I have always wondered about the people in Africa and the naive forgiveness they extend to murderers, rapists, torturers, and the like. If someone rapes or kills your wife, how can you say to him, "I forgive you for killing my wife?" Can you forgive a criminal on the behalf of a victim? Forgiveness comes from the victim and not anyone else. You may forgive the killer of your wife for the anguish he has caused you and not for the murder he has committed. Similarly, if a thug rapes your daughter, you have no right to extend forgiveness for the rape, but you can forgive the thug for the anguish he caused you. Forgiving criminals on the behalf of the victims makes no sense, as a matter of fact, you may be inviting more crime if perpetraters are made to expect that someone will always forgive them.

Benon Kisuule

Doreen we all wish that everything were as straight forward as arrest Kony and bring him to Justice or sniper him like in the movies but obviously it is not. For twenty years we have had the Kony situation on our hands but talking and the army has not resolved anything so far. Our best bet yet has been the recent talks and sometimes we must concede to advance. Is this simply about trading justice for peace. Maybe not, maybe its about bringing to an end the insanity that is the war for the sake of the people of northern Uganda. What is a bit of airtime if it has given some breathing space to the affected communities, at least some big man is not using it to build a house in Muyenga. May be the price for peace is so high at times so that we cannot place a figure on it. From the negotiations it is obvious that the rebels wont get away with it they will be undergoing a process either the formal courts, local courts or the ICC if it persists. whatever happens this world is too small for Kony to get away with it unless he dies or is shielded by another govenment.