Why has there been an apparent silence on the LRA’s (Congo) latest killings?

Africa Today 52
Topic: Why has there been an apparent silence on the LRA’s latest killings?

Broadcasting date: 13/04/2010
Presenter: Vuyiswa

Guests:
Ambrose Nzeyimana, Coordinator, Organising for Africa

Tedi Mavoka, Coordinator, DRC Vision

part 1

Description:
At least 321 people were killed and hundreds were abducted in one of the worst massacres by Africa’s most feared rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), in the Democratic Republic of Congo in December.
A three-year-old girl was burnt to death during the attack on men, women and children, an investigation by a human rights group has revealed.
Villagers who escaped death were sent back with their lips and ears cut off as a warning to others of what would happen if they talked — a tactic used frequently by the LRA, which has terrorised much of northern Uganda and the border areas with Sudan and Congo for more than two decades.
The attack — which was unreported until now — confirms that the LRA has restarted terrorising the region despite losing its bases in Sudan a few years ago, when Khartoum, its main backer, signed a peace deal with south Sudanese rebels. According to Human Rights Watch the LRA also abducted at least 250 people during the attack, including 80 children.

part2

Why media silence?
International interests in diamonds
The LRA is spread across 15,000 square miles of dense forest and plains
Main supply line from Sudanese government in Khartoum
HRW report breaks the silence

Certain groups feel that there has been international silence on LRA’s atrocities in the northern part of the Democratic republic of Congo due to the illegal trading of the region’s diamonds.
UN believes the LRA is scattered across 15,000 square miles of dense forests which includes parts of Northern Congo and the Central African Republic.
Deputy Governor of the South Sudanese state of Western Equatoria, Col Joseph Ngere, believes the groups’ line of supply comes from the Sudanese government in Khartoum.
Is the Human rights watch report the catalyst for the story coming out?

part3

A report by Human Rights Watch has uncovered the massacres of about 321 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance army has been behind these killings and also the abduction of hundreds of civilians. The Massacre according to the rights group is one of the worst ever committed by the LRA in its 23 year history. The attacks carried out in December last year have been unreported until now. Africa Today asks why has there been an apparent silence on the LRA’s latest killings?