Americans press for anti-Kony Bill

Jun 24, 2009

HUNDREDS of Americans on Tuesday paraded in Washington DC to support a proposed law, which urges American President Barack Obama’s administration to deal with the Lord’s Resistance Army.

By Raymond Baguma

HUNDREDS of Americans on Tuesday paraded in Washington DC to support a proposed law, which urges American President Barack Obama’s administration to deal with the Lord’s Resistance Army.

US Senator Russ Feingold, who is the chairman of the sub-committee on African affairs, led the march to urge the US Congress to support the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009.

The event aimed at creating international awareness needed to end atrocities by the LRA and to advance justice for victims of the war.

The event ended with speeches on Capitol Hill. It was organised by Invisible Children, Enough Project and Resolve Uganda, all NGOs.

Participants included people from the State of Wisconsin and 10 other US senators.

On LRA war, Feingold said the US had scaled up efforts to help end one of Africa’s most gruesome and longest running conflicts with humanitarian and development assistance.

He said in 2007, the State Department supported the peace negotiations between the Ugandan government and LRA before the talks broke down after Kony refused to sign the agreement.

The LRA has since launched new attacks in DR Congo and Southern Sudan.

The US supported a joint offensive by forces of Uganda, Southern Sudan and Congolese, against the rebels in Garamba.

However, Kony is still on the run.

“It is clear that not enough attention or resources were devoted to ensuring the protection of civilians,” Feingold said.

He added that with the failure of the peace talks and military operations, there was need for a strategic and comprehensive approach that would coordinate the US economic, political, intelligence and military policies to resolve the conflict.

Feingold said the Bill encouraged the US to increase humanitarian assistance with the condition that the Ugandan government demonstrates leadership and takes measures to prevent corruption.

While support to help survivors rebuild their lives remains critical, he said, the Ugandan government should establish mechanisms to address the causes of the LRA war and promote reconciliation and justice.

Feingold said the LRA war had received low priority in the American foreign policy, adding that the Obama administration had the moral responsibility to help end the war and abductions that have been going on for 23 years.

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