VZCZCXRO3731
OO RUEHGI RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #6362 1720032
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 200031Z JUN 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 2246
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI PRIORITY 1060
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 4309
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 5885
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 6031
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 8054
UNCLAS STATE 066362
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM CG CT CD SU RW XA XW ZF
SUBJECT: GREAT LAKES: TALKING POINTS FOR JUNE 19 BRIEFING
1. USUN is instructed to deliver the following points during
the June 20 briefing by the Special Envoy of
the Secretary General for LRA Affected Areas.
Begin points:
-- I would like to thank the Special Envoy for his briefing
on the state of the Juba Peace Process and the current
activity of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
-- The LRA has been a threat to the people and the security
of the Great lakes region for far too long. Today, I would
like to make two points:
-- First, the LRA must end the war against innocent civilians
that it has waged for 22 years and must stop being a threat
to four countries -- the Congo, the Central African Republic
(CAR), Uganda, and Sudan. Recent abductions and ongoing
training are indications that the LRA remains intent on
fomenting both regional instability and the continuation of
war crimes and crimes against humanity.
-- The United States condemns the recent attack by the LRA
against the Southern Peoples Liberation Army in Nbanga, as
well as abductions and the ongoing attacks on innocent
populations in the Congo, CAR, and Southern Sudan.
-- The United States demands that the LRA put an end to its
long history of war crimes and crimes against
humanity, including gender-based violence, especially rape
and other forms of sexual abuse; torture; mutilation; and
the abduction and recruitment of children for use in armed
conflict. Since the LRA began its campaign of violence in
1987, tens of thousands of people have been killed, up to two
million have been displaced from their homes, and
thousands of children have been abducted in the DRC, Central
African Republic, Southern Sudan, and
Uganda. The LRA must stop committing these atrocities and
release all children in their custody immediately. We
further stress that there can be no impunity for those who
commit gross violations of human rights.
-- Second, the leadership of the LRA must immediately sign
the Final Peace Agreement and disarm and demobilize its
members. If they do not, they will bear sole responsibility
for the failure of the Juba Peace Process and its
consequences. The LRA can no longer be allowed to operate at
will in the region. Only by working together can the nations
of central Africa and the international community eliminate
the threat posed by the LRA once and for all.
-- Time is running out for the leadership of the LRA. We
must make it very clear to them that they must disarm and
demobilize now or face the collective will of the
international community.
RICE