Belgians Advise On Kony War
Email This Page
Print This Page
Visit The Publisher's Site
New Vision (Kampala)
April 23, 2004
Posted to the web April 23, 2004
Emmy Allio
Kampala
A BRUSSELS-based pressure group, the International Crisis Group (ICG), has appealed to
the Uganda Government to address the issue of the Kony rebels simultaneously with the
grievances of the Acholi people.
"A more comprehensive counter-insurgency campaign coupled with effective economic and
political initiatives is the solution," ICG said in a six-page report on Wednesday.
The report said the LRA could not launch a peace dialogue and the Government needed to
make the first step towards a genuine peace dialogue with the LRA.
The director of ICG's Africa Programme, Stephen Ellis, said Uganda's friends had an
interest and a right to pressure it on the humanitarian disaster produced by the LRA
insurgency.
"The Government needs to be attentive to the advice of donors from whom it receives
almost half its budget," Ellis said.
The report said to bring security and democracy to northern Uganda, the Government,
supported by the international community, needed greater political action and intense
humanitarian relief to complement military measures.
ICG said the international community must be central to resolving the conflict.
"Consideration should be given to invoking a facilitator or a neutral country," the
report said.
Relevant Links
East Africa
Uganda
Economy, Business and Finance
Europe and Africa
Refugees and Displacement
Civil War and Communal Conflict
The report said the Government should not extend amnesty to Joseph Kony, the leader of
the Lord's Resistance Army.
"Exclude Joseph Kony but continue to offer amnesty to all other LRA commanders in
order to develop potential divisions within the leadership," the report said.
--------------------------------------------
This service is hosted on the Infocom network
http://www.infocom.co.ug
