New Vision (Kampala)April 3, 2003
Posted to the web April 3, 2003 Justin Moro
Kampala Lt. Gen. Salim Saleh has reassured the Acholi and all Ugandans that by May this year, the 17-year-old northern rebellion of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) would have ended, through peaceful or military means."President Yoweri Museveni understands the sentiments of the people of Acholi. He is preparing himself," said Saleh.He was addressing Gulu residents at Lalogi Internally Displaced People's Camp on Monday."I request you to be patient because your suffering will soon end. I have reasons to believe that we shall not go beyond May this year with this problem of the northern rebellion. The world is waiting for its end," he said.Among the reasons for Saleh's optimism was the President's eight-month stay in Gulu.He said it showed the high level of the President's commitment to ending the conflict.The fact that the Sudanese government had ceased to support the rebel group was another indicator, he said.He blamed the LRA for violating the ceasefire declared on March 1."LRA have violated 70% of their own ceasefire. However, the Presidential Peace Team advised the President to withhold his anger and push on with the peace talks," he said.Saleh is a member of the peace team. Ends
"In the time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act"
--George Orwell--
