Obama speaks: the President declares his commitment to the LRA Bill
A message from the President…
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2010
Statement by the President on the signing of the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009
Today, I signed into law the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009. The legislation crystallizes the commitment of the United States to help bring an end to the brutality and destruction that have been a hallmark of the LRA across several countries for two decades, and to pursue a future of greater security and hope for the people of central Africa.
The Lord’s Resistance Army preys on civilians – killing, raping, and mutilating the people of central Africa; stealing and brutalizing their children; and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Its leadership, indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, has no agenda and no purpose other than its own survival. It fills its ranks of fighters with the young boys and girls it abducts. By any measure, its actions are an affront to human dignity.
Of the millions affected by the violence, each had an individual story and voice that we must not forget. In northern Uganda, we recall Angelina Atyam’s 14-year old daughter, whom the LRA kidnapped in 1996 and held captive for nearly eight years — one of 139 girls abducted that day from a boarding school. In southern Sudan, we recall John Loboi — a father, a husband, a brother, a local humanitarian assistance worker killed in an ambush while helping others in 2003. Now, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, the people of Dungu and of Obo, too, have their stories of loss and pain.
We mourn those killed. We pray for those abducted to be freed, and for those wounded to heal. We call on the ranks of the LRA to disarm and surrender. We believe that the leadership of the LRA should be brought to justice.
I signed this bill today recognizing that we must all renew our commitments and strengthen our capabilities to protect and assist civilians caught in the LRA’s wake, to receive those that surrender, and to support efforts to bring the LRA leadership to justice. The Bill reiterates U.S. policy and our commitment to work toward a comprehensive and lasting resolution to the conflict in northern Uganda and other affected areas, including northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Sudan, and the Central African Republic. We will do so in partnership with regional governments and multilateral efforts.
I commend the Government of Uganda for its efforts to stabilize the northern part of the country, for actively supporting transitional and development assistance, and for pursuing reintegration programs for those who surrender and escape from the LRA ranks.
I also want the governments of other LRA-affected countries to know that we are aware of the danger the LRA represents, and we will continue to support efforts to protect civilians and to end this terrible chapter in central African history. For over a decade, the United States has worked with others to respond to the LRA crisis. We have supported peace process and reconciliation, humanitarian assistance and regional recovery, protection of civilians and reintegration for former combatants, and have supported regional governments as they worked to provide for their people’s security. Going forward, we will call on our partners as we all renew our efforts.
I congratulate Congress for seizing on this important issue, and I congratulate the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have mobilized to respond to this unique crisis of conscience. We have heard from the advocacy organizations, non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, humanitarian actors who lack access, and those who continue to work on this issue in our own government. We have seen your reporting, your websites, your blogs, and your video postcards — you have made the plight of the children visible to us all. Your action represents the very best of American leadership around the world, and we are committed to working with you in pursuit of the future of peace and dignity that the people of who have suffered at the hands of the LRA deserve.
Answered prayer!
we did it <3
i love you all lets keep working :)
Thank you for hearing our plea! (from CA)
This is wonderful! We did it everyone…congratulations!
goosebumps :) ahhhhhhh yes.
All of our hard work has paid off!!!!! Congratulations!!!!
great faith, great job, great providence.
can’t wait for the pictures of the Oval Office signing ceremony :)
thank for your nard work,may God bless u all
thank for your hard work,may God bless u all
Ya!!! change really HAS come
Great work all! Prayers are being answered!
We CAN make a difference by what we do everyone!
I’m so proud of all of us, lets keep working!
Thank God! This is start of a new generation, one that will make REAL change in the world! Keep up the good work! Hugs to everyone that helped make this happen!
I love it!
My year has officially been made!
I always knew we could do it!
I am glad to have been a part of the effort and can’t wait to contiue giving and being involved!
Great Work. God bless you all and will keep praying!!
Thanks for your tireless effort to make the voices of these victims heard. This victory proves what passionate, motivated young people can do! Keep it up!
Great Job….N proud of us all 4 working 2wards Peace ,harmony and Justice.And seeing a leader getting actively involved gives people a huge moral boost.Lets keep on marching 2wards World Peace and equal rights to all.
ALL OF OUR HARD WORK PAID OFF!!! THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE FOR ALL OF US!! This is so exciting and emotionally moving at the same time for me! I’ve been working with IC since early 2005 and it feels so good to see huge changes being made only 5 years later!!! WE DID IT!!!
Congrats to all the IC staff and volunteers for your tireless efforts and incredible dedication.
Congratulations
Thank you for hearing my voice!
I’m glad Obama finally stepped up and did something worthwhile, but at the same time until pressure is brought to bare on the LRA and they are stopped, this isn’t over yet. Still praying that he will put some muscle behind his signature.
I wish there were words to describe how wonderful this news is. Now the real battle begins. Keep up the good work and your faith strong. I am so proud.
It’s times like these when I awkwardly tear up in economoics class. We’re supposed to be studying the stock market, but this means so much more.
Truly, truly amazing.
Let’s keep up the motivation and make sure we bring an end to this war.
<3
We're finally getting somewhere big.
