1. Why are the Children Crying?: Child Slavery and Other Atrocities enacted by the Lord’s ResistanceArmy (LHR) in Uganda. Presented by: Munonyedi Ugbode New Data Bases LRA( Lord’s resistance Army) Mutilation is discussed because it is perhaps one of the most inhumane practice exhibited by the Lord’s Resistance Army against its own people. Committing atrocities against ones enemies has long since been a tactic during times of war. Almost as important as committing atrocities, is having your enemy observe you committing them, this is the best way to frighten him/her. Conventional mutilation standards include, severing of the lips, hands, fingers, nose and ears. Padlocking the lips together or sewing eyes shut are also common. Father Carlos Rodriquez narrates a typical mutilation story of a 17 year old boy. The rebels cut off the boys ears, lips and fingers. “They wrapped his ears in a letter which they put in his pocket. The letter read we shall do to you what we have don’t to him. Referring to those who wanted to join local defense forces. (Vinci, 2005) “The lord’s resistance army are an armed opposition movement fighting the government in Northern Uganda” (Amnesty International 1997) The LRA emerged along with other rebel groups in 1986, after Yoweri Museveni the leader of the National Resistance Movement took control of Uganda. The ideology of the LRA is a mixture of the ideas of two fallen rebel groups. These groups were the Holy Spirit Movement, and the Ugandan Peoples Democratic Army (UPDA) (Vinci 2005) • Background/ History • Uganda is a country in eastern Africa, located west of Kenya. • The country gained its independence from England in 1962. • The capital of the country is Kampala. • The entire area of the country is a little bit smaller than Oregon. • The president is Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He had been in power since 1986, a little over 20 years. • The countries population is estimated to be 28,195,754 owing to deaths from AIDS and other mortality factors. • The major ethnic groups in Uganda include: Baganda 17%, Ankole 8%, Basoga 8%, Iteso 8%, Bakiga 7%, Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Batoro 3%, Bunyaro 3%, Al 2%, Bagwere 2%, Bakonjo 2%, Jopodhola 2%, Karamojong 2%, Rundi 2% and non-African 9%. • (www.cia.gov, 2006) Photo courtesy of: (www.ugandablogspirit.com, 2006) The lord’s resistance army perpetuates their reign of terror by abduction young children. These children are usually between the ages of 13 and 16. They are beaten, murdered, raped or forced to fight armed government troops. Young girls who are abducted are forced to marry senior members of the LHR. These forced marriages as used as a reward for male soldiers in the army. They can also become sexual slaves. (Amnesty International 1997) The LHR’s reign of terror has also resulted in the internal displacement of 90 percent of the population. (Vinci 2005) The Voices of Children Susan, 16 “One week after I was abducted I was given to a man called Abonga. He was thirty years old. Two girls were given to him. He was trying to be nice to me, to make me feel happy and not want to runaway, but all I wanted to do was go home. I was taken away from him when I got to Sudan because I had syphilis. They said they wanted to give me treatment but I refused-- I did not trust them and thought they might try to hurt me, and I felt fine anyway. Because I had syphilis I was not given to another man in Sudan. Instead I was kept separately and guarded because they thought I would give sickness to others. No one was allowed to have free relationships there. If they caught a boy and a girl together they would shoot you in public. The only relationship they allowed were the ones that they forced on you. (Human Rights Watch/ Africa, 1997) Visions of Terror William 10, “ I am afraid to go back home to my village, because the rebels are still there in plenty. I fear they will kill me if they come to know of me here. I was in primary three when I was abducted, and I would like to go back to school, if there is somewhere that is safe. I don’t know. I am sad now. The other thing I would like to say is that I experienced the deaths of many children. I wish there could be a solution.” (Human Rights Watch/ Africa, 1997) This woman Lokeria Aciro was with a group of other women gathering firewood, when an 11year-old child rebel captured her. He cut off her ears and sewed her lips shut. Picture courtesy of Los Angeles Times 2005. Child after his home was attacked by rebels. Photo courtesy of www.aymu.org, 2006 For more information View accompanying Power Point Presentation