LRA rebels threaten attacks during Christmas
By Richard Ruati
December 17, 2009 (YAMBIO) — Ugandan rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army, which operates in the lawless north-eastern Congo, are threatening to repeat the massacres they committed during the 2008 Christmas in which over 800 Congolese civilians were brutally murdered, the U.S.-based advocacy Group Enough said Thursday.
“Residents of Bangadi and Niangara, as well as local and international relief organizations, also reported having seen letters from the rebels threatening mass killings during the upcoming holiday period,” recounted Enough Field Researcher, Ledio Cakaj.
Vulnerable Congolese civilians quoted the rebels as saying “We Will Celebrate Christmas with You”
He added that, “We spoke to former captives of the LRA who recently escaped. They frequently heard the rebels talk about ‘celebrating’ Christmas with the people of Ngilima, a clear reference to LRA attacks of last Christmas.”
The LRA might be planning fresh Christmas attacks as a response to recent claims by the Congolese and Ugandan governments that the rebels are finished.
TIME LINE OF MORE ATTACKS
Recent LRA attacks against Ngirimo, Bangadi and Niangara demonstrate that the insurgency is far from over, and that the LRA is as brutal as ever. On November 26, a family of eight was burned alive by the LRA in their hut close to Bangadi, 45 km inside Congo from southwestern Sudan, where the rebels have maimed and terrorized many villages.
Similar attacks reported in the villages of Ngirimo and Niangara have left more many dead.
On December 2, LRA rebels captured and cut off the ears and lips of a man near Bangadi. On December 12, two men and a woman were mutilated by LRA rebels in Ngulu, 25 km southeast of Bangadi.
Although Congolese soldiers are stationed in a few LRA-affected areas, these forces are raping, killing, and looting the very population they are supposed to protect. “Living with the Congolese army is like living with a viper,” a local resident told Enough Researcher. “I have never seen worse behaving people throughout my life.”
U.N. peacekeepers are absent in the villages where the threat of LRA attacks is most acute. Humanitarian organizations have called for increased U.N. troops to provide civilian protection for the last two years. A new battalion of Tunisian peacekeepers was approved by the U.N. Security Council in November 2008, but these badly needed reinforcements will not arrive in Orientale until at least February 2010.
“The status quo in northeastern Congo and other LRA affected areas is a miserable failure with an appalling human cost.” said Enough Co-Founder John Prendergast. “As a matter of urgency, the United Nations Security Council must work with regional governments and other concerned nations to put in place a more effective counter-insurgency strategy to end the LRA threat once and for all.” military duties,” he said.
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Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
LRA rebels threaten attacks during Christmas
The solution is easy and simple, AB must abandan celebration of christmass and they have to protect my people. I don’t have to talk about poor SPLA failure and loser in every action. Even poor governor and support of SPLA in WES has fail to deal with the situation of insecurity. Lets not allow ourselves in WES to celebrate the christmass with agony. AB take the courage and risk like you did for the last 21 years.
Time1
LRA rebels threaten attacks during Christmas
LRA is now evolved in a more terrorist group which is supported by foriegn individuals and countries, they get support from first CHURCHES who help to hide them and smuggle weapons to LRA, then you have foriegn companies who are dealing in gold and diamond, they use LRA as a tool to kill, frighten and desperse Congolese civilians fromt heir lands so they use it to obtain minerals, this is a biug crimes which African Union has to get involve to help Congo, but LRA ability has been weakened, LRA in killing people in Central Africa, can any body tell if this really make sense? what is the connection between LRA and central Africa republic, why suddenyl LRA knows their territory very well and is terrorising civilians who have no connection with Ugandan government or even with Sudan? How does LRA move around very fast and quickly throughout the region between Sudan, Congo and Central Africa without having a vehicle or even modern equipment like GPS and Maps? Where does LRA get their communication ssttelite phones from? All this questions need to be answered, This prove clearly that their are foriegn sources involved in the LRA terrorism, i suspect international mining companies from the west and Churches in one side covering up this operations of LRA to destabilize the region, and then ofcourse the Arabs in Khartoum government who wants to show its presents at all costs, SPLA has to put serious considerations on this matter to add to their suspicion also countries in the region, Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Central Africa republis need to do more in their intelligence cooperation and military operations, that is the best way to keep the region secured and stable in the long run, do not trust foreign bodies.