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DRC Blocks Access to LRA Commander

New Vision (Kampala)

NEWS
21 October 2007
Posted to the web 22 October 2007

By Vision Reporter
Kampala
THE Congolese government has denied Ugandan officials access to Opiyo Makasi,
the LRA operations commander, one week after he was taken to Kinshasa.
"We haven't got access yet," said Charles Wagaba, the Ugandan charge d'affairs
in Kinshasa. "He has been moved from the Police headquarters to military
intelligence but we have not been able to talk to him."
Makasi, who surrendered to Congolese officials on October 9, was taken to
Police headquarters in the Congolese capital last Monday. The Ugandan envoy was
only informed on Thursday. Several requests for permission to see him have gone
unanswered.
"The Government of Uganda is in contact with the Government of DRC in order to
ensure that the necessary consular services are provided to Makasi as a Ugandan
national and that he is assisted to come back," said internal minister Ruhakana
Rugunda.
He declined to comment why access had not yet been granted. Asked for a
reaction to Makasi's surrender, Dr. Rugunda said: "He is welcome back. It is
good that he has abandoned rebellion."
Makasi, whose real name is Patrick Opiyo, was abducted from his village Obiya
near Gulu in 1988, at the age of 12. He was captured together with his two
brothers, who died in captivity.
His father, George Onye, a Grade 1 magistrate, was killed by the LRA rebels in
1987.
Makasi climbed his way up the LRA ranks, reaching the position of commander of
"per abiwekuwu" ("I will never leave you") Battalion before being promoted
commander of the larger Sinia Brigade.
Operating most of the time from the Pajule-Atanga-Acholibur Triangle in Pader,
he was involved in many attacks, ambushes and abductions.
He participated in the campaign in Teso region in 2003. In 2004, he commanded
the abductions from Too-pe IDP camp near Bugatira in Gulu, the attack on Aweno
Olwir IDP camp in Kitgum and the ambush in Latanya (now Pader district).
He is also said to be responsible for ambushing and burning a mini-bus in
Paiwula (Pader) on November 21, 2005, in which 14 civilians were killed.
After the LRA had crossed into Congo, Makasi commanded incursions into South
Sudan, including the raid on Yambio in 2006, and led one of the first groups
into the Central African Republic.
Meanwhile, the Government of South Sudan yesterday officially denied reports
that 11 LRA fighters have surrendered to their troops in Maridi.
"No LRA officer has handed himself in to the SPLA, and we do not know of any
fighting in Garamba Park (in eastern DRC)," South Sudanese army spokesman Kuol
Diem Kuol told Reuters. The confusion was reportedly caused by the arrival in
Maridi of the LRA peace team, led by Martin Ojul, en route to Ri-Kwangba to
meet LRA leader Joseph Kony.
President Yoweri Museveni yesterday also received Joachim Chissano, the UN
special envoy. According to a press release from State House, Museveni called
on the international community to speed up the conclusion of the Juba talks.
Further delay, he told Chissano, would affect the region.
The President also expressed readiness to meet with the LRA delegation should
they wish to come to Uganda for consultations.
Earlier on Sunday, Chissano briefed the donor and diplomatic community on the
peace process. He recognised the positive impact the ICC arrest warrants had on
the talks but warned against any military action at this time.
He thanked the donors for providing $600,000 for the LRA consultations but
stated that the LRA would not get the money in cash.

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