Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 March 2012
6Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports the growing Kony 2012 campaign committed to ensuring that Joseph Kony the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army is brought to justice for his crimes this year; the actions he has taken on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17183/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI will echo the Tánaiste's sentiments as we are all under some time pressure with prior commitments this evening.
I share the widespread concern that Joseph Kony remains at large in central Africa. I welcome recent public initiatives to highlight the fact that he has not been held to account for the atrocities which he and his so-called Lord's Resistance Army, LRA, committed over two decades in northern Uganda and the wider region.
In 2005, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Joseph Kony and other leaders of the LRA on 33 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. These are charges of the utmost gravity and it is essential that Mr. Kony appear before the court to answer them. We strongly support the work of the International Criminal Court in seeking to bring him and his collaborators to justice. Ireland, both directly and as a member of the European Union, provides ongoing support, including funding, for the court and for its work. We also support regional efforts, in co-operation with the United Nations, to implement a comprehensive peace building strategy which aims to combat the activities of the LRA in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan.
Northern Uganda suffered more than any other area from the appalling violence of the LRA in the years up to 2006, when the group moved into neighbouring countries. Ireland has been providing humanitarian support to the people of the area for well over a decade. Uganda is one of the priority countries for Ireland's aid programme and we have a commitment to the provision of long term strategic assistance there. As part of our overall programme, we have committed to providing some €22.5 million between 2010 and 2014 to support the Ugandan Government's programme for the north of the country to ensure recovery from the disastrous effects of two decades of war.
I thank the Minister of State for her reply. We are all struck by the worldwide impact of the social media campaign, Kony 2012. I am sure many of us would have to admit we were not aware of the nefarious activities of the Lord's Resistance Army as established by this notorious individual, Joseph Kony.
The Leas-Cheann Comhairle is under pressure so I will be brief. Has the Minister had any communications with the US authorities or her EU counterparts in regard to advocating military support for the capture of Joseph Kony? The US authorities have provided 100 military experts. Does the capacity exist within the EU to address this issue? What discussions, if any, have we had on this matter with the African Union and with people such as Jean Ping, and can the AU play a more active role?
I agree with the Deputy's sentiment about the power of social media. This is something we saw in the Arab Spring in particular. I hope it will assist people who otherwise might not have a voice or be in a position to draw the attention of world leaders to issues of such grave international significance.
The European Union is constantly co-ordinating and liaising, especially in this region, and has announced it will provide €9 million for humanitarian assistance to the war-affected population as part of its regional strategy. The EU has a good record and I believe it will be enhanced in the region in the months and years ahead. As a member of the United Nations, Ireland is very much engaged in this issue. The UN, the African Union and the US Administration are co-ordinating to assist national armies in the region to end the scourge of LRA violence - which is a tall order. Last year the US deployed a team of 100 military advisers and experts in order to provide logistical support and build the capacity of the indigenous forces. That is the right approach.
In addition, the Great Lakes regional armed forces recently established a 5,000 strong force under the auspices of the African Union to combat the LRA rebels. Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic have united under a Ugandan forces commander and will be based in South Sudan.
Is the Deputy happy enough with that? We will move on.
