South Sudan’s Machar reiterates commitment to Uganda peace mediation
By Isaac Vuni
December 17, 2007 (JUBA) — There is no return from mediating a peace involving government of Uganda and rebel Lord Resistance Army (LRA), Dr. Riek Machar, Chief mediator in Ugandan conflict has declared.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of two days workshop organized for the representatives of the LRA affected Areas in Southern Sudan by Conciliation Resources International Organization, credited for conflict transformation; Vice President Machar reminded the participants that CPA provision empowered the government of southern Sudan (GoSS) to use force in situation of foreign insurgency in Southern Sudan territory. However, he adds, GoSS opted to mediate peacefully with Ugandan warring parties in order to realize lasting political solutions that will benefit Ugandan and its neighbors.
Vice-President Machar disclosed that over 500 Southern Sudanese has been killed by Ugandan warring parties while another 126 people abducted by LRA who are holding them to the present.
He went on saying that any rehabilitation program being implemented in northern Uganda must also be extended to LRA affected areas in Southern Sudan.
He further emphasized that roads need to be open for private sector to participate in reconstruction and development of the southern Sudan to become a prosperous for all.
Meanwhile, UN Envoy for peace and reconciliation for Uganda conflict, Ambassador Joachim Casjiano, who arrived Juba from Entebbe yesterday evening, said Uganda- LRA peace talks will resume in January in Juba.
The Ugandan Ambassador to Sudan, Mull Katende, said “The people and government of Uganda have very high respect to your government and its people and we want that relationship to grow further and further to extend of creating free border crossing without restriction.”
“Since you have heard all the necessary information concerning our commitment towards realizing durable peace along our neighboring countries, you better go and tell your people of what unites us than creating division;” added Amb. Katende.
He emphasized that the people of South Sudan and Uganda should live in harmony and to understand the levels of atrocities committed by LRA in both countries and also to find possible ways of addressing issues concerning cross border trade and people’s movement without any fear of harassment or intimidation.
Earlier the Ugandan Consul to Southern Sudan, Busho Nyinenka claimed that the rebel LRA leader Joseph Kony was an instrument used by Khartoum government to kill people in northern Uganda.
If you are able to take LRA top commanders to the International Criminal Court (ICC), then why don’t you also take president Omar al-Bashir to the same court since you claimed that he is the one who sponsored LRA to kill innocent people in South Sudan, posed Chief Simon Lukuji of Southern Bari Lobonok payam.
“Since both Sudan and Uganda are seriously involved in solving LRA insurgency through political and African traditional methods, therefore, we the traditional leaders from South Sudan LRA affected areas appeal to ICC to lift charges of crime against humanity imposed on Joseph Kony, leader of LRA.” He added.
The 65 South Sudanese representatives from the affected communities of Eastern, Central and Western Equatoria states today said they could forgive Joseph Kony and his fighters if they could demonstrates serious commitment towards durable and lasting peace in Ugandan and along South Sudan borders.
However, the Ugandan Consul to Juba, Busho said there is no any indication from Kony that he has embraced peace by signing a commitment documents that could be avail to the ICC and international community as evidence of commitment.
The facilitator of the workshop, Jimmy Long, said they had resolved from Gulu meeting that the eleven affected areas in South Sudan need to be reassessed next year 2008. Adding that there would be conferences held in the eleven affected areas in order to get the real views of the people.
He further said there will be two meetings on DDR for those children returning from LRA camps so that they are accepted within the communities and it will involve all the chiefs.
The LRA spokesman and delegation that arrived from Nairobi twenty minutes after Amb. Joachin Casjiano, declined to make any statement to the press.
The main objective of the workshop was to find a way forward and plan of activities acceptable to the people affected by LRA insurgency in southern Sudan and the participants of the two day’s workshop came out with the following recommendations:
– There must be a Communal Compensation by both Uganda and Sudan government to the affected areas in form of service delivery such as schools, health centers, vocational institutes, women and youth centers and financial grant to the disabled victims among others;
– The same rehabilitation and construction program being done in the affected areas of northern Uganda is accorded to LRA affected areas in Southern Sudan;
– That SPLA should ensure Maximum security so that LRA does not sneak out from its hiding location at Gramba to come and terrorize the innocent people of south Sudan;
– The orphan of LRA in southern Sudan should be accorded free education;
– People from the affected areas should be trained on how to rehabilitate and integrated r affected children.
– There must be an update enlightenment on the peace process to the communities affected in south Sudan.
– Stocking program should introduce to replace the lost cattle’s from the affected communities in south Sudan.
– Demanded that representatives of chiefs, women and youth to go and meet Kony for enhancing peaceful dialogue.
– If it has been proven that Sudan government has been supporting LRA, then Uganda and Southern Sudan governments to sue president Omar al-Bashir to ICC
– Uganda and GoSS should explore possibility of free border crossing for their citizens for the purpose of enhancing cordial relationship and business opportunities.
– Assessment of magnitudes of atrocities committed by LRA in the eleven affected areas in southern Sudan is to be carried out next year; and followed by two cross border conferences for sensitizing affected communities.
– There must be media network extension to rural communities for information dissemination on peace and reconciliation in local languages.
– There must be a unified format for data collection on LRA affected victims in South Sudan.
(ST)