LRA: TALKING POINTS FOR SPECIAL ENVOY'S

UNCLAS STATE 064048 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM CG UG SU XA XW SUBJECT: LRA: TALKING POINTS FOR SPECIAL ENVOY'S CHISSANO'S BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ¶1. USUN may draw from the following talking points for the June 25 briefing by the Special Envoy for the Secretary General to Areas Affected by Lord's Resistance Army (LRA): -- We would like to thank Special Envoy Chissano for his briefing today and for his dedication and efforts to end LRA operations that have created enormous human misery for so many years. We wish him success in his future as he leaves this position for endeavors. -- We are seriously concerned about recent LRA attacks against civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, and Southern Sudan, which have led to the displacement of over 160,000 people to date and have created some 18,000 new Congolese refugees in Southern Sudan. As we all know, the LRA has, since December, killed well over a thousand people, abducted hundreds (including women and children),and destroyed entire villages just in the DRC. We continue to urge the LRA to immediately cease all military activities and abductions, and to release all persons, particularly children, being held against their will. -- The United States continues to support MONUC, FARDC and other regional militaries' efforts to increase civilian protection in the region. Civilian protection must be a part of the planning of any military operation. -- We urge greater coordination between MONUC and UNMIS in order to counter the LRA threat to the region and better protect local populations, and to ensure adequate humanitarian assistance reaches those civilians impacted by LRA activity. Questions for Chissano: -- What do you think is the best way forward to end the LRA threat to the region once and for all? -- What is your assessment of the joint FARDC/MONUC operation (Rudia II) against the LRA in the DRC? -- In your opinion, has adequate humanitarian assistance been provided to those populations who have been attacked by the LRA or otherwise impacted by the current military campaign? What more should be done to alleviate the suffering of these populations? -- How can UNMIS, MONUC, and other UN entities better coordinate to more effectively protect vulnerable populations? CLINTON