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Ask Congress to support peace and development in Uganda

February 09, 2010

Subject:

Dear Member of Congress,

I commend Senators Russell Feingold and Samuel Brownback and House members James McGovern, Brad Miller, and Edward Royce for introducing a bill (S. 1067, H.R. 2478) that addresses many of the broader development and justice challenges faced by northern Ugandans.

However, I am concerned about the implications of the statement of policy that suggests:
    
“eliminating the threat posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army to civilians and regional stability through political, economic, military, and intelligence support for a comprehensive multilateral effort to protect civilians in affected areas, to apprehend or otherwise remove Joseph Kony and his top commanders from the battlefield, and to disarm and demobilize Lord’s Resistance Army fighters.” (sec. 3, lines 14-21)

If a military attack is waged, there will likely be civilian casualties, no matter how strong the emphasis on civilian protection. Furthermore, many members of the LRA are abducted child soldiers, a fact which should give further pause to a strike against Joseph Kony.

Therefore, I urge you to:

1) Support a locally-led political process aimed at bringing peace to LRA affected areas.

2) Remove sec. 3, lines 14-21 of the above-mentioned bill that would provide U.S. military assistance to strike against the LRA.

3) Ask the Congressional Research Service to conduct a study on viable alternatives to military action as well as a report that evaluates the strategic interests of regional militaries in carrying out a strike within DRC.

4) Encourage the UN to commission a report on Kony’s support network and use this information to deprive him of any assistance he receives.

5) Continue to fund reconstruction and development in northern Uganda and support a restorative justice approach to addressing the crimes committed during Uganda's 22-year war.

Sincerely,

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