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Uganda: LRA, Govt Agree On Disarmament
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New Vision (Kampala)
25 February 2008
Posted to the web 26 February 2008
Milton Olupot
Juba
THE LRA and the Government reached another agreement on disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) yesterday, the last item on the peace negotiations agenda, but the signing was postponed to Thursday.
The peace talks secretariat, headed by South Sudan's vice-president Riek Machar, has also drafted the final peace agreement.
The LRA is planning to travel to Joseph Kony's base in Garamba National Park tomorrow to consult their leader on the two documents before the final signing.
"We have agreed on DDR in principle. We have virtually concluded the peace talks," said the spokesman of the Government team, Capt. Chris Magezi.
He, however, warned against 'detractors' who could still wreck the peace process, especially during the important stage of implementation.
The two teams, led by internal affairs minister Ruhakana Rugunda for the Government and David Nyekorach Matsanga for the LRA, debated the disarmament issue up to 4:00am on Monday morning.
"This is a very sensitive document, we are going to consult the chairman before we make the final decision," said Matsanga.
He emphasised that the Government should put in place the necessary laws and means to implement the agreement.
Matsanga also called upon the Government to make a statement on when it would contact the UN Security Council and the ICC over the indictments of the top LRA commanders. "This is very critical for the signing of the final agreement," he stressed.
The Juba Secretariat is preparing invitations for the final signing ceremony, expected later this week.
"We hope that President Museveni will attend it. We also wish that Joseph Kony will be here," state minister for international affairs Henry Okello Oryem told Vision Voice radio last night.
"We similarly hope that other heads of state in the region will attend. We expect invitations to go to President Bashir of Sudan, President Kabila of Congo, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and the chairman of the African Union."
The DDR is the final document in the peace negotiation process. It outlines the means of receiving and resettling former combatants through orderly demobilisation.
A source said yesterday the issue of the LRA ranks came up again in the discussions.
After a protracted debate, the two sides settled on allowing the demobilised fighters to retain their ranks but they would not be recognised by the UPDF.
There was also contention on the release and repatriation of pregnant and breastfeeding women, along with children under 18.
While the government delegation wanted the word "unconditional release", the LRA rejected it and insisted on "earliest release".
The parties further took time to agree on the reception point for former LRA members within Uganda. While the Government wanted the centres spread to other areas of Uganda, the LRA wanted the points to be located in Acholi area only.
They also agreed that upon signing the final peace agreement, any LRA members who may surface in Uganda will be eligible for the DDR process as long as they report to places of worship and to cultural leaders with their weapons.
The Government wanted the reporting areas to also include Police stations, local councils, military detachments and courts of law.
The agreement ensures equal participation of women in the DDR process. The DDR shall also become an integral part of the government's peace, recovery and development plan for northern Uganda.
The monitoring teams are supposed to record full particulars of the LRA members and the intentions of those who may wish to be absorbed into the Ugandan armed forces or any national security agency.
Former LRA combatants and non-combatants will be supported in their transition to civilian life. Anybody who wants to go back to school, including vocational training schools, will be assisted to do so.
The deal also stipulates that all LRA members who present themselves in the Ri-Kwangba assembly area will be eligible for the DDR programme, where certificates will be issued.
According to recent defectors, the LRA numbers around 800, including abducted children, girls who were given as sex slaves to commanders and babies born in captivity.
A group of about 200, however, crossed into the Central African Republic on February 18, contrary to earlier agreements that all the fighters should assemble at Ri-Kwangba in South Sudan.
Prominent Acholi have welcomed the progress in the peace talks but expressed doubt whether Kony would submit himself to a special division of the Ugandan High Court, as agreed last week.
"Much as we thank both parties for the efforts they have made, the most important question is: Is it going to be implemented?" Gulu RDC Walter Ochora said on Sunday.
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"Is the LRA going to disarm? Will they assemble at Ri-Kwangba? Will Kony and the two other commanders present themselves to the Ugandan court? If those are answered, we shall be sure that peace has been achieved."
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