LRA rebels want to destabilize peace in Southern Sudan – aid worker

Dec 20, 2005 (NAIROBI) — Friday’s attack by the Ugandan rebel Lord’s Resistance Army on a civilian truck at Teretenye village near Ikotos in southern Sudan may be an indication that the rebels want to destabilize the peace in southern Sudan.

The resettlement and emergency coordinator for Norwegian church aid, mister Hakim Tiberio, just returned from eastern Equatoria state and tells Sudan Radio Service (SRS) that after the attack on Teretenye village, the LRA proceeded to Lasos village.

The exact number of casualties has not been established because of the remoteness of the area, but it is known that some people were killed.

Tiberio believes the LRA attacks in southern Sudan have now taken a pattern that explains their strategy.

He said “when you look at the attacks perhaps you can build a kind of strategic aim out of that because in the last 3 or so months or even one month the attacks have been concentrating on roads leading to the border. As far as I am concerned it seems they are trying to block the roads leading to Uganda. They did also in Yei, in Nimule road when they attacked the mine workers and then the other roads even in Parajok they are concentrating on trying to prevent our people from going to Uganda and trying to prevent people realizing that there is peace.”

The coordinator for Norwegian church aid says the scattered SPLA units in the Ikotos region are not effectively maintaining security in the area.

(SRS/ST)