Oxfam welcomes ceasefire extension

Feb 07, 2005

A UK-based aid group, Oxfam, has welcomed the 18-day ceasefire extension between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces that took effect on Friday.

By Maurice Okore

A UK-based aid group, Oxfam, has welcomed the 18-day ceasefire extension between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces that took effect on Friday.

Oxfam, however, warned the government yesterday not to expect 18 years of conflict to end in 18 days.

“This is a desperate situation and any step towards peace is in the right direction. The LRA needs to respond to this ceasefire positively. At the same time, we are worried that the tight limitations risk undermining it as soon as it starts.

“Attacks by both sides have led to a break down in trust that has to be rebuilt,” Emma Naylor, the head of Oxfam Uganda, said yesterday in a statement.

“We think that more time and patience is needed to rebuild confidence in the process and get down to real discussion about how to end this war. Eighteen years of conflict cannot be ended in 18 days,” she said.

Naylor added, “We must ensure a supportive environment for the peace talks. We urge the Government and the LRA to give this process their full commitment, whatever setbacks may occur along the way.”

She called upon the international community to support the peace talks to end the suffering of millions of people in northern Uganda.

President Yoweri Museveni on Friday offered the LRA rebels an 18-day truce extension to pave way for talks to end the war that has ravaged northern Uganda since 1987.

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