LRA rebels reject talks without Ugandan ceasefire

Aug 9, 2006 (JUBA) — Representatives of Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels rejected further peace talks with the government on Wednesday, saying they would rejoin discussions only if Kampala declared a ceasefire first.

The guerrillas announced an immediate cessation of hostilities on Friday and urged the government to follow suit to create a “peaceful atmosphere” for the talks in southern Sudan.

But Uganda’s government has rejected the call, accusing the LRA of using previous truces to regroup, recruit and re-arm.

“We are not willing to resume peace talks before the government also unilaterally declares cessation of hostilities,” rebel negotiators said in a statement.

An LRA spokesman in southern Sudan’s capital Juba, Obonyo Olweny, also accused Uganda’s military of killing eight LRA fighters in northern Uganda since the rebels stopped fighting.

“We have received credible information eight of our soldiers were killed… in Amuru, Pader and Gulu districts,” he said.

The spokesman for the Ugandan delegation, Captain Paddy Ankunda, told reporters the LRA’s stance was “unfortunate”. “It is unfortunate the LRA walked out of the meeting saying they would only resume talks if we issue a bilateral cessation of hostilities,” he said. “Our strongest belief is that we should have rules and regulation for the ceasefire and we both sign it.”

FIGHTERS MISSING The Ugandan government has repeatedly said it will only sign a ceasefire as part of a comprehensive peace agreement. South Sudan’s regional government says it wants to broker an end to the LRA’s 20-year war, which has uprooted nearly two million people in northern Uganda and destabilised south Sudan.

Talks had been due to resume on Monday, but were delayed as Uganda’s delegation held meetings with south Sudanese officials.

They were delayed again on Tuesday when part of the rebel delegation failed to return to Juba from a meeting with the LRA leaders at their hideout in east Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The fighters will be here when the time comes, but for now they are still with the high command,” Obonyo told Reuters.

Uganda and southern Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar, the chief mediator of the talks, had wanted LRA chief Joseph Kony or his deputy Vincent Otti to attend in person.

But both men are wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court and have so far stayed in their Congo hideout.

Last week, Otti said he thoughts plans to bring him to Juba were a “trap” to have him arrested, but that he and Kony had full confidence in the LRA negotiators.

(Reuters)