Clerics ask rebels to release kids

Dec 15, 2007

AS a sign of their commitment to the peace process, the LRA rebels should release children and women in captivity, a body of clerics has said.

By Chris Kiwawulo

AS a sign of their commitment to the peace process, the LRA rebels should release children and women in captivity, a body of clerics has said.

The Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) leaders headed by Bishops Zac Niringiye (Kampala) and Mathias Ssekamanya (Lugazi), said the move would build confidence and boost the talks.

They were meeting the LRA consultation team on Thursday for the second time in Kampala at Pope Paul Memorial Centre in Ndeeba. Niringiye chaired the meeting.
A report released by the World Bank in February put the number of children in captivity at 66,000, whereas UNICEF put the number at 25,000.

The report noted that the most targeted children were males between 13 and 18 years.

The leader of the LRA delegation, Martin Ojul, pledged to convey the religious leaders’ plea to rebel leader Joseph Kony when the team travels to Garamba in DR Congo.

He acknowledged that UNICEF together with a number of stakeholders had approached them on the issue of releasing the children. The LRA team that formally ended its consultations on December 5 with the Amnesty Commission and the Judiciary, said they successfully carried out their work without any threat.

Ojul commended the Government for ensuring their security.
He said in all the areas they visited, Ugandans wanted the International Criminal Court’s indictments against the top four LRA commanders dropped.
“People want the LRA to be subjected to the traditional justice system (mato oput).”

UJCC members, who are also supporting the traditional system, called for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), of which they want to be part. They called for hearing of cases concerning children in camera to avoid embarrassment to victims and witnesses.

The Transitional Futures Africa programme director, Carine Kaneza, advised that the Judiciary and the Amnesty Commission work closely with the TRC.

The LRA military representative on the consultation team, Col. Michael Anywar, assured UJCC members that they have no plans to regroup for fresh fighting.

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