The New Vision

LRA peace talks stall again

Publication date: Friday, 27th April, 2007

South Sudan information minister Dr. Samson Kwache (left) welcomes Uganda’s delegation at Juba airport. It included minister Okello Oryem, Sam Engola, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda and the in-charge of Uganda’s consulate in Juba, Busho Ndinyenka

By Henry Mukasa
in Juba

BARELY a day after the resumption of the peace talks between the Government and the LRA, the rebels have accused the UPDF of attacking their positions in South Sudan. In a protest letter yesterday, the rebels urged the chief mediator, Dr. Riek Machar, to prevail on the Government so as to save the talks.

The letter, signed by LRA delegation chairman Martin Ojul, stated that since the extension of the truce on April 14, there have been “repeated and unprovoked attacks on the LRA positions by the UPDF.”

“We wish to register our protest against these blatant and flagrant violations and call upon you, through the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team, to take immediate intervention measures to ensure the strict implementation of the agreement,” Ojul wrote.

“We also wish to draw your attention to the fact that it may be futile to continue with the peace talks when there is no inkling that one of the parties is committed to respecting any agreement signed as a result of the present effort.”

The letter claimed that on Friday morning, the Ugandan army attacked an LRA position at Got Rwot near Parajok in Magwi county, Eastern Equatoria in Sudan.

It also alleged that in a separate incidence, the UPDF attacked an LRA position at Obboo Hill, still in Magwi county. They claimed the fighting was continuing at the time of writing.
However, the spokesman of the Government delegation, Barigye-Bahoku, dismissed the claims as the usual LRA tricks.

“We don’t have forces in the Magwi area. Even the observation points have been removed,” Barigye said.

“It is their style of work. This is not the first time they are making such claims.”
Barigye said the monitoring team, consisting also of LRA representatives, could verify the claims.

He complained that the LRA delegation kept the government team waiting for the whole day. “Even now, we are still waiting,” Barigye said last evening.

“If anything had happened they should have told us. They went to the mediator. They should have given us a copy of the letter. Those are their tactics.”

The letter, on a newly designed LRA coloured letterhead, was copied to the UN Special Envoy, Joachim Chissano, the observers from the five countries and the chairman of the monitoring team, Maj. Gen. Wilson Deng. It was not copied to the Government delegation.

The peace talks have been limping on for nine months. On several occasions in the past, the LRA pulled out or made new demands, claiming UPDF attacks.
The LRA itself has been accused of numerous ambushes and attacks in the past months, mainly against the civilian population of South Sudan.

This article can be found on-line at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/562270