|
An Alternative Outlook and Approach to Ending Insecuirity and Violation of Human Rigts in Northern Uganda Alfred
Banya From the time when President Museveni's National Resistance Army (NRA) seized state power on "25th January, 1986", and pursued the remnants of the defeated UNLA through eastern and northern Uganda, the NRA has waged an indiscriminate and debilitating war of attrition and massacre against the people of those areas. Innocent civilians; especially women, children and the aged; have found themselves caught in a cross - fire, in a war between the trigger happy NRA soldiers and determined dissidents and ostracised youth. The war has largely remained unreported in the international media because of its obscure location, away from Kampala, and because, of NRA's skillful art of concealment of crimes, propaganda and strong cobweb of lobbying the international community. In the light of this tragic situation that this paper proposes a programme of accommodation, reparation, rehabilitation, reconstruction rather than isolation, confrontation; retribution and destruction. The proposal advocates for forgiveness, goodwill and the concept of a new beginning. This proposed programme calls for dialogue and settlement of the war through negotiations and implementation of a comprehensive economic package for all those affected by the war. In order to appreciate the proposal it is important to understand the composition of the major groups that have been dissenting and resisting Museveni's NRA regime since 1986. This group largely came about as a result of the massive recruitment of youth by the defeated UNLA soldiers when they arrived in Acholi land from Kampala. These juvenile recruits were not properly trained and when the NRA arrived in Gulu and Kitgum districts a lot of the UNLA soldiers and officers fled to the Sudan leaving behind thousands of bewildered, frightened and leaderless half-trained youth to fend for and defend themselves The fact that the NRA had a policy which identified an ethnic group in the north, the Acholi, as their enemy "adui" made the people feel very apprehensive. The people's vulnerable existence was further undermined by NRA's indiscriminate bombings, arrests, and subterfuge. The NRA dictatorial system had clumped on all political and democratic institutions through which the people could express themselves. In the wake of such a situation people’s resentment and resistance to the NRA regime grew. Leaders like Alice Lakwena, the prophetess, were thus able to mobilise and influence a large number of protesters but the NRA instead of using the police to contain such socio-religious uprisings unleashed and used the most sophisticated weapons of mass destruction to mow them. The NRA did not mind about the uncertainties and harsh realities which influenced the decisions of these people and the fact that they were very poorly armed with sticks, stones and a few outmoded rifles. President Museveni's himself many times repeatedly boasted that "We really massacred these people...!" The third category constitutes youth and children who when the NRA first entered Northern Uganda escaped with their parents and later survived in the bushes. These have since grown up and filled the fighting ranks of the Lords Resistance Army and other fighting dissidents. These people who have not known any thing else in their lives except hardships and self defense. They are hardened, very bitter and extremely suspicious of the NRA and the society that is living a "normal life, They are not afraid of death and no amount of threats intimidate or frighten them any more All attempts by NRA to crush the Northern rebellion through military might has failed to yield results. In the process civilians have been brutalised and killed. This has resulted in civilians feeling even more alienated and angry. All attempts to negotiate with the LRA have also failed mainly because the LRA's hate and suspicion of the NRA is so complete and so deep rooted that it cannot take any agreement with NRA seriously. The NRA has demonstrated that it can not keep promises. Museveni's Amnesty has been withdrawn, restructured and re reinstated at will. This policy has scared young men and driven them further afield . The elders and opinion leaders who could otherwise assist have been gagged into silence by the arrogant approaches of some government ministers and the non democratic RC system. All attempts to blackmail and run down LRA through the use of mass media by NRA lobbyists, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the External Security Organisation (ESO) has also largely failed. Any further threats or silly propaganda to blackmail the LRA before the international community is worthless as it does not affect them at al. The LRA is isolated and insulated. Out there in the wild bushes of Acoliland are thousands of lost children, Ugandan children, who are roaming in the wilderness, aimlessly. They are out-casts; ostracised , separated from their parents, homes and culture during a time of anarchy, extreme fear and turmoil of war. They are not fugitives hiding in the bushes trying to escape prosecution from perpetuated crimes. Each time these lost youths ambush a vehicle on the road, overrun a military unit, or occupy a village, they are in effect asking us to recognise their existence, show them love, rehabilitate and reabsorb them into the normal civil society. Should their plea be rejected because of its weird manner of appeal and complexity of historical misfortunes? Must these youths be pursued, arrested and shot? The UN and the International Community have often reacted positively and humanely towards civil commotion of this nature. In 1994 the UN mobilised aid and followed the retreating defeated Rwanda government soldiers and civilians to their refuge in the wild forests of Zaire. UNICEF set up camps in Liberia and Sierra Leone for ex-child soldiers. For the Kurds in Iraq, in the case of Somalia and also Bosnia a clear humanitarian reaction pattern by the Western powers and NGOs was established. But the case of children, women and the other innocent victims of NRA war in Northern Uganda has been ignored. Neglecting the people of this region in times of crisis and need is becoming a pattern of behavior. For 9 years Amin killed, maimed and abused human rights but the plight of the victims, largely comprising of Acholi, was ignored. The cumulative adverse effect of military dictatorship has left the two districts of Gulu and Kitgum lagging some 30 years behind the rest of the country. In order to redress this disparity, peace and tranquillity must be restored and the area should be a "Distressed Zone" to enable it get special and preferential considerations for development . The resolution to this conflict, lies in peaceful negotiation involving a neutral and interested Third- Party. The Third-Party must be trusted and must gain the confidence of both the parties in the conflict. The LRA on one occasion asked that the UN should mediate the conflict resolution, but the call was ridiculed and ignored. A Transitional Safe-Haven (TSH); judiciously chosen, should be established in Acoliland. The TSH should be located away from normal villages and NRA Detaches. This will enable the dissident fighters have a peaceful temporary venue from where they can reflect upon the harrowing past and learn to cope with the trauma of bush life before going back to their villages. While still at TSH they should be allowed free movement to visit their friends and family as a way of establishing social ties . These centres should initially be for non-combatants who have suffered displacement. The centre should provide basic agricultural inputs like seeds and implements relief feeding for a season. Combatants who graduate from TSH should pass through the Centres of Administration before moving to resettle in the villages. All weapons must be handed over for safe custody and only a limited number should be left in an armoury( controlled by the Neutral Force) within TSH . This arrangement will give assurances to those who have reported that they will be protected in case they are attacked thereby wiping out possibilities of suspicion . It is hoped that
the UN agencies (UNESCO, UNICEF, UNHCR,UNIDO) and NGOs would |
||