Kony hunt: Don’t put NGO staff at risk

Feb 09, 2006

SIR – I am responding to a recent story that quoted visiting French foreign affairs minister Phillipe Douste-Blazy as having urged NGOs in northern Uganda to help in arresting indicted rebel chief, Joseph Kony.

SIR – I am responding to a recent story that quoted visiting French foreign affairs minister Phillipe Douste-Blazy as having urged NGOs in northern Uganda to help in arresting indicted rebel chief, Joseph Kony. I think it is dangerous for humanitarian workers to be seen as openly on the lookout for Kony and his comrades. It might goad the LRA into aiming their guns at the NGOs as key “opponents”. Already we know of some NGO workers who have been killed (mostly in ambushes) while executing their noble duties. Let the humanitarian organisations concentrate on helping the war victims. Of course those of them who are able and willing to provide useful information can do so to help the International Criminal Court move on. But that should be done in a way that does not endanger the lives of field workers, who pride themselves as being “neutral”.

Denis Ocwich
Sweden

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