Peace talks to delay
May 19, 2007
THE resumption of the peace talks is scheduled to delay until the end of the month because the LRA team is going to attend a workshop on Mato-Oput (traditional justice) in the South Sudan capital, Juba.
By Henry Mukasa
THE resumption of the peace talks is scheduled to delay until the end of the month because the LRA team is going to attend a workshop on Mato-Oput (traditional justice) in the South Sudan capital, Juba.
“The resumption of the peace talks will now be on May 31,†said the head of the Government delegation, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda. “This period is being used to do more preparatory work on the next agenda item; accountability and reconciliation, so that when we resume, we can make faster progress.â€
The deputy leader of the Government delegation, minister Okello Oryem, told journalists in Kampala that lawyers were refining a draft paper which would guide them while handling the next phase of the talks.
Meanwhile, the UN and international Human rights activists have urged the parties at the talks to ensure that the peace agreement also ensures justice to banish impunity.
“For a peace agreement to be durable it must be based on the principles of justice, accountability and the rule of law,†the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, said in Geneva on May 12.
“Any accord must reaffirm the commitment of both parties to the core principle of international law that there can be no amnesty for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and gross violations of human rights.â€
The UN court in October 2005 issued arrest warrants against LRA leader Joseph Kony and his top commanders over charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
THE resumption of the peace talks is scheduled to delay until the end of the month because the LRA team is going to attend a workshop on Mato-Oput (traditional justice) in the South Sudan capital, Juba.
“The resumption of the peace talks will now be on May 31,†said the head of the Government delegation, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda. “This period is being used to do more preparatory work on the next agenda item; accountability and reconciliation, so that when we resume, we can make faster progress.â€
The deputy leader of the Government delegation, minister Okello Oryem, told journalists in Kampala that lawyers were refining a draft paper which would guide them while handling the next phase of the talks.
Meanwhile, the UN and international Human rights activists have urged the parties at the talks to ensure that the peace agreement also ensures justice to banish impunity.
“For a peace agreement to be durable it must be based on the principles of justice, accountability and the rule of law,†the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, said in Geneva on May 12.
“Any accord must reaffirm the commitment of both parties to the core principle of international law that there can be no amnesty for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and gross violations of human rights.â€
The UN court in October 2005 issued arrest warrants against LRA leader Joseph Kony and his top commanders over charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.