Patrick Elobu Angonu
11 August 2003
Kampala — The Lord's Resistance Army wants fresh peace negotiations with the government.
The demand is contained in a letter dated August 6 and signed by an LRA commander, "Brig." Charles Tabuley.
The rebels also want western powers to cut military support to President Yoweri Museveni and instead force him to negotiate peace with them.
The LRA letter was delivered to the government and the media by the former Iteso cultural head, Mr Pampimodot Edimu, who was abducted on August 6 and released two days later.
Edimu told a rally in Soroti town on August 8 that he was given the letter after passing through rigorous interrogation by Tabuley, who had just been promoted by Kony from rank of "colonel".
In the letter, a copy of which The Monitor has seen, the LRA urged the international community to end military support to the Movement regime because the military option had failed to bring peace to the north.
The LRA regretted failed attempts to negotiate a peaceful settlement with government and blamed President Museveni for the failures.
The rebels listed the 1993-1994 failed peace talks they held with Ms Betty Bigombe, the then minister for the pacification of northern Uganda.
Other failed attempts to negotiate peace with the LRA were those held with Lt. Col. Walter Ochora and Acholi elders, the Carter Centre in 1999-2000 and more recently those brokered by the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative.
Ochora is now the LC-V chairman of Gulu district.
Tabuley warned that the LRA would start attacking civilian interests if their peace offer is not welcomed.
However, the MP for Soroti Municipality, Mr Mike Mukula, dismissed the rebel peace offer.
Mukula told a rally in Soroti town on Saturday that Kony needs to be dealt with militarily.
The Kasese Resident District Commissioner, Mr Musa Ecweru, told the same rally that he has issued an order for the Teso militia force, the Arrow Group, to kill on sight any LRA warrior above 18.
He said that the clergy, including Pope John Paul II, have held prayers and fasted, but all that had failed to persuade the LRA to end the war.
The rally was attended by Acholi leaders including MP Ogenga Latigo, the LC-IV Chairman of Pader, Mr Yakobo Komakech, and the Deputy RDC, Mr Sylvester Opira.
The Pader officials were in Soroti to return 26 children who escaped from LRA captivity.
They also took eight of their own children who had been rescued by the army back to Acholi.
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