Ugandan govt, rebels sign accountability and reconciliation deal
By James Gatdet Dak
February 19, 2008 (JUBA) — The Ugandan government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army/Movement (LRA/M) signed a landmark agreement on Tuesday in Juba that would address the issues of accountability and reconciliation during the post war period.
The annexure sets out a framework by which accountability and reconciliation are to be implemented pursuant to the principal agreement they previously signed on the agenda.
The agreement calls on the government of Uganda to expeditiously prepare and develop the necessary legislation and modalities for implementing the principal agreement and its annexure.
The agreement also stipulates that the Ugandan government shall by law establish a body to be conferred with all the necessary powers and immunities to consider and analyze any relevant matters including the history of the conflict. This body shall also inquire into human rights violations committed during the conflict and to hold hearings and sessions in public and private.
In pursuit of legal matters relating to the conflict, the agreement provided for establishment of a special division of the High Court of Uganda to try individuals who are alleged to have committed serious crimes during the conflict. Traditional justice is also recognized in the agreement to form a central part of the alternative justice and reconciliation framework. These provisions are also meant to alternate the International Criminal Court (ICC) justice system for some of the LRA top leaders indicted by the ICC.
The LRA leader Joseph Kony was reported by his negotiation team to have been satisfied with the agreement which should tackle the issues of serious crimes committed during the war using the Ugandan justice mechanisms, and not the ICC’s justice system.
The agreement also stipulates that the Ugandan government shall establish the necessary arrangements for making reparations to victims of the conflict and review the financial and institutional requirements for reparations.
The Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan and Chief Mediator of the Ugandan peace talks, Dr. Riek Machar, congratulated the two parties on behalf of his government for reaching an agreement on the “most difficult” and sensitive agenda during the negotiations.
A number of representatives from African countries, the European Union, United States of America and Norway witnessed the signing ceremony. Also present at the occasion was the former President of Mozambique and UN Special Envoy to the Ugandan Peace talks, Joachim Chissano.
The two parties are yet to agree on modalities for implementing the principal agreement on the Comprehensive Solutions to the Root Causes of the Conflict, which also addresses power sharing after which they would tackle the other two agenda on Permanent Ceasefire and Disarmament, Demobilization and Re-integration (DDR).
Chief Mediator Machar urges them to wrap up the talks and reach a comprehensive agreement by the end of the month.
The 21-year old conflict in northern Uganda resulted in the death of tens of thousands of people and displaced nearly two million.
(ST)