Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangassou (Agenzia Fides) - Uganda has suddenly become "the center of the world" thanks to the Internet: a video about Joseph Kony, described as "the tyrant of child soldiers" has had over 70 million viewers on Youtube and was released throughout the world through blogs and social media. The documentary, called "Kony 2012" and created by the American NGO "Invisible Children", tells the story of child soldiers in Uganda. Children are recruited by the "Lord's Resistance Army" (LRA), well-known military organization led by Kony who has been fighting against the Ugandan government since 1987. In 25 years, according to the video, the LRA has used over 20,000 children kidnapped from tribes and villages, and exploited boys and girls for prostitution. The International Court of Justice in The Hague wants Joseph Kony for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The documentary has created a media event earthquake, but according to observers, "he tells a half truth because the conflict has diminished considerably in recent years and does not reach the proportions mentioned in the video." According to the local church, the video has the merit of having brought attention to a phenomenon and a war that has created immense suffering to the nation. Commenting on the video, Mgr. Juan José Aguirre, Bishop of Bangassou, said: "I counted every tear of these people and I encourage them not to lose hope. I appeal especially to the many families who have seen their children kidnapped and indoctrinated by force and daughters turned into sex slaves. For many years the Church of Uganda emphasizes this phenomenon, but nothing has happened. Now that the monster has woken up, may God make it disappear forever". (CE) (Agenzia Fides 10/03/2012)
