Dated July 28, 2010 / Made public November 11, 2010
Population of Agoumar village
Rafaï Sub-Prefecture in the east
of the Central African Republic
To
- The Government of the Central African Republic
- The International Community
- The United Nations
- And specifically to His Excellence, the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama
Subject: Letter of grievance and a request for help
On March 21, 2010 at 4:30 pm, the Ugandan LRA rebels attacked our village of Agoumar. The men wore uniforms and they were armed with guns, machetes, hammers and axes. During their attacks, which lasted five hours, the armed bandits were responsible for human casualties and material damage, as well as the abduction of 16 people, 15 of whom were adolescents (girls and boys). These abductees are still in the hands of the LRA. 8 people were killed in the fields, massacred and tortured, others were shot, one person was burned, and a pregnant woman was killed by bayonet. People were gravely wounded, houses and barns were burned, shops pillaged, food and clothing pillaged. Since this event, our population has lived in total insecurity and faced serious negative consequences, namely:
- Severe famine: People cannot go to their fields to search for provisions nor are they able to farm.
- Illnesses: Related to the lack of food, the effects of sleeping on the bare ground in the bush in the cold, not drinking clean water, emotional trauma. The consequences of all this is that people fall ill, resulting in cases of death, especially among the children, through anaemia, diarrhoea, and respiratory infections.
- Displacement: A large number of people have moved away in search of peace, toward Bangassou 150 km away, and towards the DRC, leaving their possessions and their families. Some of the displaced have died following illnesses and famine.
- Issue of education: Many children have lost a school year, others have been taken into the bush by the LRA. We must also talk about the school year 2010-2011 which will be very difficult, because parents will not have the money to pay for school fees, insurance, nor for school supplies for their children. These students will stay in the village and the future effects will be grave for our society and for their future.
Please note note that despite attempts by the Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armées Centrafricaines, FACA) mixed together with those of the Ugandan army (UPDF) to try to put an end to the LRA abuses perpetrated against the civilian population, they have not yet succeeded in stopping the attacks. On the contrary, the LRA rebels are increasing their activity and progressing toward northern CAR.
We, the population of Agoumar, and the unfortunate and poor victims, cry out to national and international organizations, and most sincerely to President Barack Obama, to find a new strategy against the LRA rebellion in order to put an end to this phenomenon once and for all, and to allow the population to live in peace. We also call out those of goodwill to bring assistance for those who live in the aftermath of LRA attacks and who need help in the areas of health, education, and socioeconomic development.
We are sure that you will do the utmost so that we can once again live in peace. With our highest regards, we thank you in advance.
ON BEHALF OF THE POPULATION
The Village Chief
AGOUMAR 1
LAMBOU Maurice
The Village Chief
AGOUMAR 2
Jean Baptiste MATAFA
The delegate of the displaced
KATAWA Thierry
