UGANDA/DRC: OPERATION LIGHTENING THUNDER UPDATE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KAMPALA 000325

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/19
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF MOPS MARR UG CG SU
SUBJECT: UGANDA/DRC: OPERATION LIGHTENING THUNDER UPDATE
(MARCH 30, 2009)

REF: KAMPALA 312

Classified By: P/E Chief Kathleen FitzGibbon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).


1. (SBU) Summary: This cable is a periodic update on the
regional military operation against the Lord's Resistance
Army (LRA) known as Operation Lightning Thunder (OLT). This
report is not meant to provide an overarching narrative or
polished analysis of OLT, but rather offers spot information
gleaned in Uganda only, from credible U.S. Mission sources
here. We recognize the regional scope of OLT and the fact
that our sources may be limited in their knowledge and
perspective on OLT. End Summary.

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MILITARY SITUATION
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2. (S NF) Ugandan military sources confirm that Ugandan
units remain in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They
report that there are LRA operating in small scattered units,
but that of the two major groupings, one is moving in a
southwesterly direction while another other is moving
southeast. Ugandan military sources also confirm that most
of the Congolese troops have left Faradje, which leaves the
town virtually unprotected. On March 29, the Uganda Peoples
Defense Forces (UPDF) killed three LRA fighters and rescued
three non-combatants in several engagements. Since OLT Phase
II began on March 15, the UPDF has killed 14 LRA fighters,
captured four, and rescued 12 non-combatants, according to
UPDF spokesman Felix Kulayigye. Information from other
sources appears to corroborate these figures.


3. (U) Regional militaries continue to coordinate with each
other with regard to OLT. U.N. Mission in Congo (MONUC)
Force Commander General Babacar Gaye met with UPDF Chief of
Defense Forces Aronda Nyakairima in Kampala on March 28.
Congolese General Etumba met with Ugandan military officials
on March 23 in Kampala to discuss OLT Phase II.


4. (C) Meanwhile, in response to Congolese Minister of
Communications and Media Lambert Mende announcing that the
last Ugandan soldiers left the DRC on March 23, UPDF
Spokesman Kulayigye told P/E Chief that the remarks are
"accidental disinformation." He noted that that if LRA leader
Joseph Kony believes it, then the UPDF benefits.

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POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
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5. (SBU) LRA spokesman David Matsanga flew to Maputo,
Mozambique on March 28. Matsanga claims that he will put LRA
leader Joseph Kony on the telephone with UN Special Envoy for
LRA-Affected Areas Joachim Chissano. We have not had any
confirmation that Kony called Chissano through Matsanga.
Chissano insists that Kony must call him (Chissano) directly
and regularly if he is serious about a cease-fire.

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HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
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6. (C NF) Medecins Sans Frontieres Switzerland's Chief of
Mission Laurence Gaubert reported details of the March 15
attack at Banda, DRC to P/E Chief. Gaubert said that about
20 LRA attacked Banda village at about 0400 on March 15.
Another group of five, with three female combatants, arrived
between 0600 and 0800 to attack the hospital. The LRA was
described as well-organized and disciplined, conducting the
attacks, which appeared targeted at looting communications
equipment. The LRA took 13 hostages, including two
expatriate women, and abducted 30 children. The expatriate
hostages said that there was no violence during the abduction
and that they were able to escape with the assistance of four
villagers when one of the LRA soldiers guarding them was not
paying attention. Likewise, the LRA did not destroy the
hospital during the looting. They took three Thuraya
satellite telephones, HF and VHF radios, solar panels,
batteries from the motorbikes, food, money, and computers.
Gaubert reported that residents of Banda are talking about
another attack in which 100-300 people were kidnapped. She
cannot confirm that report or the report that an aircraft had
landed at a nearby airstrip to drop supplies. Gaubert could
only confirm that two people in Banda had been killed.
Gaubert said that she believes that the LRA group came only
to steal equipment and did not intend on taking expatriate
hostages. MSF has pulled its staff back to Kampala.

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MEDIA/PUBLIC OUTREACH
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7. (U) Invisible Children, a San Diego-based
non-governmental organization, kicked off a worldwide
campaign to raise awareness about the LRA's continued holding
of children as child soldiers in Gulu on March 27 and 28.
The event was entitled "Rescue the Children" and the overall
theme was that peace had come to northern Uganda and that
Kony must be stopped. The events emphasized that peace has
come to northern Uganda and that 80 percent of the
internally-displaced have returned to or near their homes. A
ceremonial destruction of huts was held. There was also a
march, which saw broad participation by local and national
government officials, the UPDF, non-governmental
organizations, and the diplomatic corps. Over 10,000 people
gathered to watch a new 30-minute documentary called "The
Rescue of Joseph Kony's Child Soldiers," which detailed the
various peace processes that have been attempted and failed.
The film dramatically portrays Kony's failure to show up to
sign the Final Peace Agreement in April 2008 and details
Kony's abduction and killing sprees in DRC, southern Sudan,
and Central African Republic. The film concluded that Kony
"is a man of war not peace." Invisible Children is holding
rallies in Washington, D.C., Paris, London, Sydney, and
Mexico City on April 24 to call attention to the plight of
the children remaining in captivity.
BROWNING