Kony’s demand a waste of time

Jan 29, 2007

THERE seems to be a clash between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel chief Joseph Kony and his number two Vincent Otti. But while Kony reportedly says the peace talks between the LRA and the Government should continue in Juba, the people of Northern Uganda are not taking anything for granted,

THERE seems to be a clash between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel chief Joseph Kony and his number two Vincent Otti. But while Kony reportedly says the peace talks between the LRA and the Government should continue in Juba, the people of Northern Uganda are not taking anything for granted, the notoriety of the LRA is still fresh. The New Vision asked the public in Kampala what they think of the LRA demand that the venue of the talks be moved from Juba to either South Africa or Kenya.

Francis Toko, Koboko, Arua

The rebels are being put under pressure by the Sudan government to conclude the talks quickly, but the rebels do not want that. The rebels are not committed to peace because they know that they will not escape the International Criminal Court even if government gives them amnesty. Request for change of venue is meant to buy time. They want the UPDF to relax so that they penetrate Uganda again. UPDF should be deployed heavily along the borders.

Gertrude Ayo, administrator, Sudan Airways
I do not think the venue should change because peace talks will take even much longer time. I fear that change of venue will mean starting the talks afresh, which will delay it even more. This may mean that the LRA start unleashing their atrocities on the people again. We have suffered enough; these talks should be concluded quickly.

Enid, student Makerere University

If the LRA is the one demanding for change of venue, then it had better get serious. But I think the rebels are wasting time because nothing concrete has come out of the talks ever since they begun. I think the rebels have proved they are losing the battle and are weak. The Government should pursue them militarily since they (rebels) seem not to want to come out of the bush.

Richard Kwanuka, teacher

I have been following the peace talks in Juba and I think the rebels are not sincere with their demands. I have been to Lira and Gulu. There is a lot of business potential if people had peace. We should accommodate some of the demands of the LRA, but change of venue is ridiculous.
Agnes Siima, self employed
We need peace in northern Uganda. We need the peace talks to succeed, but if they cannot succeed in Juba, then it cannot succeed anywhere else. I don’t think change of venue will have any impact.

Rebecca, businesswoman

If that is what the LRA want, it should be done so that the peace talks can go on. If they are the ones demanding for the change of venue then they should be serious. Everything has to be given a trial so that peace returns to northern Uganda.

Ibrahim Ssenfuma, WBS TV journalist

If change of venue can bring peace to Northern Uganda, why not change? The rebels say they feel insecure in Southern Sudan, which might be true because we cannot know all the details an facts. Nairobi is not far, if the Government could spend billions of shillings to send former Vice President Specioza Kazibwe for further studies, why not spend those billions on ensuring that peace returns to northern Uganda.

George Luyinda, supervisor, Hotel Africana

Nobody likes war. War leads to backwardness and loss of life. The peace talks should be given a chance, but the LRA should not begin demanding for things which the Government cannot do. But the big part is with government. The LRA should not feel unsafe in Sudan. Those people are not our enemies that is why they offered to host the peace talks. The LRA should only show their commitment to the talks and all will be well. Good things take time, we should all be patient with the LRA. Short cuts may mean that the LRA will conclude the talks when they are not satisfied.

Anne Mukamagera, Hot Loaf Bakery, Kampala

The venue for the peace talks should not be moved from Juba. But if it must, then it should not be to where the rebels want. The rebels seems to be wasting time. Why are they postponing the conclusion of the talks? These talks need to be concluded quickly. People in northern Uganda need to have and enjoy peace also. I wish the people of northern Uganda peace so that they can settle and pursue development like the rest of the country.

Sadiq Mubiru, bodaboda cyclist, Kisaasi

If the LRA fears that they are not safe in Southern Sudan, the Government does not have anything to lose by accepting their demands for another venue. Government should organise for the venue which the LRA have suggested before concluding that the rebels are not serious with the talks. If the LRA begin making impossible demands from the new venue, then we shall know that they are not serious about peace and thus find another solution for them.

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