Stop the rebel group Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and arrest its leader Joseph Kony

Appeal for the protection of vulnerable communities and those affected by the LRA in Central Africa.

Appeal to the support for the arrest of LRA leader Joseph Kony, following the International Criminal Court’s Warrant of Arrest in 2005.

International Refugee Trust, the participants of the Barefoot Peace Walk and other concerned citizens of the World would like to present the following appeal to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs:

We are greatly alarmed by the hardships suffered by civilians in Central Africa; for the purpose of this petition meaning South Sudan, southern Central African Republic and north eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: a region that has been severely affected by regular and continuous attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) since November 2008. There is currently a potential threat that the violence will spread to Chad as well.

The LRA has caused atrocities in northern Uganda for over two decades and the spread of their activities across the borders has resulted in the deaths of many civilians, the abduction of young children, the looting of food and medical supplies, the destruction of property and infrastructure and the displacement of thousands of people. Aid agencies are pulling out of the area, therefore little or no assistance and relief is currently provided to the displaced and affected communities.

You quoted Kofi Annan on 26th March 2009 by saying “Humanity will not enjoy security without development, it will not enjoy development without security, and it will not enjoy either without respect for human rights.” Here is a prime example of such a situation, yet it has been forgotten or ignored by the international community. We ask you to observe what is happening in the LRA affected region. Africa cannot be at peace when the very heart of the continent is in turmoil.

We respectfully request the urgent attention to and immediate implementation of the following:

Support local governments in the affected region to:

• Undertake and implement measures necessary to ensure that effective military protection is provided to all civilians affected by and vulnerable to LRA attacks in the area.

• Provide all necessary security measures to ensure that relief agencies are able to provide assistance in the region.

• Endeavour to block the LRA’s access into South Sudan, DRC and CAR.

Influence the international community:

• Raise the LRA issue with the responsible United Nations, European Union and African Union bodies as a regional security concern.

• In partnership with other concerned governments and regional bodies, to actively search for a viable and permanent solution to the problems created by the presence of LRA.

• Commit to the recovery and rehabilitation of the LRA affected communities in Uganda, South Sudan, CAR and DR Congo.

• Commit to supporting an international effort to arrest Joseph Kony following the International Criminal Court’s Warrant of Arrest in 2005.

Respectfully Yours,

International Refugee Trust, the participants of the Barefoot Peace Walk, London, and other concerned citizens world wide.