Don’t lose this chance, Chissano tells LRA
Apr 26, 2007
SOUTH Sudan president Salva Kiir has asked the Government and the LRA rebels to ensure that the peace talks, which resumed yesterday, culminate into a peace agreement.
By Henry Mukasa
in Juba
SOUTH Sudan president Salva Kiir has asked the Government and the LRA rebels to ensure that the peace talks, which resumed yesterday, culminate into a peace agreement.
“I urge you to put aside your differences for the sake of peace. The problems you are attempting to solve are not so deep rooted as we had in Sudan. We fought a bitter war in Sudan,†Kiir said at the opening of the peace talks at Juba Raha Hotel.
Uganda’s delegation is led by internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, while the LRA team is led by Martin Ojul.
“We are concerned that the battle field has shifted to South Sudan and atrocities committed, something that has discredited the government of South Sudan, especially in Eastern and Western Equatoria province,†Kiir said.
He noted that his government had weathered international criticism to bring the peace talks this far.
The UN special envoy, Joachim Chissano, urged the two delegations to seize the chance of the resumed talks and reach a peace agreement.
“Don’t let this opportunity go. I would like to remind Mr Ojul, when I first met him in Nairobi Don’t lose this opportunity. And this is valid for the Government team. Don’t lose this opportunity.â€
He said he was optimistic that the handshake between LRA leader Joseph Kony and Rugunda had sealed the peace agreement and that the delegations were negotiating the details.
On the UN court indictments against the LRA commanders, Chissano explained that “ensuring no impunity in relation to international law is a matter of principle of the UN, particularly on crimes against humanity.â€
He commented that the process of meting out justice for the LRA leaders must reach international standards.
The former Mozambique president advised that some of the issues at the talks could be solved within Uganda after the agreement has been signed.
The chief mediator, Riek Machar, revealed that the issue of the LRA stipend has been settled.
The LRA team had asked for “$300, but they will each be paid $70 and $50 for communication daily.
Rugunda cautioned against over-stretching the peace process.
“We are here to work on the frame work for peace and not write a new constitution or a meticulous book about the political history of Uganda.â€
Ojul lamented that if the regional leaders had responded to the LRA demands, the talks would not have stalled for four months.
The talks stalled in January when the LRA demanded change of the talks mediator and venue.
in Juba
SOUTH Sudan president Salva Kiir has asked the Government and the LRA rebels to ensure that the peace talks, which resumed yesterday, culminate into a peace agreement.
“I urge you to put aside your differences for the sake of peace. The problems you are attempting to solve are not so deep rooted as we had in Sudan. We fought a bitter war in Sudan,†Kiir said at the opening of the peace talks at Juba Raha Hotel.
Uganda’s delegation is led by internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, while the LRA team is led by Martin Ojul.
“We are concerned that the battle field has shifted to South Sudan and atrocities committed, something that has discredited the government of South Sudan, especially in Eastern and Western Equatoria province,†Kiir said.
He noted that his government had weathered international criticism to bring the peace talks this far.
The UN special envoy, Joachim Chissano, urged the two delegations to seize the chance of the resumed talks and reach a peace agreement.
“Don’t let this opportunity go. I would like to remind Mr Ojul, when I first met him in Nairobi Don’t lose this opportunity. And this is valid for the Government team. Don’t lose this opportunity.â€
He said he was optimistic that the handshake between LRA leader Joseph Kony and Rugunda had sealed the peace agreement and that the delegations were negotiating the details.
On the UN court indictments against the LRA commanders, Chissano explained that “ensuring no impunity in relation to international law is a matter of principle of the UN, particularly on crimes against humanity.â€
He commented that the process of meting out justice for the LRA leaders must reach international standards.
The former Mozambique president advised that some of the issues at the talks could be solved within Uganda after the agreement has been signed.
The chief mediator, Riek Machar, revealed that the issue of the LRA stipend has been settled.
The LRA team had asked for “$300, but they will each be paid $70 and $50 for communication daily.
Rugunda cautioned against over-stretching the peace process.
“We are here to work on the frame work for peace and not write a new constitution or a meticulous book about the political history of Uganda.â€
Ojul lamented that if the regional leaders had responded to the LRA demands, the talks would not have stalled for four months.
The talks stalled in January when the LRA demanded change of the talks mediator and venue.