June 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 153, Pt. 12 16147 The SPEAKER pro tempore. The United States and the international commu- extraneous material on the resolution question is on the motion offered by nity to assist in rehabilitation, reconstruc- under consideration. the gentlewoman from California (Ms. tion, and demobilization efforts; The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Whereas the Cessation of Hostilities Agree- objection to the request of the gentle- WATSON) that the House suspend the ment, which was mediated by the Govern- rules and agree to the resolution, H. ment of Southern Sudan and signed by rep- woman from California? Res. 137, as amended. resentatives of the Government of Uganda There was no objection. The question was taken; and (two- and the LRA on August 20, 2006, and ex- Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in thirds being in the affirmative) the tended on November 1, 2006, requires both strong support of this resolution, and I rules were suspended and the resolu- parties to cease all hostile military and yield myself such time as I may con- tion, as amended, was agreed to. media offensives and asks the Sudan People’s sume. A motion to reconsider was laid on Liberation Army to facilitate the safe as- Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank sembly of LRA fighters in designated areas the distinguished gentleman from the table. for the duration of the peace talks; Georgia, Mr. HANK JOHNSON, for spon- f Whereas the Cessation of Hostilities Agree- ment expired on February 28, 2007, without soring this important and timely reso- CALLING ON GOVERNMENT OF ever having been fully implemented, and lution on the nightmarish conflict in UGANDA AND LORD’S RESIST- though the parties resumed peace talks on northern Uganda. ANCE ARMY TO RECOMMIT TO April 26, 2007, and signed a preliminary Two decades of horrific battle be- POLITICAL SOLUTION IN NORTH- agreement on May 2, 2007, they have not yet tween the Lord’s Resistance Army and ERN UGANDA arrived at a sustainable negotiated settle- the Ugandan government have taken ment and observers remain concerned that Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to hostilities between rebel and government up to 200,000 lives and displaced nearly suspend the rules and agree to the con- forces could resume; 2 million civilians from their homes. current resolution (H. Con. Res. 80) Whereas a return to civil war would yield But the human tragedy in Uganda can- calling on the Government of Uganda disastrous results for the people of northern not be simply represented but numbers and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Uganda and for regional stability, while and statistics. It is about the daily to recommit to a political solution to peace in Uganda will bolster the fragile Com- pain and terror of victims and their prehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan and the conflict in northern Uganda and to families. de-escalate tensions in the Democratic Re- Like other rebel forces that have recommence vital peace talks, and urg- public of the Congo; and ing immediate and substantial support Whereas continuing violence and insta- fought the tragic civil wars of Africa, for the ongoing peace process from the bility obstruct the delivery of humanitarian the Lord’s Resistance Army built its United States and the international assistance to the people of northern Uganda ranks with child soldiers, both girls community, as amended. and impede national and regional trade, de- and boys, and used vicious and un- The Clerk read the title of the con- velopment and democratization efforts, and speakable methods to alienate these current resolution. counter-terrorism initiatives: Now, there- children from their families and their fore, be it villages. Time and again, Uganda child The text of the concurrent resolution Resolved by the House of Representatives (the is as follows: Senate concurring), That Congress— victims have been forced to commit unthinkable acts, to kill their parents H. CON. RES. 80 (1) disapproves of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) leadership’s inconsistent com- and other relatives before being ab- Whereas for over two decades, the Govern- ducted themselves. ment of Uganda has been engaged in an mitment to resolving the conflict in Uganda armed conflict with the Lord’s Resistance peacefully; Over two decades of war, more than Army (LRA) that has resulted in up to (2) urges the LRA and the Government of 30,000 children have been kidnapped 200,000 deaths from violence and disease and Uganda to engage in good-faith negotiations and faced a horrible fate, becoming ab- the displacement of more than 1,600,000 civil- to pursue a political solution to this conflict; sorbed into the LRA. Meanwhile, tens ians from eastern and northern Uganda; (3) encourages all parties in the region to of thousands of terrified children leave immediately cease human rights violations Whereas former United Nations Undersec- their home villages each evening at retary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and and address, within the context of a broader national reconciliation process in Uganda, dusk and walk to distant towns to Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland avoid being kidnapped by the LRA and called the crisis in northern Uganda ‘‘the issues of accountability and impunity for biggest forgotten, neglected humanitarian those crimes against humanity already com- pressed into service. They are known in emergency in the world today’’; mitted; Uganda as the ‘‘night commuters.’’ Whereas Joseph Kony, the leader of the (4) urges leaders on both sides of the con- Mr. Speaker, every parent in the LRA, and several of his associates have been flict in Uganda to renounce any intentions United States labors to reassure their indicted by the International Criminal Court and halt any preparations to resume violence young children that they are safe at and to ensure that this message is clearly for war crimes and crimes against humanity, home when sleeping in their own beds. including rape, murder, enslavement, sexual conveyed to armed elements under their con- trol; and The greatest crime of the Lord’s Re- enslavement, and the forced recruitment of sistance Army is to take even this an estimated 66,000 children; (5) calls on the Secretary of State, the Ad- Whereas the LRA is a severe and repeat vi- ministrator of the United States Agency for basic right away from children and olator of human rights and has continued to International Development, and the heads of families of northern Uganda. attack civilians and humanitarian aid work- other similar governmental agencies and While the LRA is responsible for the ers despite a succession of ceasefire agree- nongovernmental organizations within the overwhelming majority of violence and ments; international community to continue to aug- abuse of children and their families, Whereas the Secretary of State has labeled ment efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in northern Uganda and to support a the government of Uganda also has the LRA ‘‘vicious and cult-like’’ and des- been cited time and again for human ignates it as a terrorist organization under peaceful resolution to this crisis by publicly and forcefully reiterating the preceding de- rights violations. In August of last the Immigration and Nationality Act; year, South Sudan’s President bro- Whereas the 2006 Department of State re- mands. port on the human rights record of the Gov- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- kered a cessation of hostilities agree- ernment of Uganda found that ‘‘security ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from ment between the government and the forces committed unlawful killings . . . and California (Ms. WATSON) and the gen- rebel forces, but the accord broke down were responsible for deaths as a result of tor- tlewoman from Florida (Ms. ROS- and only last month did the 10-month ture’’ along with other ‘‘serious problems’’, LEHTINEN) each will control 20 minutes. effort resume. including repression of political opposition, The Chair recognizes the gentle- I believe the Uganda people deserve official impunity, and violence against woman from California. both peace and justice. It is incumbent women and children; GENERAL LEAVE upon the international community to Whereas in the 2004 Northern Uganda Cri- sis Response Act (Public Law 108–283; 118 Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask work with Uganda people, particularly Stat. 912), Congress declared its support for a unanimous consent that all Members the people of northern Uganda, along peaceful resolution of the conflict in north- may have 5 legislative days to revise with the International Criminal Court ern and eastern Uganda and called for the and extend their remarks and include and the Ugandan judiciary, to make

VerDate Mar 15 2010 09:56 May 21, 2010 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR07\H18JN7.000 H18JN7 erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD 16148 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 153, Pt. 12 June 18, 2007 sure both a lasting peace and real jus- for the promise of social services that not the least of which is the fact that tice are achieved. drew these children to these towns, but delegations allegedly representing the The healing and the recovery of the it was fear of abduction by the LRA. two parties have questionable credi- Uganda people, particularly the chil- While security conditions in northern bility, the Juba process is being hailed dren, from this tragic war, requires Uganda have improved and the number as the best chance yet to ending the that we make their personal peace the of ‘‘night commuters’’ has decreased conflict by political means. priority right now. It is the only path over the past years, roughly 90 percent, H. Con. Res. 80 serves as an expres- to lasting stability for northern Ugan- 90 percent, Mr. Speaker, of the local sion of support for this political dia- da. That is why I urge the passage of population remains homeless. logue. It expresses disapproval of the this legislation, to