one begins to wonder as to Yosweri Mucebeni's state of mind!...on the one jhand he is threathening "konny rebels'" with instant annahilations, on the other hand the son of Kaguta now wnats to meet "konny" face to face? what is the fellow up too? that then is the question?
The people of Uganda want peace, we are tired of this wars of yours, mwami Kaguta.
MK
MK
Uganda: Museveni Ready to Face Rebels in Juba
| | ||||||||||
The Monitor (Kampala)
September 21, 2006
Posted to the web September 20, 2006
Posted to the web September 20, 2006
Samuel Egadu, Emmanuel Gyezaho & Grace Matsiko, Emmanuel Mutaizibwa
THE President has said he will lead the government peace team at the Juba talks, in what has been perceived as an attempt to reaffirm the government's commitment to a peaceful resolution of the northern conflict.
Mr Museveni made the eyebrow-raising declaration, which
would effectively relieve Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, leader of the government team, of stewardship at the talks, yesterday while meeting local district leaders in Gulu.
"I am going to attend the talks, myself," Museveni said. "I am going to lead the government team in the negotiations in Juba. I am tired of ringing Dr. Rugunda and Rugunda ringing Kony and Otti. I want to be there myself."
Museveni and Vincent Otti, the LRA's second in command were expected to engage in a live debate on Mega FM in Gulu but the historic discussion failed to take off.
Sources said Otti sent out word that he couldn't participate in the debate because it was raining heavily at his undisclosed hideout. But Mr Robert Kabushenga, the Media Centre director, had earlier told Daily Monitor that State House had bought airtime for Otti's satellite telephone.
Mr Museveni spent much of his radio
airtime, reiterating his earlier comments at the Gulu University Main Hall when meeting community leaders from Amuru and Gulu district.
While it is still not clear when Museveni heads to Juba, initial reports indicated yesterday that members of the government team had been booked on flights to Juba today.
Museveni's appearance in Juba would be the most significant confidence-building initiative so far.
It is, however, unlikely that rebel leader Joseph Kony or his deputy Vincent Otti, who until now have preferred to talk peace through delegates, would reciprocate such a presidential gesture.
Kony and Otti have vehemently rejected calls to attend the talks in person, citing security reasons. However, it is still unclear when the talks will resume, especially since the LRA delegation is still consulting with the LRA High Command at an undisclosed location on the
Sudan-DR Congo boarder.
At the Gulu meeting, Museveni said the main problem at the Juba talks was the fact that the LRA team was punctuated with people who live in the Diaspora and do not appreciate the real problems of northern Uganda.
"The problem in talks is those people from London. They are the ones who are misleading the LRA. You should discourage them (LRA) from these London people. They don't know the problem," he said.
Mr Museveni claimed the "London people" were behind what he considered unrealistic demands like the rehabilitation of northern Uganda, yet it was the LRA that destroyed it.
"Those in the Diaspora and living in London are making childish demands. How can a poacher begin talking of restocking a game park?" Museveni asked.
"It is elected persons who are supposed to talk about rehabilitation, not these poachers
who destroyed it. It's like you are talking about cattle restocking and you invite a Karimojong cattle rustler to join. This is childish."
Mr Museveni asked the Acholi leaders to implore Otti to come out of the bush.
"I ask the leaders to assist us to advise these terrorists to come out of the bush. The LRA are always ringing over radios. Use this chance to advise Otti to come out of the bush and conclude the talks. Let him come out. He has survived to be killed twice," he said.
Otti surfaces
However, after days of speculation over the exact location of the LRA top brass, Otti was sighted yesterday morning at Ri-Kwangba, one of the designated assembly spots, and claimed that the LRA had not violated the August 26 truce.
|
The truce, which mandated the LRA to assemble in South Sudan within three weeks after the signing, expired on Tuesday, with neither Kony nor Otti anywhere in sight at the assembly posts.
But, in what is set to send ripples through the government ranks, Otti chest thumped yesterday at an impromptu press briefing at Ri-Kwangba and claimed that the LRA has the military muscle to topple the Museveni administration.
"Yes, yes, we can," Otti, said in an instinctive response to a question posed by a reporter on whether the LRA has what it takes to overthrow the Kampala regime. "That is what brings me to the bush; to fight Museveni's dictatorship." Flanked by the LRA's chief of Staff, Okot Odiambo, and Godfrey Ayur, an LRA peace delegation member, Otti vowed that he would not come out of the bush unless indictments by
the International Criminal Court are lifted.
Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2ยข/min or less.
_______________________________________________ Ugandanet mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. ---------------------------------------
