Paul Harera & Agencies
30 July 2007
Kampala — Lord's Resistance Army rebels have blamed the UN mission in the southern Sudanese capital of Juba for the postponement of the peace talks. The rebels say although they are not in the talks with the Ugandan Government for monetary gains, the UN accounting office had not paid their allowances and consultation fees for one month. They say the allowances were approved by mediator Riek Machar and agreed upon in agenda item number two.
The LRA deny pulling out of the peace process, saying they are committed to finding a lasting solutions to the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda. David Matsanga, a technical adviser to the rebels on ICC matterswas speaking to international media on Friday.
"There is nobody in the LRA delegation and in the LRA high command who is buying time. If there is anybody buying time it is the Uganda government and the donors, not us," he said.
A few days ago, the LRA said they needed US$2 million to ferry delegates, carry out consultations and do research in preparation for the talks that were due to resume last week. They have, however, been moved to a date yet to be named.
Mr Matsanga dismissed allegations that the rebels were undermining the peace process because of the ICC arrest warrants against the LRA top leadership. "Those people who think like that don't know anything about an agreement. They don't know anything about principles.
They are naïve and don't understand what we have been doing," he said. He, however, said the LRA were grateful to the international community for its contribution towards the peace negotiations.
Attempts by Daily Monitor to reach the UN office in Juba were futile as nobody answered the phones despite several attempts.
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