LRA resumes peace talks
Aug 14, 2006
THE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) peace negotiating team said yesterday it would resume talks with the government, but sought a break to mourn its third-in-command, killed over the weekend.
By Henry Mukasa in Juba
and agencies
THE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) peace negotiating team said yesterday it would resume talks with the government, but sought a break to mourn its third-in-command, killed over the weekend.
The government welcomed the decision by the rebels, who last Wednesday stormed out of the talks in Juba, southern Sudan, demanding that the Government declares a unilateral ceasefire.
But it urged the LRA “to be serious†and warned those still in the bush to take advantage of the state-granted amnesty and surrender or also be killed.
“We have agreed to continue with the peace talks. We do not want to be blamed if the talks collapse, but we know the Ugandan government wants the talks to fail,†rebel spokesman Obonyo Olweny told AFP.
State minister for foreign affairs Okello Oryem said, “What the LRA should do is advise their commanders on the ground to take advantage of the amnestyâ€.
“If they do not accept they will all die,†he said, explaining that Raska Lukwiya would have been spared if he had heeded the amnesty offer.
The agreement came a day after the UPDF killed the LRA third-in-command and war crimes fugitive, Raska Lukwiya, in a battle on Saturday in Kitgum district.
“We are going to ask the mediator to give us three days to mourn our fallen hero,†said Olweny.
“We had very good and wise counsel from the president of Southern Sudan. The president wants peace talks to continue,†he said.
The head of the LRA team, Martin Ojul, said in a written statement that “after consultation with our High Command, the field commander and cultural, religious and political leaders who are now in Juba, we firmly commit ourselves to present our position papers on cessation of hostilities and accountability and reconciliation tomorrow Tuesday 15th August, 2006.
“Unfortunately, due to the death of our top commander Maj. Gen. Lukwiya, we request to inform you that we are disoriented and we are unable to complete some of the papers we were preparing to present to the mediation team today.â€
The announcement, delivered at the two-hour meeting at the presidency in Juba, focused on LRA’s insistence that it would only return to face-to-face talks with the Government after it emulated its unilateral declaration of cessation of hostilities.
For six hours, the mediators led by Dr. Riek Machar, waited for the LRA team at Juba Raja hotel in vain.
The rebels were expected to present their position paper on demobilisation, disarmament and re-integration.
Ojul said, “We regret the long delay since morning which was caused by lack of power at our residence, we sincerely apologise to your entire mediation team.â€
and agencies
THE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) peace negotiating team said yesterday it would resume talks with the government, but sought a break to mourn its third-in-command, killed over the weekend.
The government welcomed the decision by the rebels, who last Wednesday stormed out of the talks in Juba, southern Sudan, demanding that the Government declares a unilateral ceasefire.
But it urged the LRA “to be serious†and warned those still in the bush to take advantage of the state-granted amnesty and surrender or also be killed.
“We have agreed to continue with the peace talks. We do not want to be blamed if the talks collapse, but we know the Ugandan government wants the talks to fail,†rebel spokesman Obonyo Olweny told AFP.
State minister for foreign affairs Okello Oryem said, “What the LRA should do is advise their commanders on the ground to take advantage of the amnestyâ€.
“If they do not accept they will all die,†he said, explaining that Raska Lukwiya would have been spared if he had heeded the amnesty offer.
The agreement came a day after the UPDF killed the LRA third-in-command and war crimes fugitive, Raska Lukwiya, in a battle on Saturday in Kitgum district.
“We are going to ask the mediator to give us three days to mourn our fallen hero,†said Olweny.
“We had very good and wise counsel from the president of Southern Sudan. The president wants peace talks to continue,†he said.
The head of the LRA team, Martin Ojul, said in a written statement that “after consultation with our High Command, the field commander and cultural, religious and political leaders who are now in Juba, we firmly commit ourselves to present our position papers on cessation of hostilities and accountability and reconciliation tomorrow Tuesday 15th August, 2006.
“Unfortunately, due to the death of our top commander Maj. Gen. Lukwiya, we request to inform you that we are disoriented and we are unable to complete some of the papers we were preparing to present to the mediation team today.â€
The announcement, delivered at the two-hour meeting at the presidency in Juba, focused on LRA’s insistence that it would only return to face-to-face talks with the Government after it emulated its unilateral declaration of cessation of hostilities.
For six hours, the mediators led by Dr. Riek Machar, waited for the LRA team at Juba Raja hotel in vain.
The rebels were expected to present their position paper on demobilisation, disarmament and re-integration.
Ojul said, “We regret the long delay since morning which was caused by lack of power at our residence, we sincerely apologise to your entire mediation team.â€