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Nikki Giovanni Ties Uganda to Virginia Tech |
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"No one deserves a tragedy."
Uganda-CAN Update
19 April 2007
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Words
cannot begin to describe the shock and sadness that we all feel after
Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech. Like so many across the country
and world, our prayers are with the families, students and entire
Virginia Tech community. Far too many young Americans continue to lose
their lives each day in gun-related violence.
As
past and present students ourselves, we were especially stunned by the
events. We know well the seeming sanctuary of our university campuses.
Therefore, we considered postponing this update until next week.
However, the words of an inspiring poet reminded us that moments like
this call not for silence, but for solidarity.
At
Tuesday's memorial service at Virginia Tech, distinguished University
poet Nikki Giovanni spoke: "We do not understand this tragedy. We know
we did not deserve it but neither does a child in Africa dying of AIDS,
but neither do the invisible children walking the night to avoid being
captured by a rogue army...No one deserves a tragedy."
No
one deserves a tragedy. Our outrage at Monday's shootings and our
outrage at the continued suffering in northern Uganda are not
unrelated. This is not to downplay any single tear, but to realize that
behind the horror is the tragic violation of human life that knows no
borders.
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Introducing Resolve Uganda
Two
years ago, we launched the Uganda Conflict Action Network with the
belief that individuals, informed of the nightmare of northern Uganda,
would act to compel the U.S. and international community to help end
the war. Together, we've marched, held awareness events, organized
briefings and lobbied Congress, and been inspired in our common
commitment to respond to unnecessary suffering. While we've made steps
forward, we've also learned that the political establishment is
stubborn in its status quo.
That's
why, since the Lobby Day last October, we have been working to bring
you an innovative, new organization to build public pressure for the
necessary political leadership. We know that the neglect we see from
our leaders will be overcome only when enough people who care unite
their resolve to achieve change. Resolve Uganda
will seek to reach a wider audience and have a greater political
impact. It will incorporate all the things that have been key to
Uganda-CAN (the latest news, analysis and resources), but with much
greater capacity to involve concerned citizens across the country and
around the world in a movement for an end to the war.
In the next month, get ready to see what we can do together with Resolve Uganda. We'll send you a notice when we launch ResolveUganda.org,
and you'll automatically receive emails from the organization. Our new
address is 211 8th St. NE, Washington, DC 20002, and phone number:
(202) 548-2517.
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News from Northern Uganda
In January, the LRA delegation refused to return to peace talks in Juba, demanding a new mediator and venue. Yet, last month, the intervention of both northern Ugandan leaders and the new UN special envoy, former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano, convinced the LRA to return to talks.
Chissano's role as a respected African elder and statesman was
reportedly crucial, especially impressing LRA leader Joseph Kony. In
the compromise reached, five countries
(Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique and DR Congo) will send
high-level observers to supplement the GoSS mediation. In addition, the
African Union (AU) agreed to coordinate eight new ceasefire monitors.
This
month, the pace has quickened. In Mombasa, at meetings organized by Pax
Christi, representatives from the two sides reportedly reached broad
agreement on a framework for continuing the talks. Then, meeting in
Ri-Kwangba camp in southern Sudan on 13-14 April, Kampala and the LRA
agreed to extend the CoH until 30 June. The parties also committed to resume peace talks in Juba on 25 April. While this is excellent news, resuming talks and ensuring their success are two different challenges. Read our analysis on this "second chance," published at openDemocracy.net.
While the politics of negotiations have unfolded, uncertainty has remained on the ground in northern Uganda. In
the first three months of 2007, there was fear in northern
Uganda that some LRA fighters had re-entered Uganda. Last week, there were reports of a series of unrelated incidents and abductions in Gulu and Pader districts. In southern Sudan, there have been reports of
LRA attacks as some fighters moved toward either DR Congo or the
Central African Republic.
Nevertheless, the humanitarian situation in northern Uganda remains improved
since peace talks began last July. Over 300,000 displaced persons have
returned home. Many others have been able to farm outside of the camps
for the first time in years. Still, despite this progress, northern
Uganda requires emergency relief for those still in the camps and
recovery assistance for those returning home. The recent news
that the World Food Program has been forced to cut food rations is
troubling. International assistance remains critical to save lives in
northern Uganda.
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No
one deserves a tragedy. Our prayers continue to go out to the families
and students affected by the tragedy at Virginia Tech, as well as that
in northern Uganda. Sadly we'll never be able to stop all tragedy, but
we can do something. We can lend a hand, touch a life and work to make
the world just a little gentler. Together, we can.
In peace,
Peter & Michael |
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