By Ann Garrison
I'm posting these notes in hopes of hearing, perhaps from some of those of you tagged, about how the LRA Disarmament Act is being implemented. After Al-Shabbab claimed credit for bombing Kampala's World Cup audience, and Museveni followed suit by promising to escalate his proxy war in Somalia, in defense of Somalia's U.S.-backed regime, I'm finding it hard to be hopeful.
The real message of the Acholi statement, boldfaced below, seems to be the call on Obama to halt the further militarization of Africa. In "How Invisible Children Falsely Marketed The LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act," in the Black Star News, http://goo.gl/LNWv, Michael Kirkpatrick wrote:
"The bill opens the door for the American military to legally militarize Uganda in the name of humanitarian efforts.
It legitimizes the mission of AFRICOM on the continent and gives military forces a home base in Africa to continue the 'global battle on terrorism,' combat the growing presence of China, and defend American interests regarding natural resources."
ACHOLI RELIGIOUS LEADERS PEACE INITIATIVE
Kitgum Office Pader Office Gulu Office
Plot 121 Uhuru Drive 1st Street Plot 16 Olya Road
P.O. Box 185 P.O. Box 50 P.O. Box 104,
Kitgum, Uganda Pader, Uganda Gulu, Uganda
Tel: 256-471-432484
Email: arlpi.interfaith@gmail.com
Website: www.arlpi.org
President Barak Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
May XX, 2010
RE: Open Letter to President Obama Regarding the “Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 (S.1067/HR 2478)”
Dear President Obama,
For over two decades, the people of Northern Uganda have endured horrific violence as a result of a war between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU). Despite numerous attempts to bring an end to the conflict, all efforts have failed and to this day the civilian population in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Central African Republic (CAR) continues to suffer from the effects of LRA violence.
Mr. President, we are thankful for your desire for peace and justice in the world. More specifically, we are grateful to you for not ignoring the plight of the people by signing the “Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 (S.1067/HR 2478)” into law. The potential of this historic legislation to support efforts to achieve sustainable peace, reconciliation, and meeting humanitarian needs in LRA affected regions cannot be understated and communicates that we are not forgotten.
As you and your administration begin the enormous task to develop a plan to implement the legislation, we strongly urge you to enter into consultations with regional CSO’s, NGO’s as well as grassroots leaders and their communities about the best way forward to bring an end to one of the world’s longest running conflicts.
While many have lost hope in any peaceful resolution to the conflict, the reality is that the peace process which started in 2006 is responsible for the relative calm being experienced in northern Uganda.
Sadly after achieving such a significant outcome and ignoring the complexity of the LRA concerns and issues, the government of Uganda lost patience in the process. In a final attempt to end the LRA once and for all, a regional military offensive dubbed “Operation Lightning Thunder” was launched in 2008 with U.S. support.
Like the numerous past military offensives launched against the LRA, this one also failed to meet its objective.
Military action has time and time again not only failed to end the conflict but caused it to spread into regions once immune to LRA violence resulting in further suffering of civilians. We therefore strongly implore you to prioritize and creatively explore non-violent actions to resolving the conflict. We believe this is the only way to bring a lasting solution that will foster healing and reconciliation in a region of the world that longs for and deserves peace.
Mr. President, we look forward to continued dialogue with you and your administration. May God guide and grant you and your administration wisdom as you discern how to effectively achieve the mandate of the “Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 (S.1067/HR 2478)”.
Signed,
Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI)-Gulu, Uganda
(Thanks to Maurice Carney, of Friends of the Congo, for sending me a PDF of this letter. "Operation Lightning Thunder," which the Acholi religious leaders, above, said "not only failed to end the conflict but caused it to spread" left many more war dead in northeastern Congo, after which U.S. military advisors said, essentially, "Oops.")
I'm posting these notes in hopes of hearing, perhaps from some of those of you tagged, about how the LRA Disarmament Act is being implemented. After Al-Shabbab claimed credit for bombing Kampala's World Cup audience, and Museveni followed suit by promising to escalate his proxy war in Somalia, in defense of Somalia's U.S.-backed regime, I'm finding it hard to be hopeful.
The Acholi region of
Northern Uganda.
Northern Uganda.
"The bill opens the door for the American military to legally militarize Uganda in the name of humanitarian efforts.
It legitimizes the mission of AFRICOM on the continent and gives military forces a home base in Africa to continue the 'global battle on terrorism,' combat the growing presence of China, and defend American interests regarding natural resources."
ACHOLI RELIGIOUS LEADERS PEACE INITIATIVE
Kitgum Office Pader Office Gulu Office
Plot 121 Uhuru Drive 1st Street Plot 16 Olya Road
P.O. Box 185 P.O. Box 50 P.O. Box 104,
Kitgum, Uganda Pader, Uganda Gulu, Uganda
Tel: 256-471-432484
Email: arlpi.interfaith@gmail.com
Website: www.arlpi.org
Acholi infants killed by both LRA , UPDF and concentration IDP Camps.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
May XX, 2010
RE: Open Letter to President Obama Regarding the “Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 (S.1067/HR 2478)”
Dear President Obama,
For over two decades, the people of Northern Uganda have endured horrific violence as a result of a war between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU). Despite numerous attempts to bring an end to the conflict, all efforts have failed and to this day the civilian population in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Central African Republic (CAR) continues to suffer from the effects of LRA violence.
Mr. President, we are thankful for your desire for peace and justice in the world. More specifically, we are grateful to you for not ignoring the plight of the people by signing the “Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 (S.1067/HR 2478)” into law. The potential of this historic legislation to support efforts to achieve sustainable peace, reconciliation, and meeting humanitarian needs in LRA affected regions cannot be understated and communicates that we are not forgotten.
As you and your administration begin the enormous task to develop a plan to implement the legislation, we strongly urge you to enter into consultations with regional CSO’s, NGO’s as well as grassroots leaders and their communities about the best way forward to bring an end to one of the world’s longest running conflicts.
While many have lost hope in any peaceful resolution to the conflict, the reality is that the peace process which started in 2006 is responsible for the relative calm being experienced in northern Uganda.
Sadly after achieving such a significant outcome and ignoring the complexity of the LRA concerns and issues, the government of Uganda lost patience in the process. In a final attempt to end the LRA once and for all, a regional military offensive dubbed “Operation Lightning Thunder” was launched in 2008 with U.S. support.
Like the numerous past military offensives launched against the LRA, this one also failed to meet its objective.
Military action has time and time again not only failed to end the conflict but caused it to spread into regions once immune to LRA violence resulting in further suffering of civilians. We therefore strongly implore you to prioritize and creatively explore non-violent actions to resolving the conflict. We believe this is the only way to bring a lasting solution that will foster healing and reconciliation in a region of the world that longs for and deserves peace.
Mr. President, we look forward to continued dialogue with you and your administration. May God guide and grant you and your administration wisdom as you discern how to effectively achieve the mandate of the “Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 (S.1067/HR 2478)”.
Signed,
Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI)-Gulu, Uganda
(Thanks to Maurice Carney, of Friends of the Congo, for sending me a PDF of this letter. "Operation Lightning Thunder," which the Acholi religious leaders, above, said "not only failed to end the conflict but caused it to spread" left many more war dead in northeastern Congo, after which U.S. military advisors said, essentially, "Oops.")
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