ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS STRONGLY CONDEMNS MASSACRE IN UGANDA

23 February 2004



Acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan issued the following statement today:

The acting High Commissioner for Human Rights condemns in the strongest possible terms the 21 February massacre of over 190 civilians near the northern Ugandan town of Lira.

The attack on the Barlonya camp for displaced persons has been attributed to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group accused of numerous atrocities during an 18-year conflict, including the abduction of thousands of children for use as soldiers and sex slaves.

The acting High Commissioner calls for the perpetrators of this appalling crime to be brought to justice in accordance with international norms. He notes that such a barbaric act could fall within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

The acting High Commissioner reminds all concerned of the need fully to respect humanitarian law during conflict and of the duty to protect the human rights of civilians at all times.