After viewing the films Invisible Children (2003, 2008), I was given a lot more clarity into the specific issues faced by the African countries of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo concerning the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Through the films, I was able to truly see just how colossal the problem has become—with so many lives lost, and so many children taken and forced into war, it was incredible to realize just how little I knew about what is going on in my world. The war is the longest war is Africa's longest war. The detriments that have occurred because of it have shaken a handful of African countries, and as the war wages on, these countries have continued to be affected by what Alice Lakwena, and subsequently, Joseph Kony began through the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). In this week’s post I hope to discuss some of the major issues surrounding the war, specifically, what is preventing the conflict from being ended and what might happen once the conflict has ended. At the heart of the matter is the LRA’s child soldiers—is there hope for them, and after the war has ended, will there continue to be hope?
Aside from the fact that the LRA functions under the authority of an occult-type leader, who uses fear tactics and a kind of religious base for support, there also exist a handful of other barriers to ending the war. First and foremost, it seems that one of the barriers exists in the form of public awareness and support. Indeed, it seems one of the largest difficulties to garner public support in countries such as the United States. But as the second film depicted, once this support had been gained, peace talks became much easier, as the Ugandan government was able to enlist the help of senior American diplomats.
However, there was still no resolve, as Joseph Kony decided to renege on his side of the agreement—for the fourth or fifth time. This brings me to another barrier to ending the conflict, which is the idea that, not only is there limited public awareness and support from countries like the United States to end the war, but there is also an absence of economic resources. It was disheartening to see the image of hundreds of Ugandan child sleeping on verandas or on the pavement at night, in order to escape being abducted by the LRA. The strategy must be to disconnect Kony from his main holding—the children. If the government could provide a safe haven for children, if they could provide protection, some of the consequences of the war might not be as grave—such as the ones mentioned in the first film: child promiscuity, AIDS, etc.
I have just discussed some of the major barriers to ending the conflict; but, what will happen when the conflict ends? The child soldiers that have become ‘monsters’, as one man in the film puts it, will have to go somewhere and will have to continue living. In one part of the film a boy who is a soldier in the LRA asks to come back to live with his mother; as the film (2008) suggests, his request might seem to highlight the overarching concern of how child soldiers might be reintegrated into society. Part of the solution might include strengthening the community with the means of giving emotional and psychological support for these invisible children—including utilizing transitional justice techniques: locating the children’s parents or closest family members, burying the dead/ marking the graves of those who have died, and especially bringing to justice those who have committed crimes. Other solutions might include providing the children with psychological and spiritual council, while also allowing the children to develop and even redevelop social and communication skills with their peers through school and education.
In all, the films do a good job of presenting issues connected with the LRA and Uganda, Suden, etc. Perhaps the films’ biggest accomplishment resides in the idea that it has been able to garner so much awareness and support. –By this, people around the world can be roused to illuminate the issue, to act, to discuss ways to end this war and pick up the pieces.
Works Cited
Russel, J, Bailey, B. & Poole, L. (Creators). (2006, April 7) Invisible Children [Google video]. Retrieved April 25, 2011 from http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3166797753930210643
Russel, J, Bailey, B. & Poole, L. (Creators). (2008, April 25) The Rescue of Joseph Kony's child Soldiers [online video]. Retrieved April 25, 2011 fromhttp://vimeo.com/3400420
No comments:
Post a Comment