Europe calls for action on Kony By Richard M. Kavuma July 9, 2003 The European Parliament has added its voice to calls for international action on the war in northern Uganda. In a resolution passed on July 3, the EU legislators urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene to protect civilians.
The parliamentarians challenged the council to authorise deployment of a UN force in the north under Chapter VII of the UN Charter “whenever a request to this effect is submitted by its Secretary-General, Kofi Annan”. The 17-year-long war between government and the Joseph Kony-led Lord’s Resistance Army has condemned a million people to camp life, with some 10,000 abducted children still in rebel captivity. The conflict, originally confined to the northern districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, has now spread further southwards to the districts of Lira, Apac, Kaberamaido and Katakwi. Religious leaders in northern Uganda last month slept on the streets of Gulu for four nights to attract international attention to the plight of children affected by the insurgency. The parliamentarians also urged the European Union Council to consider ways in which the EU could intervene to guarantee the security of populations eligible for the humanitarian aid. Also being considered is the appointment of a special representative to support the peace initiatives presently being made, such as the one by the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative. The EU Parliament also urged the Uganda government to introduce good governance and political pluralism in order to remove all reasons for resorting to armed combat. While “condemning serious human rights violations by all parties to the conflict”, the parliament instructed its president to forward the resolution to the secretaries-general of the United Nations and the African Union, the Government of Uganda and the Government of Sudan, among others. © 2003 The Monitor Publications -- He it is Who created for you all that is on earth...He is the All-knower of everything. Swaddaq Allahu Al-Adhim. Michael Bwambuga. __________________________________________________________________ McAfee VirusScan Online from the Netscape Network. Comprehensive protection for your entire computer. Get your free trial today! http://channels.netscape.com/ns/computing/mcafee/index.jsp?promo=393397 Get AOL Instant Messenger 5.1 free of charge. Download Now! http://aim.aol.com/aimnew/Aim/register.adp?promo=380455
