Ugandan LRA fails to sign final peace deal at Riikwnbwa
By Isaac Vuni
April 12, 2008 (NABANGA, Western Equatoria Stat) — The fugitive Lord’s Resistance Army boss General Joseph Kony has failed to show up for signing the final peace agreement with Ugandan government delegation at Riikwnbwa assembling point in Western Equatoia state of Southern Sudan.
Briefing forty journalists at Riikwnbwa camp, the chief mediator of Ugandan peace talks in Juba,. Riek Machar, who is also the Vice President of the government of Southern Sudan, said General Kony, wants some clarification on Acholi traditional justice system of “Mato Oput” and the special division of the high court of Uganda.
“General Kony wants to know which one comes first; and if Mato Oput comes first, what does it means to those who are charged with committing crimes on humanity and war crimes. Can they walk free after administering Mato Oput?” explained Machar
The chief mediator further explained that Kony also demanded meetings; first with the religious and traditional leaders from northern Uganda and later with chief mediator before LRA boss could append his signature on the final peace agreement documents.
In separate press briefing, both the mediators and Ugandan government delegation have no objection in granting the request of Joseph Kony; hence, the chief mediator immediately dispatch the religious and traditional leaders accompanied by David Matasnga including other members of LRA delegation at negotiating table in order to brief General Kony from his hide out location in Garamba forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo while mediators, observes and invited guest were left waiting at Riikwnbwa camp.
Nevertheless, The chief mediator, Riek Machar wondered why Matsanga has failed to brief Kony on traditional justice and the special division of the high court of Uganda after their request for one day workshop with religious and traditional leaders including members of parliament and district administrators from northern Uganda to explain to them the details of Mato Oput and the special court of Uganda which was held last year in December at Juba bridge Hotel.
Machar further said Matsanga himself reported to mediators that thirty traditional and religious leaders were designated to meet Kony to explain more about Mato Oput and the special division of Ugandan court.
Elucidating government of Uganda position on whether the LRA are seeking for renegotiation of the agreement, Ruhakana Rugunda, minister of internal affairs and team leader of government delegation stated that the two parties have within the last thirty months or so have exclusively discussed and signed final agreement documents in Juba peace negotiation and only what remains is appending of ceremonial final signatures by the principles.
Rugunda said Ugandan government have no plan of extending the cessation of hostility agreement that is due to end on 16th April 2008 .However, he said the chief mediator and the cessation of hostilities and monitoring team will continue doing every thing possible with their full support to ensuring that there is recapturing of the momentum; adding that the scheduled date of 14th April 2008 for ceremonial signing final agreement has been put off until further notice.
Under the ceasefire agreement, LRA forces are requested to assembly at Riikwnbwa camp of western Equatoria state but the LRA are only reporting to collect their food ration then they immediately disappeared, observed payam administrator of Nabanga .
Since LRA started cutting of ears, lips and nose of innocent people, in December 2003, Ugandan president Museveni decided to referred the LRA to the International Criminal Courts (ICC) based in Hague Netherlands to determine if the LRA is guilty of international war crimes.
The rebel LRA became effective at the time when Ugandan president Tito Okello, an Acholi, was overthrown by National Resistance Army then led by Yoweri Museveni Kwaguta in January 1986. Since Acholi speaking communities of northern Uganda feared the loss of their traditional domination of the national army of Uganda, hence, that period marked the intense turmoil in northern Uganda; and by August 1986 the rebellion Acholi resorted to a full-blown up insurgency in whole of northern Uganda.
(ST)