Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kampala (Fides Service) - Peace talks for northern Uganda between the Ugandan government and the Lord's Resistance Army LRA being held in Juba in Southern Sudan are expected to resume. Negotiations stalled on various points including responsibility for victims and damages caused by the violence and management of post conflict reconciliation.
Both parties presented proposals to mediators which will be the basis of the final talks. The government representatives say the LRA must assume responsibility and ask forgiveness for the atrocities committed in northern Uganda. Another point of discussion is a warrant for the arrest of the four main LRA leaders issued by the International Penal Court. The LRA refuses to sign a peace agreement until the Court drops the charges against its leaders. The latter intend to appeal to the Ugandan judicial system in particular the traditional system to solve disputes used by the Acholi (majority ethnic group in northern Ugandan to which most LRA belong.) The practice “Mato oput” consists in obliging the guilty person to make a public request for pardon to the offended community and promise to pay compensation to the victims.
In the meantime the two main LRA leaders Joseph Kony and his deputy Vincent Otti, have said they will respect the Agreement on Comprehensive Solutions to the Northern Uganda conflict signed 2 May (see Fides 4 May 2007) which lays conditions to assure participation of all ethnic groups in political institutions and government with guarantees for judiciary order and security forces and the problem of resettling refugees and rebuilding northern Uganda.
The agreement also states “the parties agree on the necessity to provide protection for LRA leaders, combatants and personnel during the transition from conflict to peace ” (number 15) and urges “Parties to promote and encourage reciprocal trust and to adopt concrete measures in this direction” (number 16). (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2007 righe 30 parole 385)
