The first time I was sent the Joseph Kony video, I ignored it. It was International Women’s Day and Holi – the spring
festival of colors. I wasn't in a mood to watch anything that looked suspiciously disturbing.
Today however, with the colors of Holi safely washed off, I watched the video. Instead of horror (courtesy my roots in North east India, war, guns and atrocities don’t
shock me so quickly). my reaction to Kony video was a bunch of questions.
Unfortunately, the video doesn’t answer them. So, I went searching for the
answers and I thought that maybe I should write them; maybe there are other doubting Thomas on the net like me
So, my first
question is, Joseph Kony abducts and turns children into soldiers with guns.
WHY THE HELL DOES HE DO THAT?
Here is the
answer: Joseph Kony belongs to a tribe called Acholi. He is fighting to create
a sovereign state for the Acholi people in Uganda. His aim: to run an
Acholiland, on the basis of the Biblical 10 commandments. He uses his (child soldier) army to
kill his enemies who are mostly soldiers and civilians supporting the Ugandan
president Museveni. Sounds pretty much a fanatic Christian version of the
Taliban to me!
Question 2:
How does Kony rule over his army? What
is the opium he feeds them?
Answer: Apart from the dream of an Acholi nation, Joseph Kony tells his young
warriors that the Holy Spirit can shield them in battle if the proper belief,
the proper application of Holy Oil, signs of the cross,
and the proper recitation of prayer songs etc. Also, he also tells them that if they die, they would have eternal
life in heaven. Now, haven’t we heard something like that from Islamic Jihadis?
