I have been attending a conference on Small Arms Trafficking at the UN this week and have attended only one session so far, but it already has me thinking a lot about the value of meetings, the value of 'talks' and what dialogue does to promote peace and justice.
There is a lot of talk that is empty, devoid of content; leaving listeners in a torpor, to be quite frank. There is a lot of posturing and self (or nation) promotion that happens at such meetings - particularly when you place people with a lot of power in one room.
There were bright moments, too. Don't get me wrong. I valued hearing the different voices and hearing what members of the government from Rwanda, the Sudan, Nigeria, CAR, etc. the African countries in particular, had to say about the situation of violence and small arms related matters in their country. Many of these leaders are gifted - hearing them speak to the assembly provided a glimpse of the tremendous giftedness/leadership, etc. these people have been blessed by God with. I was fascinated by the individual personalities and the ways in which they were able to speak with eloquence about some of the injustices happening in their own country (when they were honest); and their attempts to make their own countries a better, more peaceful and safer place to live.
However, there were many times during the session and at various meetings, when I wondered what it would be like if the people assembled had the love of Christ in their hearts. What it would be like if we could speak openly about our need for forgiveness and the mercy and love of God. There were many times, as I saw the reams of reports and documents being passed around and discussed, where I felt that much more could be accomplished when our hearts were in the right place and our attention was focused on what the living God was trying to do...and how lifegiving it would be to pray for one another and pray together.
Do I sound like a naive child to say these things? I suppose I do. Well, I guess this has been a lesson of faith, and a trying to understand what it means to be 'in the world, but not of the world,' as Jesus taught. More importantly, the verse from 1 Corinthians keep coming to mind over and over again:
"God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important." 1 Corinthans 1:27
Talk is important, for sure. Dialogue, communication - but it can go both ways. talk can produce peace and it can also incite violence. I admire those trying to build bridges of peace, but I also pray that somehow Christ can be made present to bring wholeness out of brokenness.
Alrighty, now that I have gotten my little sermonette out of the way...here's an article below (just posted today) about the upcoming Sudan-sponsored peace talks between the Ugandan government and the LRA. This is really a historic, significant event. But, if what I said above is true, talk, sometimes, can be just that. Talk. Unless there is a real spirit of cooperation, good faith and a desire for peace; this may go nowhere and lead only to further cynicism or violence down the road.
Nevertheless, I am really encouraged by this turn of events. Partly, because I believe it is an answer to prayer. I have been praying for peace and for the LRA to be brought to justice. Since praying that prayer, newsreels coming in have shown clear movements towards a possible resolution to the conflict and an end to the violence being perpetrated by the LRA and the UPDF.
Lord, I THANK YOU for listening; and for showing me that you are real and answer prayers.
UGANDA: Northern leaders hail talks between Government and LRA
KAMPALA, 4 Jul 2006 (IRIN) - The Sudan-sponsored peace talks due next week between the Ugandan government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) provide the best opportunity to resolve the 20-year-old conflict in northern Uganda, leaders from the region have said.
Betty Bigombe, a former Ugandan minister and long-time mediator of the northern peace process, asked all parties to put a "premium on peace", saying this was the priority.
"My hope is that this succeeds," Bigombe said. "A premium on peace is a priority. It is one thing to talk about peace, and completely another for two million people to live it. The two million people who have suffered for two decades must be considered and everybody must put a premium on peace."
Walter Ochola, the resident district commissioner of Gulu district, who has been instrumental in efforts to find a negotiated settlement, was hopeful the Sudanese initiative would work. "It is the wish of everybody in northern Uganda that this time they are serious because that is what everybody has been waiting for," he added.
A government spokesman, Robert Kabushenga, told IRIN that Uganda had agreed to begin peace talks with rebels next week in the latest attempt to end the brutal civil war in northern Uganda. This was after government representatives met southern Sudanese leaders, who are expected to mediate the talks.
"We are sending a delegation to Juba for the talks next week. There will be no pre-conditions because the main priority is peace in northern Uganda and southern Sudan," said Kabushenga, adding that a delegation headed by the interior minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, was expected to brief the government this week on the planned talks, which are set to be held in southern Sudan.
"This is a positive development. I have the impression that people are sceptical but hopeful that both parties are serious this time. It is the hope of everybody that the current security is maintained," Rev. Fr. Carlos Rodriguez, of Gulu Archdiocese said. "It is a good process so long as the LRA does not come back to disturb the population."
An expanded government negotiating team is scheduled to go back to Sudan for the talks, but the date has yet to be decided. "The next task will be to set up a delegation and deciding who should constitute it," Kabushenga added.
LRA negotiators have been in the southern Sudanese capital of Juba for almost a month, waiting for the Ugandan delegation.
President Yoweri Museveni’s government had been wary of talks with the LRA leaders, some of whom have been indicted by the International Criminal Court, but a minister said yesterday that Kampala was ready to talk peace despite the indictments. Last year, the Hague court indicted rebel leader Joseph Kony and his top four commanders for crimes against humanity.
Salva Kiir, president of the autonomous southern Sudanese government, said on Monday that direct negotiations between Kampala and the LRA would start in Juba next week under the mediation of his administration. "We have agreed on how to proceed with the talks," he told a news conference after meeting an advance team from Kampala. "In the meantime, consultations will take place. Next week, the talks will begin."
Several attempts to broker an end to the notorious insurgency have failed in the past to end the rebellion that has killed thousands of people and displaced close to 2 million others since the LRA took leadership of a regional rebellion in 1988 in a bid to oust Museveni.
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