In retrospect..... This articles is hereby being posted to make you think then and now.!!
Talks Still On, Says Rugunda
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The Monitor (Kampala)
March 8, 2005
Posted to the web March 7, 2005
Frank Nyakairu
Kampala
Internal Affairs Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, has dismissed reports that peace talks between the government and the Lords Resistance Army have ended with the absence of the chief mediator.
Ms Betty Bigombe, the chief negotiator, returned to the United States where she works but Rugunda insists the talks with the LRA are still on.
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"Bigombe has gone for a short time. She will be back soon," Rugunda said yesterday. "We are still in touch with the LRA and our policy remains multi-pronged," he said.
"We still encourage the rebels to embraced the Amnesty Law 2000. We encourage more and more to come out and the sooner the better and so long as the rebellion exists in northern Uganda, the UPDF will continue to quell it," Rugunda said.
The peace process that begun in November 2004 suffered several hitches that led to the failed signing of the ceasefire agreement on New Years eve and the surrender of the LRA peace team leader Sam Kolo.
The other factor, according to civil society organisations, was the continued investigations of the LRA top leadership by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Government unilateral ceasefire expired on February 22.
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Rugunda is optimistic that the government's multi-pronged policy on the war will pay off. Bigombe, who works in the post conflict unit of the World Bank, had taken time off to try and bring the 19-year war to an end.
Her talks with LRA's leader Joseph in 1993 collapsed after President Museveni accused the rebels of using the ceasefire to plan more attacks.
meanwhile .. in Apac
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