South Sudan could not wait indefinitely LRA signature – Salva Kiir Friday 10 October 2008.
October 9, 2008 (JUBA) — South Sudan could not wait for an indefinite period the signature of Ugandan rebel movement leader, said the president of southern Sudan on Wednesday showing for the first time signs of impatience towards the three years peace talks. Southern Sudan government mediated peace talks between the government and the Lord’s Resistance Army. The negotiations began in July 2006 and officially ended in March 2008, but the LRA leader, Joseph Kony refused to sign the final text of the agreement. Speaking at the opening of Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly second session, Salva Kiir Mayadrit, said he asked the UN envoy for the LRA, Joaqin Chisssano and the chief mediator, Riek Machar to provide him "a definitive time frame for concluding these protracted peace talks." “So that we could explore other options. It cannot go on indefinitely of course- we must have other options," Kiir stressed. GoSS president also said that LRA continue to be a source of insecurity to our communities in Western Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria states. Kony failed the mediators in two attempts in April and May this year after trying to persuade him to come out and sign the peace agreement, citing the International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments and arrest warrants hanging over his head as an obstacle to peace in northern Uganda. The rebel leader and his other four colleagues, two dead, are allegedly responsible for committed war crimes and crimes against humanity that include killing, maiming, abducting and raping of the movement’s victims, some young children. Kony demanded for clarification of the protocol on accountability and reconciliation signed by his peace delegation before he could ink the Final Peace Agreement. But the elusive rebel leader also asks the removal of ICC arrest warrants first before he could sign the Final Peace Agreement. Southern Sudan government Vice President, Riek Machar Teny, who is also the Chief Mediator of the Uganda peace talks, last month, dismissed media reports that a joint UN and DR Congo forces had undertaken military operations against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Also on September 16 the LRA top negotiator, David Nyekorach Matsanga said Kony had agreed to sign the Final Peace Agreement between his movement and the Ugandan government despite the ICC’s arrest warrants hanging over his head. Matsanga, added that the LRA forces “will not be disarmed until the Ugandan government goes to the UN Security Council to remove the arrest warrants” after the signing of the Final Peace Agreement. The 21-year brutal conflict in Northern Uganda is blamed for the displacement of nearly 2 million people – now reportedly returning to their places of origin - and the death of tens of thousands more in the region. (ST) Copyright © 2003-2008 SudanTribune - All rights reserved. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
