Ugandan rebels accused of killing 4 Sudanese as peace talks resume
By Isaac Vuni
February 18, 2008 (JUBA) –Uganda peace talks between the government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army resumed in southern Sudan capital Juba amid accusation to the LRA rebels of abducting 4 people by the Western Equatoria authorities but the rebels return the accusation to Kampala.
The Vice-President of Southern Sudan government and chief mediator, Riek Machar, had earlier given the two parties up to 25th to 29th February 2008 to complete and sign final agreement.
Ugandan peace talk in Juba resumed today Monday with LRA delegation accusing Ugandan government battalion number 105, which is composed of LRA and others rebels deserters who speaks Acholi, Madi and Arabic, of terrorizing and killing innocent people along Nimule and Kajo-kaji borders and inside Central Equatoria state of Southern Sudan later the blame are shifted on to LRA.
LRA delegations, Chairman and spokesman, David Masanga further accused Uganda government of lifting recent LRA deserters in Helicopter to DRC to disclose and attack LRA position, charge Ugandan government delegation to Juba peace Rukunda has denied saying it’s a calculated controversial accusation aimed to derail the signing of final deal.
Joachim Chisano, UN Special envoy to Juba peace talks between Ugandan government and the rebel LRA says he has done his best in consulting with concerned leaders over issues that required clarification and got the necessary answers. Therefore, he expects the two parties to sign a comprehensive agreement as soon as possible in order to easy suffering of people in northern Uganda including affected states southern Sudan.
Chisano also reminded the chief mediator of necessity of inviting church leaders from northern Uganda to monitor and participate in the talks because they are directly connected with grassroots communities who are now worried and Church does not know what to tell them.
When asked whether LRA is involved in the latest attack on the people of Central Equatoria, the emotional chairman and spokesman, David Masanga, angrily shouted at journalists and denied presence of LRA in Eastern and Central Equatoria states. LRA forces have enough free food given by humanitarian organizations therefore they see no reason why LRA should come over 900 miles to loots in Central Equatoria state, adds Deputy Chairman of LRA delegation, James Obita.
ADDITIONAL 4 PEOPLE ARE KILLED
However, the State Director of Central Equatoria Stan Yata, this afternoon said LRA has killed additional four people, and abducted another 11persons including five girls and displaced over one thousand people from Katigri payam, 95 miles from Juba now camped at Jebel Kujur, about 15 miles from Juba town. As Sudan Tribune visited the camps this afternoon, the displaced are still being registering by state authorities.
On 12th February 2008 Central Equatoria state Assembly in Juba have voted to support any peaceful demonstration against LRA who are still terrorizing southern Sudanese people while at the same time government of Southern Sudan is hosting and mediating politically solutions to Ugandan warring parties.
Last week the new LRA delegations, Chairman and spokesman, David Masanga, before leaving for consultation with Joseph Kony suspended LRA lawyer Chrisper Ayena until further notice and today replaced him with senior Lawyer Caleb Alaka from Kampala.
The talk had broken for consultation on February 5th this year.
As the peace talk was going on in Juba, another group of Uganda rebel called Ugandan People’s Liberation Front (UPLF) has emerged and officially lunched on 24th February 2007 under the leadership of Onen Ojwang who accused LRA of failing to project itself as freedom fighters and lack political education, indiscipline, lack clear objective and strategy of the political nature of the modern war.
(ST)