Photo reporting in south Sudan.
Reporting Valerie Dupont Journalist
Joseph Kony chief of the Lord’s Resistance Army and his child soldiers continue to spread terror in the south of Sudan and in north Uganda and east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) According to Human Watch Crisis, the LRA allegedly killed 200,000 persons and describes this war as the most ignored since 20 years.
With three armies (the powerful southern Sudan army, the SPLA, the Uganda army and the ex Zaire army) after him as well as the international penal court (through UN soldiers) who have issued an international warrant for his arrest together with his three officers, for” crimes against humanity and war crimes”
His army , the Lord’s Resistance Army, LRA, first ambitioned to overthrow the government
of Kampala in order to establish a new constitution based on the ten commandments of the bible.
Today, although very much influenced by christianity, this rebellion pretends to be fighting against a cruel and oppressive government.
Born in 1961 in Odek, an Acholi tribesman, Joseph Kony makes himself known in january 1987 as a “medium” and becomes leader of an armed group fighting against the new regime. The LRA takes its origin from the “Holy Spirit Mobile Forces” born in 1987, led by Alice Lauma “Lakwena”, also a medium and wizard.
Valerie Dupont: My name is Valerie Dupont of French television.
Josephy Kony, people all over the world see you as a devil because of the way you make war.
Today is an opportunity for you to let us know who is the real Joseph Kony. Please tell us in a few words who you are.
J. Kony: I am a man. A human being. I am Joseph Kony. What people say about me is merely propaganda, because these words tarnish my reputation. I am a soldier. I am also a scholar.
He operates in a simple and efficient way, the rebels kidnap 6 to 15 year old children. After training but above all brainwashing, those children rapidly become new fighters. According to the UN, LRA has kidnapped 20.000 children, boys and girls, in the north of Uganda and south Sudan over the last ten years.
South Sudan just emerging from 21 years of war no longer wants to see its children kidnapped by these “fanatics”, but wishes to quickly put an end to this rebellion before it sets fire to this yet so fragile land. The powerful sudanese vice-president, Reik Machar, has instructed the government of Uganda, as well as the LRA, to negotiate peace with Joseph Kony hiding in the south of Sudan since several years and now .probably 1000 kilometers further south. His base camp is now in DRC on the sudanese border.
After several days of waiting and negotiations, we were able to go to one of Joseph Kony’s base camps. We penetrated the thick bush of the congolese park of Garamba and suddenly saw child soldiers who sprang out at us just like wild animals. Palm tree branches were strown on the ground to symbolize according to the Acholie ritual, the sign of peace. Joseph Kony proudly stands wearing his military jacket, but after 20 years in the bush, with no contact with anyone, he is a timid and tense war leader replying to a few questions. He pretended that all that had been said about him was purely propaganda directed by the government of Kampala. He denies having child soldiers. Although around him among his soldiers some seemed less than 15 years old. Combed with deadlocks, staring blankly and arrogantly holding their AK 47, one feels that they had their childhood stolen ...It was Raska Lukwiya ‘s case, number 3 of the LRA , killed on Saturday, August 12, by the Uganda army. Raska, like most of the rebels, was kidnapped as a child. Nevertheless, negotiations continue.
Text: Valérie Dupont, journalist
“I am a freedom fighter fighting for freedom in Uganda. I am not a terrorist”, said Joseph Kony, in his green uniform of the Uganda army and surrounded by armed guards with grim looks.
Ten thousands north ugandese have been killed and close to 2 millions have been displaced during the 20 years of war. LRA considered as being extremely brutal towards the civil population.
Obyono, spokesman of the LRA delegation “ God has given us the strength, he supports us in our suffering...We choose 18 year old youngsters to whom we explain that they must join us to liberate our country from the harmful government of Musevni......the government of Khartoum helped us...no the LRA is not weak but we seek peace... the Uganda army has formed a brigade, called the 501, which commits atrocities in our name...sometimes we are obliged to kill civilians as the Uganda army hides in villages and uses civilians as shields... Joseph Kony is a very religious man.
On this theme, a very good book by journalist Matthew Green.