Neither Peace nor Justice: Political Violence and the Peasantry in Northern Uganda , 1986-1998
Adam Branch
African Studies Quarterly, Volume 8, Issue 2 Spring 2005
http://web.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v8/v8i2a1.htm
It is a pity that peace and justice are mutually exclusive for the citizens of Acholi in the current conflict that has lasted some 18 years and counting.
For whatever reason, the government is unable and/or unwilling to adopt the easiest solution: negotiate for peace. The recent tragic death of Mr. Garang, which was predictable to some extent, also complicates matters further.
Glancing through Mr. Branch's paper one comes to realize the woeful Catch-22 situation the Acholi peasantry are in. They are cought in a relentless and cruel cross-fire between the UPDF and the LRA, who each regard the peasantry with suspicion, each having failed to cultivate popular support amongst them. The result is that the Acholi peasantry is perennially brutalized by both sides.
In an earlier work, Prof. Kasfir came pretty much to the same conclusion about the NRA and the peasants of Luweero during the protracted war that was supposed to usher in fundamental change. In reality, peasants just switched one set of tyrants for another set, never mind that the incumbent dictator ( and his sycophants) bristles about the similarities between him and his former protagonist(s). I dont recall seeing Kasfirs talk being cited in Branchs paper. Perhaps in my next glance at it.
Nelson Kasfir 2002 Dilemmas of popular support in guerilla war: The National Resistance Army in Uganda 1981-86, presented to LiCEP6 at UCLA.
Note:
LiCEP is an inter-university research group named Laboratory in Comparative Ethnic Processes, hence LiCEP, devoted to understanding causes and consequences of ethnic mobilizations. They meet bi-annually at various campuses to exchange ideas. LiCEP 6 was the 6th such conference. If I am not mistaken, last year they met at Columbia U, where Mr. Branch is getting his PhD.
LiCEP conferees produce some thought provoking papers, a fact not nearly as well known amongst us Africans as might be desirable. Recent faves of mine include:
Ferree 2004 Demographics and electoral volatility in Africa (Uganda doesnt seem to have made the cut for inclusion).
Quinn, Hechter & Wibbles 2004 Ethnicity, insurgencyand civila war revisted
Etc.
General info on LiCEP: www.duke.edu/web/licep/
OO wrote:Neither Peace nor Justice: Political Violence and the Peasantry in Northern Uganda , 1986-1998
Adam Branch
African Studies Quarterly, Volume 8, Issue 2 Spring 2005
http://web.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v8/v8i2a1.htm
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