Ugandan rebel leader might sign peace agreement over the weekend
By James Gatdet Dak
September 5, 2008 (JUBA) — The leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Joseph Kony is expected to sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) between his rebel movement and the Ugandan government over the weekend.
Machar said he would travel to the Sudanese-Congolese border on Saturday to meet with Kony in the jungles of Rikwangba village at the border for possible signing of the peace agreement by the rebel leader.
Machar is expected to travel with the former Mozambican President and United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for LRA affected areas, Joachim Chissana.
Senior Uganda government delegates to the peace talks led by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ruhakana Rugunda and African Union observers’ team and United Nations facilitators are also expected to travel with Machar to Rikwangba.
Speaking to the press, Machar said Joseph Kony “may” sign the ever ready Final Peace Agreement on Saturday at his designated assembly area of Rikwanga.
He explained that all the protocols that were negotiated between the two parties were signed since March this year and what remained was the signature of Joseph Kony which would be followed by the signature of the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni.
Kony failed the mediators in two attempts in April and May to persuade him to come out and sign the peace agreement, citing the International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments and arrest warrants hanging over his head as an obstacle to peace in Northern and North-eastern Uganda.
He demanded for clarification of the protocol on accountability and reconciliation signed by his peace delegation before he could ink the Final Peace Agreement. It is not clear whether or not the demand has been resolved.
Machar acknowledged that the biggest fear of Kony is the ICC arrest warrants which caused the delay to sign the agreement.
He however explained that the stakeholders in the peace process would, after the signing of the Final Peace Agreement by Kony, request the UN Security Council to suspend the ICC case at least for twelve months to give time for implementation of accountability and reconciliation protocol inside Uganda.
The protocol stipulates that the rebel leader would be tried in a Special Division of the High Court, which would be supplemented by tribal traditional justice mechanisms of Acholi, etc. inside Uganda.
Machar re-iterated the Government of Southern Sudan’s commitment on security and trade interests to help peacefully end the notorious 21 years of war in northern Uganda and bring peace, which he said would promote stability, trade and development in northern Uganda as well as in Southern Sudan.
The 21-year brutal conflict in Northern Uganda is blamed for the displacement of nearly 2 million people and the death of tens of thousands more in the region.
The LRA peace negotiators say they are fighting against marginalization in the North and North-eastern part of the country.
The Juba peace process is seen as the best chance to end the LRA war that has crossed international borders and proven to pose a security threat regionally.
Odinga and Kibaki formed a coalition government in February after at least 1,000 people died and more than 300,000 were forced to flee their homes when clashes broke out after the disputed Dec.27 election.
The crisis erupted after Kibaki won a second five-year term in the vote that Odinga said was rigged.
(ST)
catfamily
Ugandan rebel leader might sign peace agreement over the weekend
It would be good if not a repeatetive nonsense.
Both Machar and Kony, you have been claiming for peace implementation but it could not happen.
Mr. Kony, you are wise but you lack of respect your thugs commanders could always carry out murdering southerners to whom Riak is your chief mediator. How could they continue killing the people as I heard it last month. An important man can say what he means and means what he says.to say there is peace peace peace without implementing it is worst than being in exile.look your own northerners Acholi,kakwa,alur,lugbara are in deep agony of poverty, deprivation,suffering and other descrimination because of you.
You have to sign peace and the world would pay attention toward Museveni incase of any policies against you.
Before I left for Australia,I had once stayed at Arua district and later to Kampala fout years studying all senior classes than I went back to my home town Rumbek.
My analytical point of view was that, your government is really booking for peace, they wanted to have peaceful chance with you.
So mr. Machar and Joshim Chisano of Mozambique let peace happen to make our people free.
Thanks.
Mr.Catfamily.
Gatdelha
Ugandan rebel leader might sign peace agreement over the weekend
Mr. Joseph Kony, is warlord, he is doing business with war, the longer it takes, the more monies he makes, just like what SPLA/M Dr. Garang used to do!
But Mr. Joseph Kony, blood of the people is bitter, if your intention is to make monies and live a luxury live, in expense of your people’s blood, then, the hell of air crash is awaiting for you just like our leaders who didn’t enjoy their bloody money! always remeber: what goes around comes around! be serious about peace and save some few lives just to gain mercy from almighty!