By Frank Nyakairu
Sep 1, 2004
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GULU - A rebel commander has said the Lords Resistance Army Leader Joseph Kony is ready to talk peace directly with President Yoweri Museveni. Lt Col. Kapere who led a group of three rebel commanders to a meeting with mediators sanctioned by the government on Monday said, “Kony is willing to talk even if it is with the President [Museveni] if he [president] really wants.” Present at the talks were three commanders, the mediators representing the government and this reporter. The meeting took place on Monday evening at Aboga, a dilapidated primary school about 16 kilometres outside Gulu town. One of Uganda’s representative at the African Union, Ambassador Joseph Ocwet led the mediator’s team while one Lt. Col. Kapere led the LRA group. The talks that lasted 90 minutes were characterized by accusations and demands on the LRA side and promises from the government. The linkman between the negotiating team and the rebels; Mr Bosco Lapat is known for initiating the first talks with Minister Betty Bigombe in 1993. Mr Ayena Odongo who was part of the negotiators flanked Ambassador Ocwet. Twenty-four well-armed government soldiers escorted the team but stopped two kilometres to the venue as agreed with the rebels. This reporter witnessed the talks. Their first demand was not to take their photographs. Ocwet who spoke in Luo, told the LRA team that President Museveni who had sent him “is willing to forgive the rebels including [Joseph] Kony if he came out of the bush now.” Kapere who kept silent for minutes, stood akimbo and closed his eyes creating tension at the beginning. “Your government has always turned around and killed our messengers of peace,” said Kapere a short compact dark man in his late 20s, adding, “If your government is serious this round we are willing to lay down our weapons and come out because this is very, very destructive.” Kapere, who kept on pacing around the empty classroom was not in military uniform but was armed. He wore a cap covering his narrow red eyes. He sometimes spoke stressing points with gestures and raising his voice. “You are here in our hands we could kill you now,” said Kapere, “but we can’t we want to stop this suffering of the population,” he said. “Kony is willing to talk even if it is with the President [Museveni] if he really wants.” Two other LRA commanders who introduced themselves as Lt. Col. Odome and Captain Opio accompanied him. The abandoned school was completely surrounded by rebels as the two negotiators, this reporter and a contact met the commanders. The rebels accused the Kitgum RDC [Name] of sending them a gift, which contained a time bomb in it. “We had built trust in him but he sent us a time-bomb in a gift to the LRA leader. When we reached somewhere and attempted to open it, it exploded and killed our officer,” Kapere said. The rebels also demanded that government stops arresting rebels who surrender. “This sends a wrong signal that you are not committed to peace at all,” Kapere added. Ambassador Ocwet said; “The government is committed to ending this war and that is why there is the amnesty commission to forgive you.” “Just give us your word that you are ready to talk peace and we give it a chance,” he added as Kapere closed his eyes again. It took about 30 minutes to agree on another meeting. “I’m on orders so do not rush us. What we do not want is pressure. We do not want pressure and much as you do so let us take our time and the right thing,” Kapere replied. The talks, which were conducted while standing, kicked off at 5: 45 pm and ended at 7:15 as darkness set in. The two sides agreed to start a series of formal meetings with higher commanders starting next Monday. |
© 2004 The Monitor Publications
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