Continue Peace Efforts â€" Envoy
Apr 29, 2003
THE Netherlands ambassador, Matthieu Peters, has urged the Government to continue searching for a peaceful end to the conflict in the northern Uganda.
By John Kakande
THE Netherlands ambassador, Matthieu Peters, has urged the Government to continue searching for a peaceful end to the conflict in the northern Uganda.
He said although President Yoweri Museveni recently ordered the UPDF to resume operations in Pader against the LRA rebels, it was vital to continue seeking a peaceful end to the conflict.
“I think peace for Acholi-land is so important that you follow whatever strategy is likely to lead to it. I guess the Government is using a two-pronged strategy,†Peters said.
“The President favours a military solution to the problem, but one should not shy away from peace talks with the rebels,†he said in an exclusive interview with The New Vision recently.
Although Peters is the current chairman of the Donor Democracy and Governance Group, he said he was speaking in his capacity as the Netherlands ambassador and not on behalf of the donors.
Peters, while welcoming the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from Congo, said it did not mean the “Congo chapter is closed†as far as donors were concerned.
“The consequences of the (UPDF) presence in the form of, say, the Porter report on illegal exploitation of natural resources or the alleged human rights violations by the UPDF, remain on the agenda,†he said .
“You can’t escape responsibility from what has happened there simply because you have walked away,†Peters said.
“According to a recent Amnesty International report, UPDF was also involved in some human rights violations. Those things should be looked into and the guilty brought to justice,†he said.
Peters said donors had not yet reached an agreement with Museveni on increasing defence spending.
“The decision to increase defence spending for the year 2003/2004 came unexpectedly and distorted the existing budget priorities,†he said adding that “donors were not very happy with that.†Ends
THE Netherlands ambassador, Matthieu Peters, has urged the Government to continue searching for a peaceful end to the conflict in the northern Uganda.
He said although President Yoweri Museveni recently ordered the UPDF to resume operations in Pader against the LRA rebels, it was vital to continue seeking a peaceful end to the conflict.
“I think peace for Acholi-land is so important that you follow whatever strategy is likely to lead to it. I guess the Government is using a two-pronged strategy,†Peters said.
“The President favours a military solution to the problem, but one should not shy away from peace talks with the rebels,†he said in an exclusive interview with The New Vision recently.
Although Peters is the current chairman of the Donor Democracy and Governance Group, he said he was speaking in his capacity as the Netherlands ambassador and not on behalf of the donors.
Peters, while welcoming the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from Congo, said it did not mean the “Congo chapter is closed†as far as donors were concerned.
“The consequences of the (UPDF) presence in the form of, say, the Porter report on illegal exploitation of natural resources or the alleged human rights violations by the UPDF, remain on the agenda,†he said .
“You can’t escape responsibility from what has happened there simply because you have walked away,†Peters said.
“According to a recent Amnesty International report, UPDF was also involved in some human rights violations. Those things should be looked into and the guilty brought to justice,†he said.
Peters said donors had not yet reached an agreement with Museveni on increasing defence spending.
“The decision to increase defence spending for the year 2003/2004 came unexpectedly and distorted the existing budget priorities,†he said adding that “donors were not very happy with that.†Ends