To Riek Machar and key Officials in Juba peace talks

Dear Dr Riek,

Attn: Mr Olwny Obonyo,

October 8, 2006 — I write as one of the concern person who had been very active in organising several lobby conference steered and with focus on the Northern Uganda genocide which have been unfolding since 1986. In Europe I championed and chaired more than 20 different conferences and many attended even by Uganda government officials. Due to the situation at hand then and lack of proper contact with LRA officials we were unable to approach them then. I write to extend to you my sincere appreciation for the courage you have taken to champion for a ” Negotiated and peaceful resolution” to this bloody and traumatic conflict. I would like to point out clearly though many of you have enough resources and brain around there, still resolution of a devastating conflict and genocide which existed for so long like this may not be easy. Both parties need to be honest and must have compromise to move ahead, threat and war like attitude may be a signal to accelerate the war than its resolution.

Suggestion:

For the negotiation or any agreement to bear results few components must be recognise and valued at this critical time such as:

NB: The Community who have suffered must be accepted as VICTIMS, and their voices be address before any further progress without them as stakeholder but mere observer will not help much. Thier views and position be accorded a status and third party in the negotiating table, because both NRA/UPDF and LRA must convince this very group and accept their roles and eventual compensation before genuine end of the conflict can be assumed.

1. Uganda government must change their war liked attitude and humble their pride to seek for genuine peace.

2. Uganda government must accept the wrong they have meted on the population, the cause of the war, plunder and abuse of Human Rights including herding people forcefully in Camps within 48 hours, those found outside gazetted Camps were targeted as enemies.

3. After such recognition, they must apologise to the victims, i.e. the population; Acholi; Lango and Teso people. That should follow with the acceptance of compensation to the affected population for the wrong committed by NRA/UPDF and NRM government which held the “Uganda Constitution” but failed to implement it as it clearly was in execution “To protect lives and property of the Citizen” became a complete failed.

4. LRA must also humble themselves and accept the wrong they have committed on the population. They must be ready to apologise, accept completely that mistake has happened; they unfortunately turned their war on the population than focusing on their enemies and as the result they help in the ” Genocide strategy and became ally with NRM regime in their brutal execution of the war”. This is situation that is well known by all of you negotiating in these conflicts and LRA action became very unfortunate for the victims of this conflicts.

5. Every side must abandon their pride, and seek genuine peace for the sake of the population who are completely in hopeless situation and targeted by both side. SPLM must also prove beyond reasonable doubt that even if they were ally with NRM, they are ready to act as a legitimate authority and independent from their Mentor.

Sincerely,

Charles O Kagwa,

* The writer is a Corporate Finance and Management, And have been involved as: Co-ordinator and Controller for IWC, FMR Chairman Acholi Community in Scandinavia and Advocates for Human Rights in Uganda. He can be reached at [email protected]

– CC Dr Paito

CC Sudan Tribune

CC Dr Ruhakana Rugunda

1. H.E. Dr. Riek Machar – [email protected]

2. Obonyo Olweny – [email protected]

3. Sudan Tribune – [email protected] (widely read and
accessed by E & Horn of Africa)

4. Dr. Terence Paito Okello – [email protected]

5: Dr Ruhakana Rugunda: [email protected]