Grace Matsiko
4 February 2008
Juba — A NEW proposal by the US urging rebel leader Joseph Kony and his other indicted colleagues to surrender to the government of Uganda and subject themselves to the national judicial process, largely to shake off the International Criminal Court, has drawn a strong backlash from the LRA.
The proposal, circulated to negotiators in the South Sudan regional capital Juba, has prompted Kony to accuse President George Bush's administration of exerting pressure on the rebels and using underhand methods.
The US and the European Union last week joined the South Sudan mediated talks in Juba as observers. In a document; Scenario For Peace and Justice in Northern Uganda, Mr Timothy Shortley - the senior adviser to US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer who has been in Juba as a US observer to the peace talks - says his proposals are meant to expedite the negotiations.
In the paper, the US representative proposes that Kony and his two surviving colleagues who are wanted by the ICC, place themselves in the custody of the Ugandan authorities. This, he says, would would ensure they are safe and a peace agreement signed in Juba. It would also ensure that the rebels disarm in Ri-kwangba .
"Kony challenges the International Criminal Court by stating his intention to place himself in the custody of the Ugandan authorities and be subject to Ugandan national judicial proceedings," the document said.
LRA hits back
Kony, in a feat of anger, on Saturday stopped his peace team, led by Dr. Nyekorach Matsanga, from signing an agreement on the implementation of the principles of accountability and reconciliation until he has been consulted.
Dr Matsanga had earlier told the government team, led by Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, during consultations at the Juba Bridge Hotel that the document circulated by the US had made Kony suspicious of America's role in the talks.
"The document has created confusion. It was prepared by Martin Ojul (sacked LRA lead negotiator) and Col. Ray Achama, together with Mr Shortley. They have been working secretly behind the LRA leadership, the proposal was circulated to two people" Dr Matsanga told Dr Rugunda's team. "We are not opposed to America as an observer but we objected to the method of US raising documents under the table at night."
Mr Shortley could not be reached for comment as he was reported out of Juba while US Consul General in Juba, Ms Makila James, was out of office. Dr Matsanga on Saturday told chief mediator Riek Machar in the presence of Ms Makila that the issues America was raising were debatable but should be raised through the mediator.
Ms Makila was at the meeting to represent Mr Shortley, according to officials who attended. The media, whohad long waited to witness the signing of the agreement were disappointed when they were told at around 11.p.m that the process had been put off.
Following the impasse, the Uganda government delegation suggested that instead of taking one document to Rikwangba for Kony's perusal, both sides should discuss item agenda number 4 on the Ceasefire agreement and agenda number 5, on disarmament, demobilisation and re-integration as a time saving measure and take them at once.
The delegation spokesman, Capt. Chris Magezi, said on the rebels' insistence, the government accepted that the protocol to the agreement on the comprehensive solutions to the conflict in northern Uganda which was to be discussed at the end of the talks, be included so that the rebels take one package to Kony for approval.
"We agreed that while we await a helicopter from the UN to take them to Rikwangba, we continue discussing the ceasefire agreement, DDR, so that when they go to meet Kony, they have all the documents ready," he added.
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