Peace talks resume in Juba

May 30, 2007

As the peace talks in Juba are scheduled to resume today, the chief Government negotiator has called the recent threats uttered by the LRA “not helpful”.

By Henry Mukasa

As the peace talks in Juba are scheduled to resume today, the chief Government negotiator has called the recent threats uttered by the LRA “not helpful”.

Rebel leader Vincent Otti last week threatened to resume war if the arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him and his colleagues were not dropped.

“Otti should be advised to make statements that are helpful and for peace,” internal minister Ruhakana Rugunda told the press yesterday. “His statements will not derail or block the talks.”

He caused laughter when he downplayed the threats as “Otti’s expression of freedom of speech.”

However, Rugunda repeated a warning by President Yoweri Museveni for the LRA to “either talk or perish”. “This is a soft landing. If they miss this opportunity, other harsher alternatives will be waiting for them”, Rugunda warned.

The minister acknowledged that the LRA once again broke its promise and failed to assemble at Ri-Kwangba within the agreed time-frame.

The deadline expired on May 25.
“They have not quite assembled but we expect they will assemble,” Rugunda said.

The minister defended the use of the traditional Acholi justice system, called mato oput, as an alternative to the ICC trials.

“The traditional methods are both symbolic and real,” he said.
“They have stabilised our society for centuries.

“They have worked. Instead of rushing for Western solutions, it is good we have revived them.”
He added that the system would be upgraded to meet international standards.

The peace talks, expected to resume today, will concentrate on item three on the agenda, reconciliation and accountability. It is likely to become a sticking point.
The LRA demands the withdrawal of the ICC warrants before signing a comprehensive peace agreement.

The warrants, however, can only be withdrawn when the ICC judges are satisfied that a competent Ugandan court has tried them according to international standards.

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