Surrender, LRA!

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni gave new focus to the war in the north this weekend. He announced that government was ready for talks with the Lord’s Resistance Army provided they meet the conditions given.The President also published a balance sheet of the war since Operation Iron Fist started in March, to help the ordinary Ugandan understand what is going on there and why the Kony war had persisted.A clearer picture is forming in the minds of many Ugandans now. The Kony war is nearing its end, despite the suffering the LRA continues to inflict on the people of the Acholi-Lango sub-region.The earlier the LRA take advantage of the government’s offer of cease-fire the better. Indeed several are increasingly sensing the hopelessness of their misadventure and are surrendering. Kony has lost his rear base, is getting increasingly cornered and short of supplies. His rebels should take advantage of the breather and surrender. According to the president’s balance sheet since Operation Iron fist started, 450 rebels have been killed, 37 captured, 470 civilians rescued. The UPDF has also captured 568 rifles and many other pieces of ammunition. The LRA shows it is ready to end war. But past activities of the LRA make many Ugandans skeptical about the rebels’ willingness. Indeed they announced a cease-fire Saturday night. But by Sunday morning, they had ambushed a vehicle and killed two people on Adjumani road. Inside Sudan Kony ordered the execution of eight of his men whom he accused of wanting to defect.The LRA’s current brutality reflects their current desperation. Pressure should be kept on them. At the same time all well-meaning Ugandans should rally behind the efforts to end this war.Ends