Let Kony talks take their course

Aug 01, 2006

After nearly 15 years of insecurity in northern Uganda the latest talks with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) are the best hope for its end.<br>However support for the talks and the blanket amnesty that seems likely to ensue is not universal and understandably so.

After nearly 15 years of insecurity in northern Uganda the latest talks with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) are the best hope for its end.
However support for the talks and the blanket amnesty that seems likely to ensue is not universal and understandably so.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) maintains a price on rebel leader Joseph Kony’s head. Human Rights Watch, while welcoming the talks, is totally opposed to an amnesty offer for Kony and his lieutenants.

They say when you are in an abnormal situation and continue to act normally you are abnormal.
It has been an abnormal conflict that has taken an abnormally long time and the nature of its resolution will likely be out of the ordinary.

It is heartening to hear that LRA leadership is in the process of meeting Acholi opinion leaders.

One can only expect good things to come from such a meeting. We keep our fingers crossed.

On the other hand, in typical iron fist in velvet glove fashion, government continues to insist that the rebels cease civilian attacks, short of which the current offensive stance against the rebels will continue.

In addition, Uganda has continued to lobby for regional action to rout the LRA from Garamba. This is as it should be.

The government has an obligation to protect the life and property of its people and in as far as the LRA continue to infringe on Ugandans’ rights the army has no option but to ferret them out wherever they maybe, even as talks continue.

Peace is the ultimate goal. The prize is in sight but not yet within reach. It is still early days and one can expect there will be many starts and stops during the talks.

But we have got to stay the course and keep the hope alive that peace will come to northern Uganda one day.

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