Military

DATE=07/26/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=UGANDA / VIOLENCE (L-O)

NUMBER=2-292465

BYLINE=KATY SALMON

DATELINE=NAIROBI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A vicious rebel attack in northern Uganda is raising questions about planned peace talks between the group, the Lord's Resistance Army, and Uganda's government. As Katy Salmon reports, President Yoweri Museveni had recently agreed to peace talks brokered by Ugandan religious leaders.

TEXT: Ugandans are shocked by the brutality of the latest attack by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (L-R-A).

Forty-eight people were hacked to death near the town of Kitgum in the far north of Uganda (on Thursday). Local newspaper reports say elderly people were killed with machetes and spears, and babies were flung against trees.

The Ugandan army has been trying to crush the L-R-A rebellion for the last 16 years without success.

President Museveni recently gave his backing to peace talks to be brokered by religious leaders. But, Ugandan army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza says he believes this is a waste of time because the rebel leader, Joseph Kony, does not have any real agenda to discuss.

/// BANTARIZA ACT ///

Our prospects for peace through peace talks have always been slim in the sense that we know the perpetrator of terrorism in the north is not one person who understands what peace talks are about. He's one person who has no political agenda or grievances that you would sit down and talk about. So when he comes and massacres people after giving the signal that he wants to talk through the clergy, we are not surprised.

/// END ACT ///

The L-R-A rebels say they are fighting for the establishment of a government based on the biblical Ten Commandments. They are notorious for kidnapping children and forcing them to become rebel fighters or concubines.

More than one-half-million people in Uganda's Gulu and Kitgum districts have been displaced by the fighting and are living in temporary camps, protected by the army.

A local resident in Gulu, David Ochan, says people are scared because the rebels have started planting landmines around the town. Two people were injured by the mines earlier this week.

Mr. Ochan says the army cannot defeat the rebels. He believes that peace talks are the only solution.

/// OCHAN ACT ///

Actually we know that rebels are in this location. But it's like the army, they are not actually prepared. Because when they came back, especially this time, they move in very large number. The army even fear attacking them. So I don't think through fighting they can succeed. They could have a peace talk, would be a better solution to the problem.

/// END ACT ///

The Ugandan government has asked the rebels to gather in three locations where they can meet safely with the religious leaders. Major Bantariza says this has not yet happened. (Signed)

NEB/KS/JWH/MEM