Kony who?

MANILA, Philippines - If you’re on Facebook and/or Twitter, you’ve probably noticed the wide influx of status messages and tweets bearing the hashtag #StopKony2012. If you’ve been ignoring them altogether, let me clarify this early on that no, it’s not a petition called Stop Konyo (Coño) 2012. It is, however, part of a viral campaign started by the group Invisible Children, comprised mostly of young people and aims to spread awareness about the conflict in Uganda. They have been around for several years and released a number of films, including their most recent work, KONY 2012.

The film runs a little over 29 minutes, and talks about the situation in Uganda. For those who may be unfamiliar with the conflict, here is a very brief background: Years back, former Ugandan president Tito Okello was overthrown by the National Resistance Army (NRA) led by Yoweri Museveni. Museveni occupied the presidential seat in 1986 and has remained there ever since. 

What Invisible Children aims to do is establish a great notoriety for Kony, to make him so deservedly infamous that he is difficult to forget. And if he is remembered, the sense of urgency to bring him to justice rises.

Resistance groups emerged and were defeated for the most part, save for the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony. The measures the LRA took to ensure their strength were extreme. It was said that children were kidnapped in the dead of night, where the girls were turned into sex slaves and the boys turned into child soldiers. It was also said that the children were forced to kill their own parents or siblings using blunt instruments.

The government’s counterinsurgency response to the LRA attacks was equally hostile. Families were forced to relocate to camps (which closely resembled concentration camps), where protection from attacks was minimal. Living conditions were dismal, with reports of violence and disease running rampant, and deaths averaging 1,000 a week.

Several peace talks have occurred over the last few years, during which time the LRA was given food, clothing, and medicine as a peace offering. Later on, however, it seemed that Kony had no intention of signing the peace treaties, and seemed to use the peace talks as a time to rest, regroup, and hoard supplies.

The film KONY 2012 briefly covers the history of this situation and talks about Invisible Children’s fight to see the conflict’s end. It shows how in its seedling years, the organization took to Congress, but couldn’t rally enough support. But with the help of social media networking and the distance bridged by the advent of the Internet, thousands have taken on the cause, and these are the same people who’ve marched into Congress asking that assistance be delivered to the people of Uganda.

The founders of Invisible Children and filmmakers of KONY 2012 Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole pose with officers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army on the Congo-Sudan. Photo by Glenna Gordon

These same young people demanding change, have, with monthly donations of a few dollars, helped rebuild schools and re-establish trades that help bring in livelihood for the displaced.

The film also shows the group’s leader reading a statement from President Barack Obama, saying that he has ordered the deployment of “a small number” of US troops to aid in bringing an end to the discord in Uganda. There are loud cheers from the rest of the room, and it seems the end goal is drawing near.

KONY 2012 ends with a call to action, asking for monthly donations or the purchase of their “action kit,” which includes posters, two bracelets (which normally come with all their films), and other materials to “make Kony famous.” What they aim to do is establish a great notoriety for Kony, to make him so deservedly infamous that he is difficult to forget. And if he is remembered, the sense of urgency to bring him to justice rises.

While the intention is good, it also must be mentioned that there have been a lot of questions about Invisible Children. There’s been a lot of talk of how only 32% of their earnings goes to the actual cause, and majority of it is spent on salaries, travel, and production costs. (According to a little Google sleuthing, it’s been reported that Invisible Children refuses to cooperate with the Better Business Bureau, an organization that investigates the ethical nature of companies. —ed.)

This wouldn’t be much of a problem if their main goal was simply to raise awareness, but asking for donations with the promise of action leaves them open to questions of where the money actually goes. Not to mention it’s somewhat suspicious that the movement also becomes kind of a marketing campaign for the organization — buy the merchandise, plaster the posters, wear the bracelets, share the film online, then… wait for the release of the next film?

Celebrities jumping on the #StopKony2012 bandwagon via Twitter.

It’s likewise (and more importantly so) been up for discussion as to whether military intervention is the smartest thing in such a long and drawn-out conflict. Many are wary of entering another war and losing even more lives without the certainty of a favorable outcome, which may seem cold, but is well within reason.

Others ask the valid question: If we disarm the LRA then in whose hands do the guns fall? Is there even a plan beyond removing Kony, such as dissolving the LRA completely or constructing means to improve governance so that peace might be sustained? The situation is tricky at best, because the fact remains that the inhumane has occurred.

I am grateful that there is a film that’s brought the Uganda situation back into our periphery, and that it’s opened up such a dynamic discussion. It’s important to remember, however, the importance of questioning, of keeping a healthy amount of cynicism, especially when a movement is trying to channel our idealism into action.

Kony must indeed be stopped, but by what measure is not solely for one well-meaning organization to decide. What may seem good for us may not be good for Africa, and if the road to hell is paved with good intentions, it’s only wise that we keep ourselves in check.