South Sudan discusses LRA’s rejection of Machar role in talks
Aug 6, 2006 (JUBA) — The Southern Sudan Cabinet has held a special session to discuss Ugandan rebels’ rejection of Riek Machar as the mediator in the talks between the Uganda Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels, the Kampala based Sunday Monitor reported
The government’s spokesman, Samson Kwaje, told Sunday Monitor that Machar would brief the Cabinet on the talks. But another government official said that the meeting would discuss whether the LRA was justified to reject Machar as mediator.
On Thursday, the LRA second-in-command, Vincent Otti, announced that his rebel group was rejecting Machar on grounds of partiality.
The rebels are particularly suspicious of the mediator’s demands that Otti must show up in Juba for the peace talks to resume next week because the next stage was so serious it needed an LRA leader who can take real decisions.
“Why is Riek making my presence in Juba a condition?” Otti said. “There must be something hidden in that after all there are no guarantees that I won’t be arrested.”
The International Criminal Court has arrest warrants out against Kony, Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Raska Lukwiya and Dominic Ongwen. The court wants Uganda, Sudan, or Congo to arrest the LRA top commanders and hand them over to face crimes of war charges at The Hague.
Otti said that if Machar does not change his attitude, “we shall look for another mediator”. The Ugandan government said on Friday that it has confidence in the Southern Sudan’s mediation of the peace talks.
The government’s chief negotiator, Internal Affairs Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, said that Kampala has full support and confidence in the mediation of Machar.
A Sudanese official said his Cabinet could take drastic measures against the LRA if it continues on its current path. “In the event that we cannot save the situation, the Cabinet may come up with an order expelling the LRA from our land since they are not interested in the talks,” the official said on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to comment on the matter publicly.
The Cabinet meeting comes a day after the LRA issued a unilateral ceasefire, an otherwise goodwill gesture toward the talks but one being marred by Otti’s insistence on not appearing in Juba.
The government in Kampala said it was not aware of the LRA move. It has, however, been wary of LRA’s ceasefire pronouncements before saying the rebel group normally uses that move to reorganise and rearm.
(Monitor/ST)