Online digital newspaper Costa Rica Hoy recently reported on the efforts of Ticos to support the Kony 2012 movement, an Internet social media effort that has captured international headlines in recent days. Mario Murillo is one of the main supporters and coordinators of the Kony 2012 movement in Costa Rica. His wish is to not only raise awareness to the atrocities committed by the Ugandan rebel leader, but also to collect donations to benefit the children of Uganda who live in fear of being conscripted by Kony’s forces.

Who is Joseph Kony

For over two decades, Joseph Kony has been waging a rebellion against the government of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the incumbent President of Uganda since 1986. Museveni is a former revolutionary as well, as he was involved in the coup d’etat that brought down the brutal Idi Amin dictatorship in the late 1970s, and once again in 1985 against the corrupt Milton Obote presidency.

As the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Joseph Kony wishes to establish a Christian theocracy in Uganda, an African nation that is already predominantly Christian and Catholic. To help his cause, Kony has turned against people of his own ethnic tribe and has also employed scores of child soldiers in his ranks. By some estimates, Kony may have conscripted over 100,000 children as rebel fighters since 1986. Not all children end up carrying an AK-47 and sent to fight in Northern Uganda and the neighboring Central African Republic, Congo and Sudan. Some of these children, particularly girls, are sold into sexual slavery in order to fund rebel operations.

Why Kony Must be Stopped

Tribal and ethnic fighting in Uganda has gone on for decades, and President Museveni’s dubious policies have done little to prevent it. In fact, Museveni is considered to have expanded violence during the Second Congo War. Although Uganda is a democracy, Museveni has been accused of election rigging and holding on to power for far too long. Forbes magazine once called him a dictator, and at least three European nations have cut back foreign aid to impoverished Uganda due to political and human rights concerns.

While Museveni’s rule is far from perfect, the atrocities committed by the LRA under Kony’s leadership should not be ignored. He is far from being a freedom fighter to the people of Uganda, he is rather a war criminal. In 2005, the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague issued warrants for the arrest of Kony and four LRA commanders. He is believed to be hiding in the Congo, but the conscription of child soldiers has continued. Two of the LRA commanders named in the ICC indictment have been killed, and Ugandan security forces have attempted to kill Kony many times.

Edward Royce, a Republican U.S. congressman from California, has sought approval of a law that would put a significant bounty on Kony’s head. The Ugandan government offers a monetary reward for information leading to the capture of Kony, but Royce’s proposal could further motivate mercenaries and bounty hunters in Africa to conduct seek-and-destroy missions.

Why the Kony 2012 Movement Needs Costa Rica

Our interest in democracy and human rights is a natural fit for stopping Kony by supporting efforts to locate him and bring him to the ICC. Ever since President Oscar Arias defused the proxy conflict in Central America between the former Cold War powers, the international community has looked up to our country for opinion and guidance in matters of human rights and peaceful conflict resolution.

Costa Rica will probably not support a bounty on Kony’s head, but will definitely listen to Ticos who want him brought to justice.

For more information, visit the Facebook page of Kony 2012 – Costa Rica We Care.