes against humanity.

But in a story published on a news site called Waza, journalist Samuel Okiror said that Ongwen should not be punished because he was abducted by Kony's forces when he was only 10 years old. Therefore he did not have a choice-if he did not obey orders he would have been killed.

The journalist suggests that to encourage a spirit of forgiveness, understanding and reconciliation, the ICC should drop all charges against Ongwen.

QUESTION

Should captured LRA commander Dominic Ongwen be punished for his crimes or forgiven?

A. He should be forgiven

B. He should be punished

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