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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 1

Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.

Billy Timmins

Question:

95 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the activities of the LRA, including reports of child abductions, in Uganda. [30427/03]

The plight of the local population in northern Uganda is of grave concern to the Government. For the past 17 years, northern Uganda has suffered from attacks by the rebel group Lord's Resistance Army, LRA, which has seen up to 20,000 children abducted by the LRA to act as child soldiers and sex slaves. These attacks have escalated dramatically in the past few months. The consequences for the Acholi people of the region have been devastating, with internal displacement of up to 80% of the people. The Ugandan Government's response is still predominantly focused on a military defeat of the LRA which has not been successful to date.

The Government has condemned, and continues to condemn the appalling atrocities committed by the LRA. During President Museveni's recent visit to Ireland my colleague, Deputy Kitt, expressed to him our concern at the actions of the LRA and our deep sympathies for the people suffering under its insurgency. In October 2003, Development Co-operation Ireland approved funding of €500,000 for emergency feeding programs for internally displaced persons and refugees in northern and western Uganda.

At a recent meeting in Kampala between the EU Troika and the Ugandan foreign minister, at which Ireland was represented, the EU condemned the human rights abuses perpetrated by the LRA and urged the Ugandan Government to also consider non-military solutions to resolve this terrible situation. To this end, the EU expressed support for the Acholi religious leaders peace initiative as an important channel of communication with the LRA.

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