UPDF Yet To Cease Fire
Mar 03, 2003
KAMPALA, Monday- The Government was optimistic that the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) will keep its promise to cease hostilities with the State after more than 15 years of conflict.
By Dennis Ojwee
And Agencies
KAMPALA, Monday- The Government was optimistic that the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) will keep its promise to cease hostilities with the State after more than 15 years of conflict.
But operations against the rebels will continue until President Yoweri Museveni orders the army to stop fighting, a spokesman for the Uganda People’s Defence forces said.
“Ours is business as usual because this is an army with a commander in chief (and) unless we get orders to act otherwise, we shall continue with operations against the LRA,†Major Shaban Bantariza told AFP.
The LRA pledged to observe a ceasefire from midnight Sunday on condition that government forces do not attack them.
On Sunday Lt. Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), a member of the government team that has been negotiating with the rebels, welcomed the LRA offer.
“We have high hopes that we shall together achieve a meaningful cease-fire, which shall be formalised in our first face-to-face meeting soon as suggested by you (Kony),†he said.
Bantariza said, “Kony earlier on in September claimed through some of his field commanders that the LRA had entered into cease-fire but his fighters continued to ambush vehicles, killing many innocent civilians on many roads in the Acholi-sub region.
“So, even yesterday (Sunday, March 2), the LRA ambushed a civilian vehicle, a Dyna pick-up truck at Bibia in Atiak sub-county in Gulu, just about 12 hours soon after he declared the so-called cease-fireâ€.
But the civilian community in northern Uganda, especially the Acholi, have welcomed Joseph Kony’s positive response.
A member of the Acholi Religious leaders peace initiative, Monsignor Matthew Odong, the Vicar-General of Gulu Archdiocese, said the idea of Kony declaring a cease-fire was a good sign that peace would return to northern Uganda if the LRA means it.
“We as religious leaders in Acholi, warmly welcome Kony’s cease-fire proposals and hope that both the LRA and the UPDF take it very seriously so that a meaningful cease-fire is experienced.â€
The paramount chief of Payira, Rwot David Onen-Acana 11, said the Council of Acholi Traditional Chiefs welcomes Kony’s acceptance of the cease-fire. He appealed to Kony and his commanders to respect their words and work with the Government peace team so that peace can return to northern Uganda.
Like Bantariza, UPDF commanders in Gulu said their guns will only be silent if they got instructions to do so. Col. Gutti, the 4th Division commander in Gulu said, “I have not yet received any official communication from the Government to stop operations against Kony rebels on the grounds of a cease-fire.â€
Ends
And Agencies
KAMPALA, Monday- The Government was optimistic that the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) will keep its promise to cease hostilities with the State after more than 15 years of conflict.
But operations against the rebels will continue until President Yoweri Museveni orders the army to stop fighting, a spokesman for the Uganda People’s Defence forces said.
“Ours is business as usual because this is an army with a commander in chief (and) unless we get orders to act otherwise, we shall continue with operations against the LRA,†Major Shaban Bantariza told AFP.
The LRA pledged to observe a ceasefire from midnight Sunday on condition that government forces do not attack them.
On Sunday Lt. Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), a member of the government team that has been negotiating with the rebels, welcomed the LRA offer.
“We have high hopes that we shall together achieve a meaningful cease-fire, which shall be formalised in our first face-to-face meeting soon as suggested by you (Kony),†he said.
Bantariza said, “Kony earlier on in September claimed through some of his field commanders that the LRA had entered into cease-fire but his fighters continued to ambush vehicles, killing many innocent civilians on many roads in the Acholi-sub region.
“So, even yesterday (Sunday, March 2), the LRA ambushed a civilian vehicle, a Dyna pick-up truck at Bibia in Atiak sub-county in Gulu, just about 12 hours soon after he declared the so-called cease-fireâ€.
But the civilian community in northern Uganda, especially the Acholi, have welcomed Joseph Kony’s positive response.
A member of the Acholi Religious leaders peace initiative, Monsignor Matthew Odong, the Vicar-General of Gulu Archdiocese, said the idea of Kony declaring a cease-fire was a good sign that peace would return to northern Uganda if the LRA means it.
“We as religious leaders in Acholi, warmly welcome Kony’s cease-fire proposals and hope that both the LRA and the UPDF take it very seriously so that a meaningful cease-fire is experienced.â€
The paramount chief of Payira, Rwot David Onen-Acana 11, said the Council of Acholi Traditional Chiefs welcomes Kony’s acceptance of the cease-fire. He appealed to Kony and his commanders to respect their words and work with the Government peace team so that peace can return to northern Uganda.
Like Bantariza, UPDF commanders in Gulu said their guns will only be silent if they got instructions to do so. Col. Gutti, the 4th Division commander in Gulu said, “I have not yet received any official communication from the Government to stop operations against Kony rebels on the grounds of a cease-fire.â€
Ends