A bitter sweet peace.
Posted on August 30th, 2006
Peace is on the way and for the first time in twenty years, residents of Northern Uganda will be able to sleep through the night without fear. At least that’s the hope. With the announcement of a truce between the LRA and the Uganda government, there is hope for peace.
But it is likely to be a bitter sweet peace. The desire for hostilities to be at an end was so great that the Acholi people are now willing to forgive the perpetrators of ‘crimes against humanity’ in order to be able to feel safe once more.
But what does the future bode? What recourse will the victims who are unwilling to forgive and want to seek redress? Will they be allowed legal recourse or is Kony now immune from prosecution, thereby denying the victims their rights again in the most cruel way imaginable.
How will a society come to terms with men like Kony and other LRA leaders walking in their midst? Men who have perpetrated some of the most heinous crimes they are wanted internationally.
Does Kony’s pardon mean we are going to be treated to the grotesque spectacle of him running for office, perhaps as an MP or even president? After all if there is one thing that he can say in his favour, his name is known by everyone…
It is said peace comes at a high price. This kind of peace may be the bitterest pill of them to swallow.