LRA suspend talks
Nov 29, 2006
JUBA, Wednesday — The LRA yesterday suspended participation in peace talks with the government to end a brutal two-decade conflict, claiming the army had killed three rebel fighters.
JUBA, Wednesday — The LRA yesterday suspended participation in peace talks with the government to end a brutal two-decade conflict, claiming the army had killed three rebel fighters.
Rebel spokesman Obonyo Olweny said they withdrew from the peace process after the UPDF attacked a rebel unit headed to one of two neutral camps in southern Sudan, in line with the truce.
“The LRA high command has suspended participation in the peace talks with the government of Uganda until the UPDF are withdrawn from all positions east of River Nile back into Uganda,†spokesman Obonyo Olweny told AFP.
“That is the only way the peace process will continue,†he said, adding that LRA deputy chief Vincent Otti had already relayed the message to mediators.
However, army spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye said, “It’s not true that we have attacked them, because we are nowhere near that area of Owiny Ki-bul.â€
He hoped that the LRA would not withdraw from the talks, but if they did, the mediator would handle the matter.
Olweny explained that the Ugandan army attacked a rebel unit that was headed to assemble in one of the agreed camps, Owiny Ki-Bul, near southern Sudan’s border with Uganda.
He said the attack took place in areas from which the Ugandan army last week said it had withdrawn to pave the way for rebels to assemble. LRA had up to December 1 to assemble.
“Today at 8:30am (0530 GMT), the UPDF attacked a unit of the LRA at a point between Ngangala and Magwi, both places east of River Nile in southern Sudan,†Olweny said.
“In that attack, they killed three LRA soldiers and continued to pursue our forces until late afternoon,†he added.
The alleged attack would be a violation of a truce that was renewed on November 1 to replace an August 26 pact, which was seen as a key step in the floundering peace process mediated by the semi-autonomous government of south Sudan.
“These attacks have demonstrated that the government and the UPDF are not interested in a peaceful solution to the conflict. However, the government of Uganda should not use the time of peace talks to prosecute war and achieve military victory,†Olweny said.
“If they want war, let them come out clearly and say they do not want peace and fighting resumes,†he added.
The rebel walkout is a major blow to the peace process, which started in July in the south Sudan capital Juba, and is seen by many as the best chance to end the conflict that is regularly described as one of the world’s worst and most-forgotten humanitarian crises.
Meanwhile, Oketch Bitek in Gulu reports that LRA chief Joseph Kony has threatened to replace some members of his team at the Juba peace talks with his field commanders if they are not working for peace in the north, according to Gulu district chairman Norbert Mao.
“Kony said he would not hesitate to remove some members of his delegation if they cannot collaborate with the local leaders for peace,†said Mao, who recently visited the LRA chiefs in the DR Congo.
He said Kony told them that he may soon have to change some of his peace team members with senior LRA field commanders who will negotiate for a total return of peace in northern Uganda. The meeting was also attended by Martin Ojul, the leader of the LRA delegation in Juba.
Mao said their delegation had formally complained that some of the peace team members were negotiating things of their own interest and not for the benefit of the affected people.
Kony was extremely critical of the Juba talks, calling them a “talking shop,†according to Mao.
Rebel spokesman Obonyo Olweny said they withdrew from the peace process after the UPDF attacked a rebel unit headed to one of two neutral camps in southern Sudan, in line with the truce.
“The LRA high command has suspended participation in the peace talks with the government of Uganda until the UPDF are withdrawn from all positions east of River Nile back into Uganda,†spokesman Obonyo Olweny told AFP.
“That is the only way the peace process will continue,†he said, adding that LRA deputy chief Vincent Otti had already relayed the message to mediators.
However, army spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye said, “It’s not true that we have attacked them, because we are nowhere near that area of Owiny Ki-bul.â€
He hoped that the LRA would not withdraw from the talks, but if they did, the mediator would handle the matter.
Olweny explained that the Ugandan army attacked a rebel unit that was headed to assemble in one of the agreed camps, Owiny Ki-Bul, near southern Sudan’s border with Uganda.
He said the attack took place in areas from which the Ugandan army last week said it had withdrawn to pave the way for rebels to assemble. LRA had up to December 1 to assemble.
“Today at 8:30am (0530 GMT), the UPDF attacked a unit of the LRA at a point between Ngangala and Magwi, both places east of River Nile in southern Sudan,†Olweny said.
“In that attack, they killed three LRA soldiers and continued to pursue our forces until late afternoon,†he added.
The alleged attack would be a violation of a truce that was renewed on November 1 to replace an August 26 pact, which was seen as a key step in the floundering peace process mediated by the semi-autonomous government of south Sudan.
“These attacks have demonstrated that the government and the UPDF are not interested in a peaceful solution to the conflict. However, the government of Uganda should not use the time of peace talks to prosecute war and achieve military victory,†Olweny said.
“If they want war, let them come out clearly and say they do not want peace and fighting resumes,†he added.
The rebel walkout is a major blow to the peace process, which started in July in the south Sudan capital Juba, and is seen by many as the best chance to end the conflict that is regularly described as one of the world’s worst and most-forgotten humanitarian crises.
Meanwhile, Oketch Bitek in Gulu reports that LRA chief Joseph Kony has threatened to replace some members of his team at the Juba peace talks with his field commanders if they are not working for peace in the north, according to Gulu district chairman Norbert Mao.
“Kony said he would not hesitate to remove some members of his delegation if they cannot collaborate with the local leaders for peace,†said Mao, who recently visited the LRA chiefs in the DR Congo.
He said Kony told them that he may soon have to change some of his peace team members with senior LRA field commanders who will negotiate for a total return of peace in northern Uganda. The meeting was also attended by Martin Ojul, the leader of the LRA delegation in Juba.
Mao said their delegation had formally complained that some of the peace team members were negotiating things of their own interest and not for the benefit of the affected people.
Kony was extremely critical of the Juba talks, calling them a “talking shop,†according to Mao.