The LRA will never settle for a peace deal
May 23, 2006
Prevention is better than cure, doctors say. The so-called peace options allegedly from LRA leader Joseph Kony could cause more wounds if not diagnosed immediately and prevented. My feeling is that history might repeat itself if the international community again comes up to support Kony’s alleged
Dennis Ojwee
Prevention is better than cure, doctors say. The so-called peace options allegedly from LRA leader Joseph Kony could cause more wounds if not diagnosed immediately and prevented. My feeling is that history might repeat itself if the international community again comes up to support Kony’s alleged appeal for peace, which appeal has never yielded fruits.
Ugandans and the world should not forget or forgive Kony for what happened on December 31, 2004 at Paluda in Kitgum. The LRA refused to turn up for the scheduled signing of a cease-fire.
The fact is that the LRA will never settle for any sensible peace deal. History has proven this. The rebels always want to use the peace promises to rest, plan and ferry ammunition into the country for more mayhem rather than sensible talks.
The LRA leadership behaves like rats at night. A rat blows cool air as it eats up your skin when you are dead asleep. One only realises the destruction when one wakes up. No one wants to see the rebels being killed, but what can we do if they continue killing innocent people? The question is, should we sit and watch as a lion grabs our people day and night?
Peace-loving Ugandans and other nations should acknowledge and blatantly admit that the war in northern Uganda has taken two decades. It has caused lots of mayhem, suffering and loss of life. The region is totally dilapidated and people are still crowded in camps. The conditions are worse than those of animals in a small kraal. When will these war crimes against mankind stop? I am among the people in the north who have experienced deep trauma over this war. Its end should be everyone’s focus.
I appreciate the efforts of the UPDF, which has worked hard to uproot the rebels in vain. I think more should be done to boost the army’s strength. The President appealed to the UN Security Council to take over the war against the LRA, but rather the UN lost eight of its peace-keepers at the hands of the rebels in Garama forest, Congo recently. The people of northern Uganda need the LRA to completely be wiped out so they can leave the camps and be able to re-construct their dilapidated villages.
The efforts of the UN agencies and the NGOs in trying to keep life going on in the camps are remarkable, but for how long will this go on? Ending the war should be the ultimate goal.
The writer is a war journalist in northern Uganda
Prevention is better than cure, doctors say. The so-called peace options allegedly from LRA leader Joseph Kony could cause more wounds if not diagnosed immediately and prevented. My feeling is that history might repeat itself if the international community again comes up to support Kony’s alleged appeal for peace, which appeal has never yielded fruits.
Ugandans and the world should not forget or forgive Kony for what happened on December 31, 2004 at Paluda in Kitgum. The LRA refused to turn up for the scheduled signing of a cease-fire.
The fact is that the LRA will never settle for any sensible peace deal. History has proven this. The rebels always want to use the peace promises to rest, plan and ferry ammunition into the country for more mayhem rather than sensible talks.
The LRA leadership behaves like rats at night. A rat blows cool air as it eats up your skin when you are dead asleep. One only realises the destruction when one wakes up. No one wants to see the rebels being killed, but what can we do if they continue killing innocent people? The question is, should we sit and watch as a lion grabs our people day and night?
Peace-loving Ugandans and other nations should acknowledge and blatantly admit that the war in northern Uganda has taken two decades. It has caused lots of mayhem, suffering and loss of life. The region is totally dilapidated and people are still crowded in camps. The conditions are worse than those of animals in a small kraal. When will these war crimes against mankind stop? I am among the people in the north who have experienced deep trauma over this war. Its end should be everyone’s focus.
I appreciate the efforts of the UPDF, which has worked hard to uproot the rebels in vain. I think more should be done to boost the army’s strength. The President appealed to the UN Security Council to take over the war against the LRA, but rather the UN lost eight of its peace-keepers at the hands of the rebels in Garama forest, Congo recently. The people of northern Uganda need the LRA to completely be wiped out so they can leave the camps and be able to re-construct their dilapidated villages.
The efforts of the UN agencies and the NGOs in trying to keep life going on in the camps are remarkable, but for how long will this go on? Ending the war should be the ultimate goal.
The writer is a war journalist in northern Uganda