June 04, 2006: Uganda-CAN Country Director: Peace Talks are Worth a Try
in: Peace Process
by: Peter
Stephen Okello, Uganda-CAN Uganda Director, writes that peace talks in northern Uganda between the LRA and Government of Uganda should be engaged in full. Military approaches to addressing the conflict have failed for the last two decades. With recent overtures by both sides and the mediation of the Government of Southern Sudan, there may be new hope for a robust process of dialogue to end the war. Click below to read Okello's
most recent reflection on the situation. Two decades since this war began, conflict is still devastating the people of Northern Uganda, especially its children. The Government of Uganda has attempted through a military campaign to defeat the LRA rebels, yet such a campaign continues to be unlikely to yield results. LRA guerilla warfare and their ability to elude capture suggest a sophisticated communication, planning and tactical approach. Further, the LRA has been able to engage transnational players in order to replenish its supplies at the same time using forced abduction of children to replenish its army. The LRA is believed to be more than 80% abducted children.
Military intervention to deal with such complexity has failed for 20 year; instead often precipitating the suffering of many innocent civilians. The use of violence in armed conflict has long been recognized as the key instrument of national policy. Yet, the most unfortunate thing about war is that it accomplishes nothing yet the cost are enormous. Norman Angell said of war: "it is a great illusion that it pays." In northern Uganda, the continued reliance on violence by all entities has resulted in millions displaced, thousands of innocent children raped, abducted and forced to kill.
It is at this point when the status quo of violence reigns that all citizens need to build the profile for peace. Critical areas should be highlighted and supported to realize a sincere process for building peace in Uganda. Internetional donors need to develop aggressive mechanisms to check corruption for aid recipients .The opportunity is at the door once again, with Kony and the government of Uganda willing to consider a peaceful resolution of this conflict.
This process will not be easy or simple, but that should not take away our hope in such a peace process. Conflicts are settled when some process arrives at an outcome acceptable to both parties; not that both parties are happy or the outcome fair, but neither party thinks it would be worth the effort not to change the outcome.
We need to build on the positives emerging. Since the beginning of 2006, there has been some improvement in human security indicated by the increased number of IDPs security and less night commuting (although human rights violations, child abduction, rape and sexual exploitation, the arming of civilians to form largely male youth militias remain prominent). The Government of Uganda and the LRA are undoubtedly the big players and they have to tread in the most convenient means possible. Peace for northern Uganda is worth it; why not give it a try.
Military intervention to deal with such complexity has failed for 20 year; instead often precipitating the suffering of many innocent civilians. The use of violence in armed conflict has long been recognized as the key instrument of national policy. Yet, the most unfortunate thing about war is that it accomplishes nothing yet the cost are enormous. Norman Angell said of war: "it is a great illusion that it pays." In northern Uganda, the continued reliance on violence by all entities has resulted in millions displaced, thousands of innocent children raped, abducted and forced to kill.
It is at this point when the status quo of violence reigns that all citizens need to build the profile for peace. Critical areas should be highlighted and supported to realize a sincere process for building peace in Uganda. Internetional donors need to develop aggressive mechanisms to check corruption for aid recipients .The opportunity is at the door once again, with Kony and the government of Uganda willing to consider a peaceful resolution of this conflict.
This process will not be easy or simple, but that should not take away our hope in such a peace process. Conflicts are settled when some process arrives at an outcome acceptable to both parties; not that both parties are happy or the outcome fair, but neither party thinks it would be worth the effort not to change the outcome.
We need to build on the positives emerging. Since the beginning of 2006, there has been some improvement in human security indicated by the increased number of IDPs security and less night commuting (although human rights violations, child abduction, rape and sexual exploitation, the arming of civilians to form largely male youth militias remain prominent). The Government of Uganda and the LRA are undoubtedly the big players and they have to tread in the most convenient means possible. Peace for northern Uganda is worth it; why not give it a try.
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