Uganda talks: Not so fast Dr. Machar
How long did it take The SPLA/M to negotiate peace for Southern Sudan?
By Obargot Paabwola
October 08, 2006 — I was baffled reading from The Monitor Publications of October 06, 2006, a piece under the heading “Machar angered by LRA, issues ultimatum”.
If there is anyone that should know better fundamental political
disagreements, it is Dr. Machar himself, who was once a rebel then a leader
of his own faction before negotiating his way back into the main SPLA/M
rebels, during the long civil war that so far has ushered in South Sudan, a
Southern government of which he is the Vice President.
How long did it take Dr. Machar and the SPLA/M to negotiate peace for
Southern Sudan?
Dr. Machar needs to be made aware there is no hurry here, and there should
not be. Just because some Northern Ugandans are lying low does not mean we
are not interested in correcting the malfunctioning political establishment
in the country. We definitely are, and are paying close attention into each
and every events taking place.
War is war, and fundamental political disagreements can never and should
never be handle like mere scuffle in a bar where all the partners in
conflicts are in most cases drunks.
Museveni decimated Acholi people for the last 20 years, and while at it,
continuously rubbished all cries and efforts to bring peace in the region
possibly to meet his intended goal: to revenge over the killings in Luwero
Triangle that he persistently till to date blames it on Northern Ugandans
without any proof save piling up skulls of those killed for the world to
see, yet many of the skulls he parades, the persons may have been killed by
himself or his troops.
If Museveni’s problem was Luwero triangle, he could have sought after the
criminals who committed the crimes in the infamous Triangle, inclusive,
himself and his own troops as possible suspects till proven innocent. He
bluntly disregarded that effort, and instead came after innocent ordinary
Acholi people.
Dr. Machar therefore cannot obviously demonstrate some raw anger here; he
should acquaint himself with how deep this crisis is first if he has not
yet. As a mediator he has no choice but the toe the line without appearing
to favour one side.
The LRA demands are legitimate; and they must make as wide consultations as
they possibly can to have a clear picture and absolute hold of not only the
negotiation, but also the political issues fundamental that must be
addressed. If this means travelling to meet the wider Northern and Eastern
Uganda communities, Dr. Machar as a mediator and Southern Sudan government
as a host government should grant them the time to do so.
Again, how long did it take, Dr. Machar & Dr. Garang, to bring peace in
Southern Sudan? Dr. Machar should look back in his own backyard and stop
becoming a nuisance. Twenty years of political repression over Northern
Ugandans is no small time and cannot, should never, be handle like some kind
of primary schoolyard scuffles. There are serious political and economic
problems that need must be addressed here. For instance, none other than
Ugandan army has deliberately depleted Acholi livestock. Forests have been
cut down and the timbers shipped off to sell and build personal wealth, &C.
People who rebelled in Uganda due to Museveni and his NRA arrogance and bad
governance, are not little Children to be ordered around to sign the peace
talk; to assemble in designated places; to wipe up their noses; and &C!!
Lets grow up. Museveni brought miseries in the land. Period.
* Obargot Paabwola can be reached by email: [email protected]