We have been shocked by some cases where children get late reaction of post-traumatic stress disorder which continues the cycle of violence

Former child soldiers in the Lords Resistance Army rebel group who have more symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder are more likely to have feelings of revenge, a new report has said.

The report released yesterday by the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama), said reconciliation efforts in countries where children have been press-ganged into fighting wars "need more help in order to break the cycle of violence in war-torn regions."

"Post-traumatic stress might be an important factor influencing post-conflict situations and may contribute to cycles of violence found in war-torn regions," said a statement by Jama posted on the official website.

Assessment

Mr Christophe Pierre Bayer of the University Clinic Hamburg, Germany, and colleagues conducted a study to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms in 169 former Ugandan and Congolese child soldiers.

The study was also aimed at examining how PTSD symptoms are associated with these children's openness to reconciliation and feelings of revenge on the person or group they consider their enemy.

Reports of isolated cases of continued violence in former LRA abductees were also confirmed by the army and a rehabilitation centre in Gulu.

The release of this study is timely as the Uganda Government and LRA peace talks in Juba are in recess to find ways of ensuring justice and reconciling the war torn sub-region after over 20 years of conflict.

United Nations estimates there are 250,000 child soldiers are fighting in wars around the world, 10 per cent (25,000) of whom are in northern Uganda. Estimates suggest that 16,000 to 17,000 children have escaped from rebel captivity. An unknown number are believed to be still in captivity, and an unknown number of abducted children are dead.

In the study, the children reported that they had been "violently" recruited by armed forces at a young age, had served an average of 38 months, and had been demobilised an average of two months before participating in this study.

A total of 54.4 per cent reported having killed someone, and 27.8 percent reported that they were forced to engage in sexual contact. Also 34.9 per cent met symptom criteria for PTSD. Eleven per cent reported having been exposed to a high level of potentially traumatic events.

The most commonly reported traumatic experiences were "having witnessed shooting, having witnessed someone being wounded, and having been seriously beaten," the study said.

The captive children are forced to take part in combat, carry heavy loads, act as personal servants to the rebels, and, in the case of girls, serve as "wives" to rebel commanders.

The children underwent a brutal initiation into rebel life: they were forced to participate in acts of extreme violence, often being compelled to help beat or hack to death fellow child captives who were attempting to escape.

UPDF reaction

The UPDF confirmed reports of continued violence in children yesterday but said such cases are isolated. "We have cases of children who have suffered persistent trauma. For instance recently, a formerly abducted girl who initially seemed fine, cut her mother with a hoe while they had gone to dig in the garden," said UPDF spokesman Felix Kulayigye.

Gulu Save the Children Organisations which has, since 1994, received approximately 8,000 formerly abducted children who escaped or were rescued from LRA captivity also confirmed the trend.

"We usually do not re-unite these children with their families until we are sure they are ready. But we have been shocked by some cases where children get late reaction of post-traumatic stress disorder which continues the cycle of violence," said Francis Shanty, Gusco spokesman.

"When we identify such children we readmit them at the centre," he added. Crimes committed, especially against children have led to the indictment of the LRA leadership by the International Criminal Court. Fugitive LRA leader Joseph Kony has denied all the charges including those on gross child abuse.