INVISIBLE CHILDREN: DISPLACE ME

What are you doing April 28?

Thousands of people slept outside last April to bring attention to the conflict in Northern Uganda. We were appalled by the horrendous acts committed by the Lord's Resistance Army on innocent people. We said we'd do anything for the invisible children.

Now that violence has lessened and the Juba Peace Talks seem to be starting again, we cannot forget about the many Internally Diplaced People (IDPs). With recent news that the United Nations will cut the World Food Program's food aid budget to IDPs and refugees from Uganda by half, it is even more imperative that we bring attention to this crisis.

The Invisible Children's Event, Displace Me will be occuring in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Pheonix, Pittsburgh, San Fransisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC on April 28-29.

To learn more about IDP Camps, or to sign up to attend the event, visit
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceMe/

UGANDA: PEACE TALKS WILL CONTINUE

The Lord's Resistance Army agreed to resume peace talks after the Ugandan government partially met a rebel request for a new mediator and a change of location. Other concerns voiced by the LRA included security and fear over the alleged bias of Southern Sudan's government.

Although the talk location will not change and the government of Southern Sudan will remain the principal mediator, governments from five other countries will also mediate. These countries include: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and The Democratic Republic of Congo.

To view the original article, visit
http://www.worldvision.org/donate.nsf/child_news/tawv_uganda_20070316?open&lid=uganda_LN&lpos=main

UGANDANS HOPEFUL DESPITE PEACE TALK CESSATION

Though the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has stalled peace negotiations, many Ugandans believe peace is attainable.

"I strongly believe that through negotiations we can get genuine peace...we are all tired of war everybody is tired of it and we just want to be able to move on and return to our ancestral home," says Mozambique's former leader and United Nations envoy Joachim Chissano.

Many in the Acholi community think the only hope for peace in Northern Uganda is reconciliation, believing traditional justice should be used rather than that of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Justice is a complex and touchy issue in the halted peace negotiations and for many Ugandan citizens. Many children abducted into the LRA (themselves victims), were forced to commit attrocious acts on the very community they hope to reintegrate.

However, despite the set backs, many Ugandans believe this is the best chance to end the conflict since it began.

To see the original article, visit
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6454293.stm

*Photo from usaid.gov

IRC WARNS OF RETURN TO VIOLENCE IN N UGANDA

Uganda: areas affected by LRA

The 2006 Juba Peace Talks -- an attempt to end the conflict in Northern Uganda were recently suspended by the Lord's Resistance Army. The main problem facing both the LRA and the Ugandan government is the issue of accountability and reconciliation.

LRA leaders have said that a peace deal cannot be signed unless the International Criminal Court's arrest warrents are dropped.

Shannon Meehan, the IRC's deputy director of advocacy says, “A resumption of hostilities is likely unless all stakeholders take decisive and immediate action to resume the talks.”

* image courtesy of Mark Dingemanse

INVISIBLE CHILDREN

Uganda

For 21 years the Lord's Resistence Army has terrorized the Acholi people of Northern Uganda. Although violence has lessened after the Juba Peace Talks, the conflict has left 1.7 million people internally displaced.

On April 28, thousands will gather in fifteen cities across the nation to show the US Government that the Amercian people care about the millions suffering in Uganda's displacement camps.

Will you be one of them?

For more information and to add your name to the list of participants visit
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/theMovement/displaceMe

History of the Conflict
http://www.ugandacan.org/history.php