AFRICA/UGANDA - People are still dying in northern Uganda despite recent negotiations

Wednesday, 24 November 2004

Gulu (Fides Service)- “We are waiting with great expectation. There is an atmosphere of cautious hope, although the situation is still unsettled” said a missionary in Gulu, in northern Uganda ravaged for many years the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Yesterday marked the end of a unilateral cease fire announced by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni over an area of about 300 sq. km, covering the districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader . “The aim of the cease fire was to allow former minister Betty Bigombe to start talks with the LRA leaders. Betty Bigombe met the LRA spokesman, but not the leader Joseph Kony, thought to be in Sudan” the source told Fides. Kony said a 7 day cease fire was too short to start negotiations and that at least a 100 day cease fire was necessary. “The government replied that since in the 7 days Kony took no significant action for peace an 100 day cease fire was out of question. The army fears the LRA would use a cease fire period to reorganise its troops” the source told Fides.
As soon as the cease fire ended military operations resumed. The army, which had warned it would attack any rebel troops found outside the areas affected by the cease fire, said it had killed ten LRA rebels in combat in Sudanese territory. In fact the Ugandan and Sudanese governments agreed to let the Ugandan army follow LRA rebels into Sudan where the latter have their bases and to engage in conflict.
“The 7 day cease fire was only partly respected. The areas in which the army announced the cease fire were quiet but in other areas LRA troops attacked villages as usual” the source told Fides. “The army said as long as LRA troops did not engage in violence they could move around in the cease fire zones”.
There is less tension among civilians Fides sources say: “People are less anxious. We even noticed a drop in the number of children who come to spend the night in the parish for fear of being kidnapped during night time rebel incursions”.
“The situation is still unsettled and we are waiting for it to evolve. Government media gave ample space to this latest army attack on the rebels. This might indicate that a military solution is imminent. But peace appears still a long way off” the sources conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 24/11/2004 righe 39 parole 500)


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