LRA Talks: Ceasefire Progresses, Egeland Asks for Help

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002228 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM EAID MOPS UN UG SU SUBJECT: LRA Talks: Ceasefire Progresses, Egeland Asks for Help REF: Khartoum 2224 ¶1. As the ceasefire between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government increasingly takes hold, UN Under Secretary General (UN/USG) for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland visited Juba to meet with the parties to the talks and assess ways that the UN could further support the peace process. Egeland also strongly encouraged donor nations to do more. Emphasizing that the negotiations should remain an African process with African solutions, the best way to lend support would be to assist with the USD 5.9 million that will be needed to maintain the talks, fully implement the Cessation of Hostilities agreement, and provide humanitarian support to vulnerables. Norway has already agreed to give USD 250,000. Egeland then emphasized that there is no conflict between supporting the ICC and supporting the peace process, and that countries must only refrain from endorsing impunity, not peace. (NOTE: Several members of the mediation team have also indicated a desire for U.S. involvement in the talks. End Note.) ¶2. During his visit, Egeland was in frequent phone contact with LRA commander Vincent Otti, who had arrived at the Western Equatoria rally point of Ri-Kwangba. The UN/USG had hoped to secure an agreement from the LRA to release the women and children so they can receive humanitarian assistance from the UN, as the UN will not provide direct assistance to anyone still part of an armed group. After initial indications that the LRA would release the vulnerables, they finally refused. Egeland believes Joseph Kony intervened directly to prevent this release. At the Eastern Equatoria rally point, Owiny-ki-Bul, LRA mediation team representatives indicated they would allow women and children to be separated from the main group, but would not allow them to be completely released. There may also be other special arrangements for the sick and wounded. ¶3. As more people move towards the camps, with nearly 400 LRA soldiers about to enter Owiny-ki-Bul and more on their way, Egeland believes the numbers will be significantly higher than expected. According to MONUC, the groups of LRA fighters are larger, more professional, and better armed (with platoon-level machine guns and mortars) than originally thought. The UN/USG thinks there may be 4 to 6 thousand people in the camps by the end of next week. POWERS