LRA leaders scoff at US military intervention

By Julius N. Uma

October 21, 2011 (JUBA) — The leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army’s ‘peace team’ has criticised the recent decision by President Barack Obama to send 100 “combat-equipped” US troops to help Uganda the fight the rebel group, describing it as “not only misconceived, but unacceptable.”

The LRA’s response comes a week after President Obama said he was sending American troops to Uganda to help and advise forces fighting the rebel movement, which is accused of gross human rights violations in Uganda, and South Sudan, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Justice Nyeko Labeja, in a statement sent to Sudan Tribune, said the US anti-LRA strategy was an alleged attempt by the Obama administration to back a largely dictatorial regime in Uganda.

“Our peoples’ struggle is principally against this evil system of slavery, degradation and dehumanization and not merely against the individual authors and perpetrators of the gross suffering of our people under the satellite military regime,” wrote the leader of the LRA’s peace team.

It adds, “The current US military intervention in the Ugandan political conflict in favor of its ally military regime is not only misconceived, but unacceptable at this time in world history.”

The US congress’ decision, the LRA argued, not only contravened the African Union’s (AU) role in resolving political conflicts within the continent, but further seeks to “support and bolster the cruel rule of their ally, the military regime of Uganda.”

The LRA top negotiator claimed he remains fully committed to peaceful resolutions of the over two-decade conflict and that an attack on the LRA or its command, will be contrary to resolutions of the Juba peace talks as well as the “lofty cause for a New Uganda.”

President Obama told Congress that “deploying these U.S. Armed Forces furthers U.S. national security interests and foreign policy and will be a significant contribution toward counter-LRA efforts in central Africa.”

However, deployment of these troops will be subject to approval from each of the respective nations of Uganda, the Republic of South Sudan, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Today the spokesperson of the South Sudan cabinet and minister of information told Reuters they welcomed the American decision to deploy troops in the region to support the anti-LRA fight.

Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin also disclosed that Juba has already agreed to the deployment of US military experts and soldiers.

“It is agreed. There was a high military delegation prior to that announcement which discussed all the details of it together with the SPLA,” Marial said.

Uganda since last Saturday hailed the American decision to help its army which is fighting the LAR since about twenty years ago. “We welcome this gesture it has been well overdue,” said Uganda’s acting foreign minister Henry Okello Oryem.

(ST)