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