Talks With Kony Can Go On, Says Museveni
Oct 02, 2002
THE Government has not closed the door to a negotiated settlement to the war in northern Uganda, reports <b>John Kakande.</b>
THE Government has not closed the door to a negotiated settlement to the war in northern Uganda, reports John Kakande.
But the Government’s position is that for their own security, the bishops spearheading the peace initiative should talk to the rebels either by telephone or through an emissary.
The Government has also restated its position that for meaningful talks to take place, the LRA rebels must stop killing, ambushes on roads and gather at designated de-populated areas.
Mrs Mary Okurut, the press secretary to the President, yesterday said it was not true the Acholi religious leaders had been directed to cease contacts with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
In a statement, Okurut said, “This is to clear the impression created by the media that President Yoweri Museveni has directed cessation of contacts between the Acholi religious leaders and the Lord’s Resistance Army.
“The President only advised the bishops against physical contacts with the rebels, not complete cessation of contacts with LRA rebels,†the statement said.
She added, “The President’s advice is a normal precautionary measure following reliable intelligence reports that the LRA leader, Joseph Kony, had issued orders to his field commanders to kill the religious leaders should they come in contact with them.
“The Government is still interested in a negotiated settlement to end the banditry carried out by the LRA.
“For any meaningful talks to take place, the LRA must observe conditions put forward by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF. These include stopping the killing of civilians, ambushes on roads and gathering in de-populated areas where they will have guarantees of the Red Cross and other NGOs,†Okurut said.
Museveni, while addressing the Gulu-based journalists last weekend, said he had written to John Baptist Odama, the Archbishop of Gulu and chairman of the Acholi Religious Leaders’ Peace Initiative, asking him not to meet Kony commanders after reports that Kony had ordered his commanders to kill the bishops.
However, Odama and his team have vowed to continue with the peace initiative, in spite of Kony’s order to have hem killed.
Ends
But the Government’s position is that for their own security, the bishops spearheading the peace initiative should talk to the rebels either by telephone or through an emissary.
The Government has also restated its position that for meaningful talks to take place, the LRA rebels must stop killing, ambushes on roads and gather at designated de-populated areas.
Mrs Mary Okurut, the press secretary to the President, yesterday said it was not true the Acholi religious leaders had been directed to cease contacts with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
In a statement, Okurut said, “This is to clear the impression created by the media that President Yoweri Museveni has directed cessation of contacts between the Acholi religious leaders and the Lord’s Resistance Army.
“The President only advised the bishops against physical contacts with the rebels, not complete cessation of contacts with LRA rebels,†the statement said.
She added, “The President’s advice is a normal precautionary measure following reliable intelligence reports that the LRA leader, Joseph Kony, had issued orders to his field commanders to kill the religious leaders should they come in contact with them.
“The Government is still interested in a negotiated settlement to end the banditry carried out by the LRA.
“For any meaningful talks to take place, the LRA must observe conditions put forward by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF. These include stopping the killing of civilians, ambushes on roads and gathering in de-populated areas where they will have guarantees of the Red Cross and other NGOs,†Okurut said.
Museveni, while addressing the Gulu-based journalists last weekend, said he had written to John Baptist Odama, the Archbishop of Gulu and chairman of the Acholi Religious Leaders’ Peace Initiative, asking him not to meet Kony commanders after reports that Kony had ordered his commanders to kill the bishops.
However, Odama and his team have vowed to continue with the peace initiative, in spite of Kony’s order to have hem killed.
Ends