Western Equatoria Governor urges UN protection of civilians from LRA attacks

November 20, 2009 (YAMBIO) — Western Equatoria State Governor urged the International community to review the mandate of the peacekeeping force in southern Sudan to allow it to defend citizens from attacks by Ugandan rebels.

Governor Jemma Nunu Kumba met Thursday in her office in Yambio with the visiting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy. The meeting discussed several issues relating to children (abductees) who are rescued from LRA captivities.

Governor Jemma urged the international community to pay great attention to the situation in South Sudan; particularly WES, and should revise the UNMIS mandate of not only offering protections but also to offer defense for the civilians who are regularly victimized by the LRA.

“LRA does not need diplomacy therefore; the UN should mount a joint operation as well as offering Support to three countries that are affected by LRA i.e. DRC, CAR and South Sudan” she said.

The Governor further said the Western Equatoria has been a peaceful place with peace loving citizens, no tribal conflict but the external problem came after the signing of CPA, Where by the LRA who rebelled against the Government of Uganda started terrorizing people, killing, abducting, looting, kidnapping young girls into sex- slaves, recruiting young boys as child soldiers, and burning properties.

On November 17, the Security Council today called on United Nations missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan to coordinate strategies to protect civilians from the rebel Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which has killed, kidnapped and displaced thousands of people.

Ms. Coomaraswamy said she is following-up her field mission based on her previous visit in January 2007 to ascertain first hand situation with a view of collaborating with stakeholders to ensure protection for children who are affected by conflicts particularly to the issues such as; recruitment and abuse of children by armed group, demobilization, reintegration and sexual violation particularly against girls in South Sudan.

The LRA, which refused to sign a peace deal sponsored by Southern Sudan government terrorized northern Uganda for two decades before spilling over into neighbouring countries. The rebels have been accused of committing atrocities including mutilations and the recruitment of child soldiers.

As part of a ten-day visit to Sudan, the UN Secretary General special envoy Ms. concluded a two-day visit to Darfur where she met a cross-section of stakeholders in the peace process in El Fasher in the North and El Geneina, including the Governors of the two states, religious and community leaders and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Coomaraswamy expressed satisfaction that efforts were being made to establish institutions to monitor and address problems of the recruitment of child soldiers as well as sexual abuse and violence against children. She appealed to religious leaders to raise awareness in their different constituencies about these issues.

During meetings with youth and with sheikhs and umdas (traditional leaders) in the Riyad camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in El Geneina, the IDPs highlighted challenges they were facing, especially the lack of security, food and medicines.

(ST)