The Devil's Yoke
A young woman describes her former life as a slave of rebel soldiers.
Interview by Sheryl Henderson Blunt | posted 2/26/2007 08:33AM

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Is it difficult to talk about your experiences?
Talking has never killed anybody. My friends who remain in captivity cannot talk. If they could, they would scream. They would cry. But they cannot. I have a chance. I have a life. God gave me this. I'm not better than my friends to be here. If God had not taken me to see what was happening, I would not be speaking about it. Maybe I would just be saying, "I can't do anything." But that is not what I say.
What message do you have for the U.S. government?
I want them to support the peace talks, but they've left it to the Ugandan government and to Sudan's government. I don't hear the international community trying to oversee it and become involved in the peace talks. How can we trust there will be progress without the international community holding them responsible?
Have you been able to forgive your captors?
I have forgiven them if they have come back [and surrendered]. But if they are still hurting my friends, that would be very hard. I've forgiven one man who had one of my friends as a wife. He surrendered. I need the others to come back, too, so I can forgive them.
How do you feel about the amnesty that has been extended to rebel leaders as an incentive to end the conflict?
[Under the amnesty agreement] those who have left the rebel army are being treated like small gods. Some of the LRA commanders who were close with Kony, including his chief mastermind, are living free in a nice hotel. Meanwhile, the children are dying. We want peace to come, but at some point we also want justice, because there are so many broken-hearted people.
What challenges will the freed Ugandan children face after peace is established?
People are saying if the peace talks are signed, the children can go home. But it will be far from over. The people in the camps, their whole life is gone. What about these people? How will they get back to their normal lives? How do they know how they are supposed to live? In a house? With a family? Some have been born in the camps. Many do not have a family. How will we be sure it really is over? It is far from over. But I do have hope. I have hope that peace will come to my country once again.
Related Elsewhere:
Christianity Today's special section on the Lord's Resistance Army and Uganda are available online.
The Los Angeles Times has a narrated slideshow about the 'Horror in Uganda' (warning: disturbing content.)
Grace Akallo testified before Congress as a spokesperson for World Vision.
The Washington Post
reported on Grace Akallo and the situation of childrenboth those who have been abducted by the LRA and those who are trying to avoid abduction.
March's Inside CT talks about what ordinary people can do to end slavery.
Other articles on slavery in the March issue of Christianity Today include 'Free at Last,' 'Amazing Abolitionist,' 'CVP: On a Justice Mission,' and 'What Would Wilberforce Do?.'
The Amazing Change campaign includes a petition to end slavery.
Christianity Today's other articles on slavery and human trafficking include:
Red-Light Rescue | The 'business' of helping prostituted women help themselves. (December 29, 2006)
Child Sex Tours | The average victim is 14, and Americans make up 25 percent of the customers. (December 29, 2006)
Sex Isn't a Spectator Sport | Germany's World Cup pimping will fuel sex trafficking. (July 1, 2006)
Asia: Christian Women Combat Sex Trafficking | Christian women lead girls out of sexual bondage. (October 4, 1999)