Ugandan Rebel Group Accused of Mass Abductions, Killings
VOA News 12 August 2010
An international rights organization says Ugandan rebel group the Lord's Resistance Army is responsible for nearly 700 abductions and more than 250 killings in the past 18 months.
In a report Thursday, Human Rights Watch said the LRA systematically abducted children and adults from the nearby Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo. The rights group says children were forced to act as soldiers and used as sex slaves by LRA fighters.
The report adds at least 255 adults and children were killed by the LRA, often by crushing their skulls with clubs. It also says the LRA forced captive children to kill other children and adults.
Human Rights Watch says the abductions began in early 2009 with LRA fighters usually attacking villages early in the morning or late in the day when residents were likely to be at home.
Those abducted were usually marched away after being tied at the waist in long human chains.
HRW says the LRA separated children from their parents and placed them under control of LRA commanders.
The rights group is urging the United States to implement legislation signed by U.S. President Barack Obama in May that would help protect civilians from attacks by the LRA, and bring those responsible for the atrocities to justice.
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