ACHOLI RELIGIOUS LEADERS: âPEACE IS EVERYONEâS WORKâ
âAs we are entering in the eighteenth year of the war in Northern Uganda, with more than one and a half million people displaced in Acholi, Lango and Teso, we are writing to you to give you hope that this violence will come to an end and we shall enjoy a future of peace and reconciliation, according to Godâs plan for humanity.â So began the message published by ARLPI (Acholi Religious Leadersâ Peace Initiative) on the occasion of this morningâs peace march in Gulu, northern Uganda. The cartel of Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox and Muslim religious leaders who have been engaged in mediating between the government and rebels of LRA (Lordâs Resistance Army) to end the conflict in northern Uganda since 1998 call on everyone to play their part in the peace effort. âWe are sounding a strong appeal for everybody to work for peace: women, children, youth, politicians, religious leaders, business people, farmers, displaced persons, civic leaders, journalists, government soldiers, LRA, and the international community... Peace is everyoneâs work,â said the leaders in the statement released at the end of the march, which finished at Saint Monicaâs Tailoring School. They went on to stress the importance of dialogue: âViolence cannot answer violence (..) Instead dialogue â as difficult as it may be - always makes people become friends.â The leaders lamented the escalation of violence in the region in 2003, which they said has spread to other areas of Uganda like Teso, Lango and Adjumani, forcing thousands of children to come to sleep in the towns as night commuters. However, they also expressed their satisfaction that their âhuge human tragedyâ was at last attracting some international attention, while at the same time considering it âa pity that not all donor countries are equally convinced and some still consider our tragedy to be a mere âinternal problemââ. In addition to calling for dialogue and negotiation âsupported by allâ, the leaders also appealed to the government of Uganda to extend the amnesty law âwithout any limitations or restrictionsâ, as being the path to peaceful negotiations. They ended their message by expressing concern over the deterioration of relations between the Acholi people and their neighbours due to the spread of violence in the region and appealed for âunity and reconciliation before things get out of handâ. âA peace process is usually a long path that may take a long time to go together, especially in our case where the war has lasted so long and has become so complicated. We appeal to all to be patient and determined so that we walk through it up to the end,â they said, ending the message with prayer.
[LC]