This is what we have worked so hard for. Lets keep it going, let something be done! This is awesome!!
YESSSS, It’s finally happening!!!!!
Goodjob everyone, God bless
YES!!!!!!!!! Our Voice Has Been Heard!!!!
i don’t even know what to say!
so cool
high fives for everyone!
Great speach! Renew our efforts–ehm, perhaps now we can actually make words and sentiment into results!
Last year a life was lost of an active member of the Inadvisable Children Organization, ROB STONE, since then there are so many more people aware of the problems in Africa, I know Rob would have been so happy and proud today. I know he is smiling up in heaven for all the great work that is being done and for the great work yet to come. R.I.P. Rob, you are missed.
This is great news! Every person at my school has been hoping something like this would happen.
Beautiful!! This just goes to show the power of the little people of this country.
The future is full of hope for these suffering people, and I’m so proud of the work we all have done.
I am so excited to see hope in the future of those people, to really see peace become a reality, and let these people grow to live wonderful, happy, and strong lives, as they very much deserve the chance to.
thanks God for changing your heart for that.we children in northern Uganda we have surfer in the hand of war, some one like me i spend a lot of year in captivity, they force you to kill, walking for long distance thanks God bless you in the name of peace.
YES! I am so happy about this! If for nothing else, I will always respect and be thankful for signing this bill! I cannot wait for more good news from Invisible Children…hopefully a swift end to the war!
omfg this is awesome! im SO glad its actually happening. ^_^ congrats to all of u guys on making it happen. after waiting, the world is changing
a job well done and well worth it!
I am so grateful that we are finally paying attention to africa’s suffering, may we recognize their continuing troubles and help them (regardless of thier lack of oil or monetary gain).
Sounds like he said exactly the minimum of what supporters like us wanted to hear and nothing more. I’d like more specifics of how our policies are going to improve. I know he can do it, but this bill demands action now and this speech is lacking in that. We recognize that our country’s past efforts have not been enough, Obama needs to recognize that as well and also acknowledge that a peace agreement with Kony is no longer an option. I’m praying there is more strength behind his words than I am giving them at this moment.
what are good news
This made me cry! It makes me hopeful that there is a chance to end this horrible war and change the lives of so many people who have lived in fear for so long.
This proves that we are not powerless to end the war in Uganda. Let’s continue to work to change and fight for the lives of so many afflicted. Good work, everyone!
persistence will always bring about change and victory!
Praise God for this! I pray that throughout it all, God would receive the glory. Not Obama. Not IC. Not the government. The Lord still rules and reigns over them. May He continue to work in and through us and the people of Uganda.
Psalm 46:9 – He makes wars CEASE to the ends of the earth.
Psalm 9:18 – For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
The walk in April of 2009 was just one I attended out of many that I should have.The hard work that many has done to get the family and children of Uganda some releif of these crimes against humanity. I am proud to say that the bill finally went to Washington and signed, finally perhaps these charges can be carried out for all to see.
Glory be to God! Please keep our World and UGANDA, RWANDA and REPUBLICAN OF CONGO in your prayers! Thanks
We have spoken for those who could not speak.. And our voices have been heard. THEIR voices have been heard.
I freaking love all of you so much.
I couldnt be more happy! Thank you IC thank you Congress thank you Obama! We are all one people! Lets keep working!
yeah!!!!!!! Way to go everyone!!!! We did it!!!
spread the love.
keep working towards peace.
much love
…finally.. it’s so amazing to know that all our voices and all our efforts are finally paying off.. that the children and the people of Uganda can have hope once again.
…Priase God. We did it. Everyone,we did it. Praise God!!
Amazing work in the name of children of Uganda! So proud! thank you to all who believe!
Aww! That’s awesome!
<3
Wow, even here in Australia it’s big news.
I was lucky enough to be a part of theRESCUE in Perth and that night just showed me the real impact that we can have on the Government.
This step forward is just the beginning of the real changes we are going to start seeing in Uganda, and throughout Africa.
Everybody who supported this, in any way, is amazing.
:) <3
So much for the free exchange of ideas. You guys pull down comments you don’t like pretty quickly…
Awesome! This is utterly amazing to see that everyones hard work has paid off!
Well done to all those in the USA and around the world who did your part to see this through. IC Australia is very proud of you all. A job very well done!
Fine words, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
hello mr. how are u…….
hello mr.how are u.
Just stumbled upon the blog. I often remain confused and frustrated surrounding the global discourse of the LRA. It’s not as black and white as Obama and many claim it to be. There are deep historical and sociopolitical roots that undermine the LRAs existence. I am certainly not condoning the vicious acts of the LRA. However, I remained baffled at Obama’s ignorance when he stated, “I commend the Government of Uganda for its efforts to stabilize the northern part of the country, for actively supporting transitional and development assistance, and for pursuing reintegration programs for those who surrender and escape from the LRA ranks.” How could he possibly commend Museveni’s subjugating and oppressive regime?
Pragmatically speaking, how does Obama plan on utilizing this Bill? By supporting Museveni and UPDF? That would be atrocious, considering the ways in which the UPDF has humiliated the northerners.