Juba — ELDERS from Southern Sudan have presented a document at the peace talks in Juba, implicating the LRA in killing 3,000 people.

The elders also blamed the UPDF for not adequately protecting civilians.

During a meeting between the LRA delegation with the elders and religious leaders from areas affected by the rebellion, the elders described the peace talks brokered by Southern Sudan Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar as "a golden opportunity for the two parties to reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict".

"The Sudanese community would not accept any further the war enforced on them from a neighbouring sisterly country, Uganda," the elders stated.

"Our government has taken a great step to mediate between the Ugandan government and the LRA as a first step to end the war in northern and eastern Uganda. This initiative should not be taken lightly by the two warring parties."

They listed LRA atrocities committed against various tribes.

The document said in southern Bari (Lobonok, Gumbo, Billinyang, Mugiri, Rejaf and Mangalla), more than 300 people were killed.

"Three women had their legs amputated, an old man had both upper and lower lips cut off, three girls had their ears cut off and over 1,500 cattle raided from Juba."

"In Lolubo area, more than 18 villages were affected, 394 people hacked to death and 17 abducted. In east and west Lokoya, west 280 killed, east 119 killed, and 11 abducted."

The statement, presented in the presence of Machar, the chief mediator, enumerated more atrocities.

"In Magwi county, 1,149 killed, 36 abducted, 2 killed and cooked and made to be eaten by two others who later got killed. In 2001 in Agoro five people killed, cooked and eaten by the remaining people. The remaining were also killed in the end. In Omeo, the wife of traditional rainmaker Paulo Oyet and his daughter-in-law were killed."

The elders also accused the UPDf of turning "their guns to the civil population, shooting, looting, raping and burning their huts in pretext of chasing the LRA."

"At Kitire in 2004, the UPDF killed the three escorts assigned to lead them to the hideout of the LRA."

The elders then called for a traditional reconciliation process for the two parties

According to them the accused party admits /accepts the harm and injury inflicted on the other and show sincere regret of the injury done in form of apology.

The explained that the two parties then vow never again to inflict such harm to the South Sudanese people.