STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3210

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 169

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 169 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT UNITED STATES ADVISORY FORCES REMAIN IN UGANDA UNTIL JOSEPH KONY IS REMOVED AND STABILITY IS BROUGHT TO THE COUNTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the President of the United States and the United States Congress to continue to ensure that United States advisory forces remain in Uganda until Joseph Kony is removed and stability is brought to the country.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that Joseph Kony is one of the world's worst war criminals, taking over leadership of an existing rebel group in 1987 and renaming it the Lord's Resistance Army, which has earned a reputation for its cruel and brutal tactics perpetrated on Uganda's own people.  For example, the Lord's Resistance Army is encouraged to rape, mutilate, and kill civilians, often with blunt weapons.  This measure urges action by the federal government to end these cruel acts and aid in restoring stability in Uganda.  The Lord's Resistance Army is no longer active in Northern Uganda, where it originated, but it is strongly suspected that it continues its campaign of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 169 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair