Ruzindana missed the point!
Oct 15, 2006
SIR — On behalf of the Uganda delegation in Juba, I would like to thank those patriotic Ugandans who have through their writing and other efforts, supported the peace process.
SIR — On behalf of the Uganda delegation in Juba, I would like to thank those patriotic Ugandans who have through their writing and other efforts, supported the peace process. I also thank the Government of Southern Sudan for initiating and steering these talks. However, the issues articulated by Mr. Augustine Ruzindana, in the Daily Monitor of October 6 were unfortunate and misleading. In his article entitled “Lies, lies and more lies about 2011†Ruzindana writes that President Museveni, through his representatives in Juba, has told lies to the LRA by saying that he will not cling to power. He alleges that the President has created mechanisms which he is going to use to stay at the helm for the rest of his life as President. Since peace is not a partisan matter, I will not delve into the political innuendos articulated in Ruzindana’s article. First of all, the Juba forum is not a forum for telling lies. Peace is such an important matter for our people that we as rational thinking Ugandans cannot use the opportunity to spew lies. For Ruzindana to have alleged that the government delegation is being used by Museveni to tell lies, is fallacious, misleading and irresponsible. The point that Museveni was planning to cling to power was raised by the LRA delegation. The Uganda delegation used the opportunity to inform the LRA about the constitutional developments that have occurred in Uganda. The LRA delegation was informed that Article 107 of the constitution clearly stipulates terms and conditions for the removal of a president. The constitution also provides for regular, free and fair elections. There is no way any president can cling to power with these mechanisms in place. Ruzindana wonders why the President would personally go to Juba to talk to Kony. He also accuses the government of hurrying to take the five LRA commanders to the ICC and that these indictments have now become a bottleneck to the talks. He also attacks Museveni for putting arrogant deadlines that are unnecessary for the talks. Finally, he harps on the issue that the UPDF too committed atrocities against the people in northern Uganda.
Surely, Ruzindana should know that the President’s offer to go to Juba and participate personally, is the greatest expression of government’s commitment to end the insurgency in the north through dialogue. As a leader who is committed to bringing stability to the entire country, that is a gesture of a peace lover. Ruzindana also attacks the President for setting a time-frame for talks with the LRA. Being a renowned economist of his time, Ruzindana should know that all processes have time-frames. His outbursts on the ICC are even more irresponsible. It is amazing that he thinks that the government rushed to take Kony to the ICC after 20 years of committing heineous crimes. In fact, the indictments put the LRA on pressure and made them realise that their atrocities could not go unpunished.
For him to state that the indictments are a stumbling block to the peace process, is to miss the point. The ICC has not interfered with the talks at any one moment. The government and ICC are allies in the quest for peace and justice. The concern of the ICC and the government is to ensure that there will be no impunity. This concern will be addressed by the alternative traditional justice. After this process, the government can then engage the ICC with a view to reviewing the indictments.
For Ruzindan to think that Museveni could be shielding some UPDF officers from indictment by the ICC for the atrocities committed in the north, is an attempt to equate the UPDF with the LRA. If he has such evidence, he should bring it out.
Capt. Paddy Ankunda
Government Delegation Spokesman
Juba
Surely, Ruzindana should know that the President’s offer to go to Juba and participate personally, is the greatest expression of government’s commitment to end the insurgency in the north through dialogue. As a leader who is committed to bringing stability to the entire country, that is a gesture of a peace lover. Ruzindana also attacks the President for setting a time-frame for talks with the LRA. Being a renowned economist of his time, Ruzindana should know that all processes have time-frames. His outbursts on the ICC are even more irresponsible. It is amazing that he thinks that the government rushed to take Kony to the ICC after 20 years of committing heineous crimes. In fact, the indictments put the LRA on pressure and made them realise that their atrocities could not go unpunished.
For him to state that the indictments are a stumbling block to the peace process, is to miss the point. The ICC has not interfered with the talks at any one moment. The government and ICC are allies in the quest for peace and justice. The concern of the ICC and the government is to ensure that there will be no impunity. This concern will be addressed by the alternative traditional justice. After this process, the government can then engage the ICC with a view to reviewing the indictments.
For Ruzindan to think that Museveni could be shielding some UPDF officers from indictment by the ICC for the atrocities committed in the north, is an attempt to equate the UPDF with the LRA. If he has such evidence, he should bring it out.
Capt. Paddy Ankunda
Government Delegation Spokesman
Juba