A trip to the Allero
Just a short post today. We just got back from the field with an organization that provides a lot of rehabilitation support to war victims. Their project is funded by the ICC's Trust Fund for Victims and they do both reconstructive surgery (for victims who's lips and other body parts have been cut off) as well as rehabilitation for other injuries from the war. While they talked to different victims who will be went to Kampala for surgery, we did many interviews with people from different villages.
One of the most interesting things we heard was when a man told us in response to which members of society are having the most problems after the war: in some ways, it was better to be an LRA commander than to be a regular citizen in Uganda after the war. This is because Uganda seems to always choose peace over justice. To help bring an end to the war, Uganda passed the Amnesty Law, making it illegal to punish a rebel for their crimes during the war. It also offered many resettlement packages for commanders who decided to drop their guns and return. Its crazy but it does often seem that some of the most guilty received the most aid.
Off to Pabo tomorrow with the Acholi Religious Leaders to see their land conflict work and hopefully do more surveys.
Hope Toronto is getting warmer! It is so hot here…
- Sima
One of the most interesting things we heard was when a man told us in response to which members of society are having the most problems after the war: in some ways, it was better to be an LRA commander than to be a regular citizen in Uganda after the war. This is because Uganda seems to always choose peace over justice. To help bring an end to the war, Uganda passed the Amnesty Law, making it illegal to punish a rebel for their crimes during the war. It also offered many resettlement packages for commanders who decided to drop their guns and return. Its crazy but it does often seem that some of the most guilty received the most aid.
Off to Pabo tomorrow with the Acholi Religious Leaders to see their land conflict work and hopefully do more surveys.
Hope Toronto is getting warmer! It is so hot here…
- Sima
As you have found out justice isn't always fair. Hopefully these stratagies had some positive effect and help save innocent lives.
ReplyDeleteDon,t know about TO but MTL is getting warmer, I,m not complaining.
Keep up the great work and keep us posted.