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Niwano Peace Prize Award to
Acholi Religious
Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI)
11th May 2004, Tokyo, Japan;
Address by James Baba, Ambassador of Uganda
to Japan
Archbishop Odama receiving the citation of the 21st Niwano Peace Prize
from
Rev. Nichiko Niwano, president the Niwano Peace Foundation, during the
official presentation ceremony of the prize held in Tokyo on 11th May
2004.
The 21st presentation today, of the Niwano Peace Prize to the Acholi Religious
Leaders Peace Initiative is a recognition of the commendable and courageous
efforts by the group for pursuing a peaceful end to the conflict in Northern
Uganda.
The government of the Republic of Uganda warmly congratulates ARLPI most
sincerely, for this important achievement.
The ARLPI have worked and marched together for peace. They have consistently,
in a joint collaborative effort, worked to achieve a peaceful resolution to
the conflict. Right from the very beginning, the government of Uganda has
given them support and encouragement for their initiative. The Government has
remained committed to any peace initiatives that could bring to an end the
long suffering of the people of Northern Uganda.
While we celebrate and deeply honor the significance of this important award
to ARLPI, we should however be mindful of the fact that complete peace has not
returned to the long suffering people of Northern Uganda.
Despite its sham divine calling, the Lord's Resistance Army of Joseph Kony and
his group have continued to mete grave atrocities and commit numerous human
rights abuses to the ordinary citizens of Northern Uganda. They have continued
to commit numerous acts of murder, violence, looting and plumber. They have
kidnapped young children in excess of 20,000 into captivity and brainwashed
them into rebellion. They have continued to destroy homes, schools, health
centres and vital community infrastructure.
Prolonged LRA attacks and atrocities have resulted in the establishment of
numerous camps where close to 1.6 million people have been placed for
protection in horrendous living conditions.
All these atrocities by the LRA over the years have undermined economic
activity of the region prolonging a situation in which food crops can neither
be grown nor purchased freely. LRA has made provision of relief food and
medical care by relief agencies such as the World Food Programme, a nightmare
fraught with danger. It is under these very difficult and trying
circumstances that ARLPI without any fear of risk to themselves applied
themselves diligently and ceaselessly at ending the conflict visited upon the
people of Northern Uganda by the remorseless LRA.
It is important for this distinguished assembly and indeed the international
community to know that on numerous occasions, the government of the Republic
of Uganda is on record to have offered to negotiate with the LRA. Government
even appointed a high level Peace Team led by a Deputy Prime Minister to head
the negotiations. LRA has never appointed its side and has dodged meeting with
the Peace Team.
The government of Uganda accepted LRA demands for an independent third party
mediator. President Jimmy Carter himself through the Carter Foundation offered
to broker peace between the government and LRA, but LRA reneged on the offer.
A Rome based organization and the 16th recipient of the Niwano Peace Prize,
the Community of Saint Egidio, tried to broken peace specifically targeting
the release of more than 80 school girls abducted from St. Catherine's School
Aboke, in Northern Uganda all but in vain. The poor girls were turned into
wives for the rebel commanders including Joseph Kony himself.
The point must be driven home that LRA has never had any political agenda to
negotiate with. They have proved to be a fanatical fringe who are simply
beyond any notions of political discourse. What continues to be of concern to
the government and people of Uganda is that as long as Joseph Kony can still
get arms and support from any of those sources in the Sudan, Kony is not
likely to come to any negotiating table.
While, therefore, we honor this distinguished Peace Prize Award to ARLPI and
urge the Group to continue to be relentless in their pursuit for a peaceful
end to the conflict, the government of Uganda has reserved the right to use
all other means necessary, until final peace and stability is restored to
Northern Uganda including the military option; for the government also
believes that to make "omelet you have to break eggs".
Recent developments around the globe indicate that the best way to deal with
any terrorism today of the types of LRA, is for all people to make a strong
determination that such acts should not be tolerated by any society.
The government of the Republic of Uganda will continue to encourage and
support the work of ARLPI and other initiatives while at the same time,
reserving the right to use any other options necessary that will bring peace
to Northern Uganda.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank Niwano Peace Foundation for
recognizing the work of ARLPI and for awarding them the 21st Peace Prize. This
is a first for Africa.
It is the wish of the government and of every Ugandan to bring peace to
Northern Uganda. The time will soon come when the landscape of Northern
Uganda, will soon see not blood and destruction but fascinating scenes of
peace and harmony. The work of ARLPI together with that of the government will
deliver us to this path.
I thank you all
For God and my Country.
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