Monday, February 05, 2007

Ugandan rebel 'prophetess' buried

Alice Lakwena, the 'prophetess' of Ugandan rebels died last month in Kenya in a refugee camp. Unfortunately, the LRA did not cease to exist along with her. Ms. Lakwena led a rebellion, starting during President Yoweri Museveni's rule in the 1980s and was defeated finally by government forces in 1988. Her followers believed she could cure major diseases and she founded the Holy Spirit Movement in 1986. Her followers also founded the Lord's Resistance Army, which is led today by Ms. Lakwena's cousin Joseph Kony. Thousands attended her funeral...yet how many funerals of lost children is the LRA responsible for? With more than 1.5 million people moving to avoid their children being abducted by the LRA, should Ms Lakwena be honored, or blamed for the atrocious human rights violations against thousands of Ugandan children today? Who is responsible for the continual abduction of Ugandan children- the Ugandan government, Ms. Lakwena, the LRA, Joseph Kony or the rest of the bystanding world?

2 comments:

Dr. D said...

You pose some difficult questions. Who is to blame for what happened, who is to blame for allowing it to continue for over 20 years?
I think all of the above, but what do I know?
I'm surprised that the Ugandan government allowed Alice Lakwena to be buried in Uganda -- they didn't allow Idi Amin Dada to be buried in Uganda. Why do you think they allowed that?

amazz said...

In response to dr. d's comment, I think the reason they allowed Alice Lakwena to be buried in Uganda because she was seen as a healer and a good-doer. The article mentions how she used healing potions and provided aid to those who were fighitng. Unfortunately, for most of the children soldiers Alice Lakwena was playing the maternal role that their own mothers could not be there to fulfill.

Featured Post

Turkey's Ban on Insults against Erdogan

 Since 2005 Turkey has had a law against insults against Erdogan known as Article 299. The article declares that citizens can be imprisoned ...