SUDAN: Notorious Uganda rebels continue to assemble at designated points few days after the deadline passed

Surrounded by almost 50 rebels in mismatched uniforms close to Sudan's landmine-filled border with Uganda, a Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) commander said on Wednesday (September 20) that he needs more time to assemble his troops. A deadline set by a landmark truce between Uganda and the LRA - one of Africa's most brutal insurgencies - has expired as more fighters continue to stream into two designated assembly points in neighbouring south Sudan. "If the demand of the people of Uganda suffering in the IDP camps now, do wish that the peace process should succeed and they very much desire to go back to their homes, well I think this indictment, has no relevance," the dreadlocked LRA commander Major general Acelam Caesar told Reuters at the assembly point. The LRA are notorious for cutting off the limbs and lips of victims, killing civilians and abducting children to serve in its ranks. Top LRA commanders including leader Joseph Kony and his deputy Vincent Otti are wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC) but the rebel group has said the arrest warrants are a hindrance to the peace process. On-going peace talks between the government and the northern rebels in south Sudan's capital of Juba are seen as the best chance to end the insurgency that has killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly 2 million. "In any peace negotiations, there should not be a short period of time given as deadline to complete the process. You know the war has been dragging on for the last two decades, can it take only two three four months to end by peace negotiations? No," Major General Acelam added. In the rolling grassland hills of Owiny Kibul, LRA fighters sleep in small, dispersed camps, but fear and anxiety about the peace process permeate through their ranks. Landmines left over from Sudan's own three-decade civil war encircle the tiny Owiny-Ki-bul trading centre with its small south Sudan army checkpoint. The LRA has raised objections to the assembly point, but rebels come nonetheless.

ITN Source | September 21, 2006

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