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Otti Wants Talks

New Vision (Kampala)
NEWS
December 1, 2005
Posted to the web December 1, 2005

By Henry Mukasa
Kampala
THE Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) deputy commander, Vincent Otti, has said the
rebels were ready to hold talks with the Government to end the 19-year
insurgency that has ravaged the north.
The Government was sceptical over the overture but said its doors remained open
to any peaceful resolution of the conflict, provided such a move does not
contradict proceedings of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC in
the Hague issued warrants of arrest for LRA commanders and the court's chief
prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, said on Monday he expected the suspects to be
handed over by mid-2006 to be tried for crimes against humanity.
In an unusual phone call, Otti told BBC radio that he had been ordered by LRA
leader, Joseph Kony, to offer the olive branch. "The chairman, General Joseph
Kony, has authorised me to talk to you that we want peace talks with the
Government of Uganda," Otti said on Wednesday. "We are now ready to talk
peace," Otti added.
Internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, who led the Government team to
the last round of talks with the rebels that collapsed in December 2004, said
yesterday he doubted the seriousness of the rebels.
"We have heard this a number of times," Rugunda said on telephone.
He, however, added, "In spite of what has happened (collapse of talks in the
past), if it (call for talks) is genuine, the Government welcomes that
reference."
Rugunda said the Government believes that whenever there are problems they
should be resolved peacefully, saying the Government cannot slam the door on an
opportunity for peace.
The minister said his comments were the Government's response to the LRA and
that they were ready to meet an authorised delegation from the rebels and steer
clear of undermining the ICC.
"In this process we shall not conflict with the ICC. Those who have been
indicted by the ICC should respond to the summons and charges," Rugunda said.
Kony and his commanders' crimes, according to an arrest warrant issued on
September 27 include murder, torture and mutilation, abduction, sexual
violence, forced recruitment and the killing of people the LRA considers
supporters of President Yoweri Museveni.
Otti denied the LRA was behind ambushes on NGOs and aid workers who were killed
in recent weeks. He blamed defectors and the UPDF.
"I am ready to face justice because I know that I did nothing. If I am going to
the court to be charged, then the Government must also be taken into court," he
said.
"We are fighting with Uganda, but not with international bodies. We are not
targeting any aid workers. We are only targeting government soldiers," he
added.
Former minister in charge of northern Uganda Betty Bigombe has on two attempts
tried to broker talks between the Government and rebels.

   

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