Matek Opoko <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Kony Rebels Promise Total Peace in 2005
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The Monitor (Kampala)
December 30, 2004
Posted to the web December 30, 2004Frank Nyakairu
PalabekHope at last for war-ravaged northern Uganda
"The year of 2005 must be a year of total peace," the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have promised. Their spokesman Brig. Sam Kolo made the promise during a meeting with a peace team on Tuesday about 85km from Kitgum town.
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The meeting is the first in ten years.
Brig. Kolo led a delegation of seven senior LRA commanders to meet the team, which included religious leaders, Members of Parliament, traditional and local leaders from the war-ravaged districts in the north.
"If we were really killers, Archbishop Odama, we could kill you all now for nothing, but that's not our aim. We are committed to peace 100 per cent," Kolo told a team of 32 people who travelled in a UN convoy to the venue.
A chattered helicopter monitored the convoy of 13 vehicles from Gulu, Pader and Kitgum that passed through a dusty but graded road. The UPDF guarded the convoy 80km outside Kitgum town and five kilometres from the venue.
At Pagak, a group of strong and mean looking rebels received the convoy and led the delegation through a stretch of burnt savanna grassland in a tiring walk under a scotching afternoon sun.
"This is a miracle from God," Archbishop John Baptist Odama said while opening the talks at 2.15pm adding, "Let's freeze the chance. Come out and tell us what you really want."
The Gulu LC5 Chairman, Lt. Col. Walter Ochora, called on the rebels to "speed up the peace process and get it out of the way."
The MP for Omoro County, Mr Jacob Oulanyah, pledged that the law would protect the rebels. "Since the anti-terrorism law was passed no one has been arrested, so do not worry about the law, do not worry about the ICC (International Criminal Court). We will handle it in Parliament," Oulanyah said.
Politicians and the clergy spoke one by one as the rebels took notes and recorded the speeches.
The Chief LRA Catechist, Col Bongomin Ginaro, addressed the team comparing LRA leader Joseph Kony to Jesus.
"Like someone was paid to kill Jesus, some people have been paid to kill Kony. The LRA is an army of God and we are acting on behalf of God," Ginaro said, while speaking on top of his voice. The talks that started with an opening prayer did not end with another but with a 10-minute session of exciting photo opportunities and exchanging contacts.
When The Monitor asked Kolo why Joseph Kony had not attended, he replied, "Why is not Museveni here?"
The LRA team included, Lt. Col. Lupul, Lt. Col. Sato Alit, Col. Bongomin Ginaro, Brig. Samuel Akulu, Brig. Michael Acela, Col. Ronald Lubwa and Brig Sam Kolo.
The peace team included the Chief Negotiator Ms Betty Bigombe, the British Defence Advisor, Col. Chris Wilton, MPs Jacob Oulanyah, Mr Zachary Olum, Ms Akwero Odwong, and Prof. Ogenda Latigo.
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Conflict, Peace and Security
UgandaThe clergy included Catholic Archbishop John Baptist Odama, Anglican Bishop Nelson Onen Onweng, and Alhajji Sheikh Musa Khalil.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, and with the State Minister for Security, Ms Betty Aketch, were yesterday scheduled to meet a group of LRA representatives in an undisclosed place in Kitgum district.
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