South Sudan; North Africa: Ugandan "Lord's Resistance Army": accused of attacking Sudanese villagers

(Social Justice South Africa; c.f. Reuters (Secular; British; Independent) 08 / Jan / 2009 ; BBC World News (Secular; British; Government) 01 / Jan / 2009 )

Article by Marc Aupiais

Western Equatoria, a region in southern Sudan, has accused the Ugandan LRA (Lord's Resistance Army): of killing 38 Sudanese villagers (accusations are by the governor of the area: Jemma Nunu Kumba). The LRA has recently been pushed back from positions in the Congo. Caritas Internationalis: a humanitarian grouping: claims that about 400 people were killed in LRA raids over the Christmas period, including many in a Catholic Church.

Accusations of dismemberment, the bashing of a baby against a tree, and throwing a man in a fire, are just some of these surfacing from South Sudanese authorities. Ugandan, Congolese (DRC), and southern Sudanese troops were involved in recent offensives against the LRA. After a brief silent period in December, ending with offenses against the Ugandan Rebels: who have displaced about 2 million Ugandan civilians, and whose leaders are wanted in the Hague (International Criminal Court) for war crimes: The LRA, has since been accused of a spate of brutal, even primitive massacres of civilians.

Many of their outposts in the DRC, have been irradiated in bombings, but their leadership(including:their elusive commander: Joseph Kony), which is wanted for trial in the International Criminal Court(ICC): have yet to be caught.

Recently, the BBC, reported of fears that the LRA, were heading towards CAR, after the recent offenses against them in a national park (Garamba).

Great Lakes Region, Africa: Ugandan Rebels: LRA: want peacefire

(Social Justice South Africa; c.f. IOL (South African; Secular; Independent) 06 / 01 / 2009; AlertNet (article by Reuters: British; Secular; Independent) 07 / 01 / 2009)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Sorry for the lag in articles, we have been doing important local work, but are resuming service properly, we have of course: kept news, but have not published stories on all of it here.

On Tuesday: the "Lord's Resistance Army" (LRA): accused of mass murder by the Catholic Umbrella (Social Justice/ Humanitarian/ Charity) grouping: Caritas Internationalis, among others, but still denying many claims: has desperately called for a peace treaty: after the armies of three nations joined in offensive to drive the group accused of massive human rights abuses: from the (DRC) Congo.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the (DRC) country, it was reported by Reuters: yesterday, that a mediator: of talks which occur in Kenya: has asked for a temporary ceasefire, between the Congolese government: and these other rebels. This second conflict is the one which made most major news stations, after tens of thousands fled their homes. The first made newspapers: with the attack of a Catholic church, and slaughter of those inside of it.

Uganda, Africa:Catholic Churchgoers hacked to death: by Ugandan "Lord's Resistance Army": says Ugandan army:

(Social Justice South Africa; Catholic Watchdog South Africa; c.f. Bloomberg (Secular) 29/12/2008 BBC World News (Non-religious) 29/12/2008; News 24 (Secular) 28/12/2008)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Maybe 45, maybe 100 persons, in Uganda: have been hacked to death in a Catholic church, by the LRA: BBC reports that the Ugandan army reports: they were civilians, and non-combatants. The LRA has also been accused of other atrocities in the DRC ("Democratic Republic of Congo"), and is known for use of child soldiers, and has been accused of addicting child soldiers to drugs: to ensure loyalty. The reported attack was on the day after Christmas. Their leader is wanted to be tried for other atrocities: at the International Criminal Court!

The source quoted by BBC, appears to confirm, or at least agree with the press release by the Ugandan army. 45 bodies were found at the church itself, reports News 24, and Bloomberg. Over 185 are said to be dead in a three day blitz by the infamous rebels.