REQUEST FOR REGULAR REPORTING ON LORD'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 118217 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS CG UG SU CT SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR REGULAR REPORTING ON LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY REF: STATE 87508 KHARTOUM PLS PASS JUBA KINSHASA PLS PASS GOMA GENEVA FOR RMA ADDIS FOR REFCOORD KAMPALA FOR REFCOORD NDJAMENA FOR REFCOORD NAIROBI FOR USAID ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paras 3 and 4. ¶2. (U) As operations to pursue and destroy the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) continue, an unfortunate side effect is the widening geographic area in which marauding small groups of LRA attack and prey on civilians for resupply of sustenance and soldiers. For example, the DRCongolese refugee outflow and internal displacement owing to LRA attacks now affect at least four countries that engage four U.S. embassies, three USAID Missions, field staff of USAID/DCHA/OFDA including in Nairobi, and all three of State/PRM's regional refugee coordinators (based in Addis, Kampala, and Ndjamena). One of the challenges to mounting an effective civilian protection strategy across multiple countries is that of coordinated information gathering and sharing. This is made even more complicated by the inability of some posts (Bangui, Goma, Juba) to send and receive classified information. ¶3. (U) An Interagency Policy Committee (IPC) on the LRA was held on November 3, 2009. Among the IPC conclusions was the need for more systematic reporting from posts in/covering LRA-affected countries to better inform USG efforts to develop and maintain a civilian protection strategy and address ongoing humanitarian consequences of LRA attacks and related abuses. Addressee posts are thus requested to provide regular (preferably monthly) updates on activities of the LRA, following the template in para 3. Posts should aim to provide updates by the end of each month. It is to be expected that information available from different field posts may differ even when describing the same situation. An interagency working group in Washington will endeavor to synthesize and report back to all addressees a regular update on protecting civilians. Addressees should copy all of the other addressees on their messages to further the information sharing goal. And in view of the inability of some posts to send/receive classified information, please keep reporting to the unclassified/SBU level to the extent possible. Classified responses should be sent by separate cable. ¶4. (U) Posts are requested to provide responses to the �0A;following questions, noting the source of information and any contradictions: LRA Attacks -------------- -- How many LRA attacks have occurred during the reporting period? -- How many deaths, casualties, rapes, and abductions due to LRA attacks have been reported? -- Where have the attacks occurred? -- What are estimated numbers of LRA combatants and non-combatants and in what location? -- Have LRA movements been reported? To/from where? -- Are other forces in the area that might be responsible for attacks which are attributed (perhaps wrongly) to the LRA? LRA-Affected Populations -------------- -- How many internally-displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees have been displaced by LRA and related operations against the LRA since September 2008 (for first report)? Since last update? (Note. Generally, IDP information will come from STATE 00118217 002 OF 002 USAID officers and refugee information from State.) -- What is the location of refugee/displaced populations? -- What is the expected time-line for displaced populations to return home? Have some populations already returned? (Are displaced populations static or moving frequently?) Security Response -------------- -- What host government actions have been taken against LRA forces? UN (including peacekeeping operations) actions? UPDF? Other (e.g., auto-defense forces?) -- Have any cross-border coordination efforts taken place between these forces/agencies? -- What are the effects on civilians of operations against the LRA? Have there been reports of human rights abuses by security forces responding in LRA-affected areas? -- Has information sharing and coordination by national militaries with the UN been sufficient to allow proactive civilian protection efforts by peacekeepers? -- What are future plans for anti-LRA operations and/or civilian protection efforts by these forces/agencies? -- Have UN peacekeeping operations effectively conditioned support to national militaries on their respect for human rights, or does such support continue despite reports of human rights abuses by those militaries against civilians? Humanitarian Response -------------- -- Which host-government agencies, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs),community-based organizations, etc. are responding to humanitarian needs in LRA affected areas? -- Please describe humanitarian operations/activities currently underway in support of LRA-affected populations. -- Please describe coordination of these efforts. E.g., is OCHA coordinating? Host-government? Are there regular protection cluster meetings focusing on LRA-affected areas? Is there adequate information sharing among NGOs on the ground, UN peacekeepers and national militaries involved in operations against the LRA? -- What are the current humanitarian gaps in LRA-affected areas? -- Have there been attacks on NGOs/humanitarian groups, and if so how has this impacted efforts to respond to humanitarian needs in LRA-affected areas? Other -------------- -- Please report on any other relevant developments/concerns related to the LRA not covered above. CLINTON