put Uganda on a b 1715 LRA leadership and its inconsistent path to peace once again. commitment to resolving the conflict Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of These 1.4 million people have been and it urges both the LRA and the Gov- my time. forced from their homes and herded by ernment of Uganda to engage in good- Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I the Government of Uganda into camps faith negotiations. It encourages all yield myself such time as I may con- for internally displaced persons. De- parties to immediately stop human sume. spite attempts to ‘‘decongest,’’ the con- rights violations and address the issues Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support ditions in these camps are abysmal. of accountability, and it calls on both of H. Con. Res. 80, which calls on the A health survey conducted by the the LRA and the Government of Ugan- government of Uganda and the Lord’s Ugandan Ministry of Health in 2005 as- da to renounce any intentions and halt Resistance Army, the LRA, to recom- serts that up to 1,000 people have died any preparations to resume this vio- mit to a political solution to the con- in the camps each week due to treat- lence. flict in northern Uganda by engaging able illnesses such as diarrhea and ma- Finally, Mr. Speaker, the resolution in good faith negotiations, and it urges laria. The HIV/AIDS rate in the camps calls on the State Department, on the support for the ongoing peace process is more than double the national aver- United States Agency for International from the United States and the inter- age. Sexual violence and domestic vio- Development, and other similar gov- national community. lence against women has increased dra- ernment and nongovernment organiza- As my good friend from California, matically, and the IDPs complain that tions within the international commu- Ambassador Watson, has pointed out, camp life has all but destroyed the so- nity to continue and to augment ef- since 1986, northern Uganda has been cial fabric of the region. forts to alleviate the humanitarian cri- embroiled in a vicious conflict which For its own part, the Ugandan Gov- sis in northern Uganda and to support pits the forces of Uganda President ernment has failed in its efforts to de- a peaceful resolution to this humani- Museveni against the rebel Lord’s Re- feat the LRA militarily, and to provide tarian crisis. sistance Army, LRA, of Joseph Kony. adequate protection for the citizens of According to the U.N. Office of Hu- Kony claims to hold mystical powers northern Uganda. Instead, the govern- manitarian Affairs, the conflict of and asserts that he has been guided by ment has embraced a highly question- northern Uganda is characterized by a God to protect the Acholi people of able three-pronged approach towards level of cruelty seldom seen, and few northern Uganda who have been resolving the conflict, and this in- conflicts rival it for its sheer brutality. marginalized by Museveni’s govern- cludes: number one, pursuing a mili- Despite all of this, Mr. Speaker, it re- ment. However, it is the Acholi them- tary campaign against the LRA; two, mains one of the most overlooked hu- selves who have suffered disproportion- supporting indictments by the Inter- manitarian and human rights crises in ately at the hands of the LRA. national Criminal Court, the ICC, the world today. H. Con. Res. 80 seeks The LRA, which has been designated against the LRA’s top leaders; while, to shed some well-deserved attention as a terrorist group subject to the three, participating in peace talks on the crisis in northern Uganda. It af- State Department Terrorist Exclusion while offering amnesty to LRA rebels. firms the resolve of this Congress that List, moves in small, well-coordinated It should come as no surprise that the victims of this atrocious conflict groups from bases in southern Sudan these mutually incompatible efforts shall not be forgotten. and more recently in eastern Congo. have complicated matters and have Mr. Speaker, I thank you for bring- They hold no clear political agenda and failed to yield lasting results. Ill-timed ing this important resolution to the make no attempt to hold territory, but military campaigns have undermined floor. I urge support by all of our Mem- they mutilate, torture, murder, rape numerous mediation efforts, and the bers. and loot with impunity. ICC indictments have led the LRA to Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of The LRA has abducted more than question the sincerity of the amnesty my time. 20,000 people, mostly children, Mr. deal offered by the government leaders. Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 Speaker, to work as laborers, soldiers Further, both the Government of minutes to the gentleman from Geor- and sex slaves. Children are forced to Sudan and the LRA have routinely vio- gia (Mr. JOHNSON). the front lines, and those who do man- lated the agreement that is called the Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speak- age to escape from the LRA find it dif- Cessation of Hostilities Agreement er, I thank the distinguished gentle- ficult, if not impossible, to return to which has now expired without ever woman from California and also the their villages after having been forced having been fully implemented. These honorable gentlewoman from Florida to commit atrocities in front of their actions have prompted skeptics to for their support for this resolution. families. warn that both sides may be using the Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong One of the most visible signs of the pretext of talks to rearm and replenish support of H. Con. Res. 80, a resolution collective trauma suffered by the peo- their forces. that I introduced which calls on the ple of northern Uganda was pointed out If this is in fact the case, both the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s by Ambassador Watson, and this is the LRA and the Ugandan Government Resistance Army, or the LRA, to re- ‘‘night commuter’’ phenomenon. At the should be reminded of the fact that a commit to a political solution to the peak of the conflict, over 20,000 chil- military solution has alluded them for conflict now raging in northern Ugan- dren would walk up to 15 kilometers over 20 years. It is unlikely that a mili- da, and to recommence and sustain from their village to the relative safety tary solution will be any more viable vital peace talks. of the towns each and every night. now. It also urges immediate and substan- They would spend the night under Thankfully, peace talks between the tial support for the ongoing peace proc- grossly overcrowded tents, sleeping on Government of Uganda and the LRA ess from the United States and the concrete floors, before getting up at have resumed in Juba, Southern international community. dawn to make the return journey to Sudan, and appear to be gaining mo- When it comes to international af- their villages. It was not for food, nor mentum. Despite numerous challenges, fairs, Mr. Speaker, the Congress is

VerDate Mar 15 2010 09:56 May 21, 2010 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 0688 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR07\H18JN7.000 H18JN7 erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD June 18, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE, Vol. 153, Pt. 12 16149 somewhat limited in the action that it totally mistreated by the Lord’s Re- has been perpetrated on the people of can take to address issues of concern. sistance Army. She was turned into a northern Uganda, particularly by the As we all know, it is primarily and child soldier. And just a couple of days head of the Lord’s Resistance Army, rightfully a function of the executive ago, announced her new book called Joseph Kony. It states that ‘‘at the branch. However, we do have the right ‘‘Girl Soldier’’ which makes chilling height of the war, the LRA, led by Jo- and the ability to use this platform to reading for anybody who wants to seph Kony, committed serious abuses focus attention on human suffering know what really goes on in northern and atrocities, including abduction, around the globe, if only for a moment. Uganda, and how crazed Joseph Kony rape and the killing of civilians. The So now is our moment to put a spot- and his people are; and how, as the dis- LRA used children as soldiers, held light on the situation in northern tinguished gentleman said just a mo- children and others in slave-like condi- Uganda. The situation has been ex- ment ago, they turn girls into sex tions, and subjected female captives to plained by both the gentlewoman from slaves and killers and the young men rape and other forms of severe sexual California and the gentlewoman from into killing machines. It is a terrible, exploitation.’’ Florida so I will not duplicate what horrible indictment on how low the in- This resolution tries to put addi- they have said. dividual can sink to. tional focus, additional girth, behind My sincere hope is that H. Con. Res. And Joseph Kony, as we all know, the effort to finally find a negotiated 80 will help bring peace to the ravaged has been indicted by the International solution to this ongoing killing fields, region of northern Uganda. Specifi- Criminal Court for serious crimes and we all hope and pray this will have cally, this bill calls on the Government against humanity. And, regrettably, at least a happier ending than thus far. of Uganda and the LRA to recommit to this killing continues to go on. Again, I urge Members to read the a political solution to the conflict in I urge Members to read the book. It book by Grace Akallo, ‘‘Girl Soldier.’’ northern Uganda and to sustain the is an awakening not just on how she Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I vital peace talks that are now ongoing. suffered, but also how a person when yield back the balance of my time. It also urges immediate and substan- surrounded by people who love her and Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield tial support for the ongoing peace proc- give her the kind of support that any back the balance of my time. ess from the United States and the individual like herself needs to get, The SPEAKER pro tempore. The international community. how they can come back, the resiliency question is on the motion offered by Mr. Speaker, the tragedy in Darfur of the human spirit. She is a soft-spo- the gentlewoman from California (Ms. rightfully has been receiving a great ken, poised, gentle, lovely young WATSON) that the House suspend the deal of attention as of late, but to the woman who has a great future, but she rules and agree to the concurrent reso- southeast of that region, another trag- has been through a nightmare. We lution, H. Con. Res. 80, as amended. edy has been developing for nearly two ought to keep her and her friends in The question was taken; and (two- decades. More than 200,000 Ugandans our prayers. thirds being in the affirmative) the have died from the violence and disease She also pointed out just last week in rules were suspended and the concur- brought about by the conflict between a meeting that we had announcing her rent resolution, as amended, was the Ugandan Government and the LRA. book that she cries out and prays every agreed to. Almost 2 million people have been day for her friends, many of whom she The title was amended so as to read: displaced from their homes and vil- does not know what happened to them. ‘‘Concurrent resolution calling on the lages, having been forced to flee the vi- They are still there, she thinks. They Government of Uganda and the Lord’s olence. What is particularly disgusting may be dead. But she has no idea. I Resistance Army (LRA) to recommit to about this conflict is the forced re- think that puts additional impetus on a political solution to the conflict in cruitment of children by the LRA. As us to do more, to save these children, northern Uganda by engaging in good- many as 38,000 children have been ab- this lost generation. faith negotiations, and urging imme- ducted. The boys are turned into kill- Mr. Speaker, over the last 20 years as diate and substantial support for the ing machines and the girls into sex many as 1.5 million persons, an esti- ongoing peace process from the United slaves. mated 90 percent of the population of States and the international commu- Former U.N. Under Secretary Gen- the Acholi area in northern Uganda nity.’’. eral Jan Egeland has called the crisis have been forced into internally dis- A motion to reconsider was laid on in northern Uganda ‘‘the biggest for- placed camps as a result of the violence the table. gotten, neglected humanitarian emer- between the Lord’s Resistance Army f gency in the world today.’’ and the Government of Uganda. Nearly Today, with the passage of H. Con. half of these internally displaced per- NOTING KILLINGS OF DOZENS OF Res. 80, I hope to take a small step to- sons are children under the age of 15, INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS IN ward changing this unfortunate truth, people like Grace Akallo. RUSSIA AND CALLING ON RUS- and I respectfully ask that my col- One quarter of the children in north- SIAN PRESIDENT TO AUTHORIZE leagues support the resolution. ern Uganda over 10 years of age have COOPERATION WITH OUTSIDE IN- Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I lost one or more parents. About a quar- VESTIGATORS yield such time as he may consume to ter of a million children receive no Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. education at all. The fact that 60 per- suspend the rules and agree to the con- SMITH). cent of the schools in northern Uganda current resolution (H. Con. Res. 151) Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I thank no longer function is directly attrib- noting the disturbing pattern of the gentlewoman for yielding. utable to the war. I point out that killings of dozens of independent jour- Mr. Speaker, having personally vis- those that do function do so in a very nalists in Russia over the last decade, ited Uganda in April 2006, I chaired a meager way. and calling on Russian President Vladi- hearing on the endangered children of Because of the war in the north, mir Putin to authorize cooperation northern Uganda for the Subcommittee Uganda has developed a lost generation with outside investigators in solving on Africa, Global Human Rights and that has grown up in dire cir- those murders, as amended. International Operations. We heard cumstances with fear and deprivation The Clerk read the title of the con- from a number of witnesses and we as their constant companions. Nearly current resolution. raised it and continue to raise it with half of the children in one town are The text of the concurrent resolution the administration. stunted from malnutrition. They are is as follows: But one of our witnesses was a par- likely to never recover. H. CON. RES. 151 ticularly noteworthy person, Grace The latest 2006 Country Reports on Whereas Paul Klebnikov, the editor of the Akallo. Grace is, or was, a child sol- Human Rights Practices summarized Russian version of Forbes Magazine, who was dier, an abducted young girl, who was in a chilling fashion the horror that investigating suspect business dealings and

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