UGANDA: Despite peace talks in the Sudanese city of Juba, Uganda's military continues its 'normal' operations against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

The Ugandan army said on Wednesday (October 4) it had resumed an offensive against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in northern Uganda, complicating peace talks aimed at ending one of Africa's most vicious wars. But an army spokesman insisted that renewed operations to hunt down LRA fighters should not hinder negotiations in neighbouring south Sudan between the two sides. "It is true that the UPDF has been instructed to resume normal operations. This took effect on September 28th 2006. However the areas designated as assembly points for LRA fighters, namely Owiny Ki-bul and Rikwangba will not be affected," said Uganda government spokesman Robert Kabushenga. In response, LRA deputy leader Vincent Otti said the LRA would defend itself against any Ugandan UPDF army attack, but remained committed to the peace talks. Otti said there were still some rebels hiding out in remote areas of northern Uganda because poor communications meant they had not received orders to gather at the camps. "Ours are normal operations and our assumption is that LRA is not in northern Uganda, so if you are found in a belligerent mood or mode, depending on which or both, then you will have to account for yourself one way or the other," Kabushenga added. Most people on the streets of Kampala could not believe that war had resumed and said that peace talks would be the only way out of the problems that people in Northern Uganda has suffered. "But then war for what? Let them talk, let them talk, let them go over it through talking, peace talk is better than fighting," said a woman who was walking on the streets of Kampala. But others were in favour of the army to crash the rebels, "If Kony is also sticking on his point than they should resume the war then the UPDF also should go after it," added a man who insisted that the way forward is to turn Kony and his group to international courts. The LRA launched one of the world's most brutal insurrections from northern Uganda 20 years ago before moving to southern Sudan and lately hiding in the jungles of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Talks between Ugandan government negotiators and LRA representatives in neighbouring southern Sudan were widely viewed as the best chance to end the conflict that has killed tens of thousands and uprooted nearly two million more. Hopes for peace had soared when a truce was signed in August, but rebels missed a deadline for gathering commanders and fighters at two assembly points in southern Sudan. Talks stalled last week, with both sides accusing each other of violating a ceasefire agreement. The LRA said Ugandan soldiers were surrounding the Owiny-Ki-Bul assembly area near the Sudan-Uganda border, while the government accused rebels of drifting away from the camp. The deadlock has prevented the mediating parties in Juba from reviewing the truce, with a possibility of extending it. Another major obstacle to progress in talks is the insistence of LRA leaders Joseph Kony and Otti that they will not leave the bush unless the International Criminal Court (ICC) drops war crimes indictments against them. The Hague-based court has repeatedly refused to drop the charges. Kampala has appealed to the United States to back Uganda at the United Nations to hunt the LRA, while stating its commitment to talks. President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, has advocated a two-pronged approach to the LRA -- talks if they are serious, but an iron fist if they fail.

ITN Source | October 5, 2006

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