Northern Uganda is a better venue for talks
Jan 26, 2007
IT is almost one year since talks began in Juba, southern Sudan, yet the two parties have failed to sign the peace pact. Instead, the rebels are demanding to relocate to yet another venue. At this point of peace talks, the venue seems to be a sticking issue that needs to be closely looked at.
<By Martin Ekanya
IT is almost one year since talks began in Juba, southern Sudan, yet the two parties have failed to sign the peace pact. Instead, the rebels are demanding to relocate to yet another venue. At this point of peace talks, the venue seems to be a sticking issue that needs to be closely looked at.
The governments of Uganda and southern Sudan have spent huge amounts of resources to facilitate the talks yet the agreement has yielded nothing much to be proud of. Among the Acholi and Lango, whenever there is any talk to resolve issues, it is done at the scene of the conflict. The elders or negotiators are never transported to Kampala for such talks.
It is against this background that I feel northern Uganda would be an ideal venue for the talks because it is a homeland to both the victims and the perpetrators.
Furthermore, the convenience of such a location would also hasten harmony between civilians, rebels and the UPDF. We need to help the war victims change their attitude towards the LRA and we cannot do that if they are far from each other. This, in no way rules out the fact that bringing the rebels closer to their victims would hurt the healing wounds.
No covered wounds ever get healed and we should not fear to face issues. War victims would rise up in rage against the LRA but would eventually cool down in reconciliation.
Lack of trust
There are complaints over lack of trust from both parties. The LRA describes the mediator, Dr. Riek Machar as an ally to the UPDF.
The LRA also complained that UPDF had besieged them in Owiny-Ki-Bul, an accusation that the UPDF spokesman denied. All these coupled with the fact that it is easier to monitor talks in the north justifies the need to bring talks home.
Let the two parties identify a place in the north, put the rebels in camps during talks so that they may also enjoy life in IDP camps; an experience they missed for 20 years.
This arrangement, I believe, will will restore mutual trust between both parties to the talks.
Let the international community make arrangements to guard rebel camps and feed them. We shall then see who will dare to abduct them from their camps or ambush civilian vehicles on the roads as it has been the case in Juba.
The writer is a journalist with Rupiny Newspaper
IT is almost one year since talks began in Juba, southern Sudan, yet the two parties have failed to sign the peace pact. Instead, the rebels are demanding to relocate to yet another venue. At this point of peace talks, the venue seems to be a sticking issue that needs to be closely looked at.
The governments of Uganda and southern Sudan have spent huge amounts of resources to facilitate the talks yet the agreement has yielded nothing much to be proud of. Among the Acholi and Lango, whenever there is any talk to resolve issues, it is done at the scene of the conflict. The elders or negotiators are never transported to Kampala for such talks.
It is against this background that I feel northern Uganda would be an ideal venue for the talks because it is a homeland to both the victims and the perpetrators.
Furthermore, the convenience of such a location would also hasten harmony between civilians, rebels and the UPDF. We need to help the war victims change their attitude towards the LRA and we cannot do that if they are far from each other. This, in no way rules out the fact that bringing the rebels closer to their victims would hurt the healing wounds.
No covered wounds ever get healed and we should not fear to face issues. War victims would rise up in rage against the LRA but would eventually cool down in reconciliation.
Lack of trust
There are complaints over lack of trust from both parties. The LRA describes the mediator, Dr. Riek Machar as an ally to the UPDF.
The LRA also complained that UPDF had besieged them in Owiny-Ki-Bul, an accusation that the UPDF spokesman denied. All these coupled with the fact that it is easier to monitor talks in the north justifies the need to bring talks home.
Let the two parties identify a place in the north, put the rebels in camps during talks so that they may also enjoy life in IDP camps; an experience they missed for 20 years.
This arrangement, I believe, will will restore mutual trust between both parties to the talks.
Let the international community make arrangements to guard rebel camps and feed them. We shall then see who will dare to abduct them from their camps or ambush civilian vehicles on the roads as it has been the case in Juba.
The writer is a journalist with Rupiny Newspaper