Uganda displays captive Kony lieutenant - CNN International ~ US and UK magazine

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Uganda displays captive Kony lieutenant - CNN International

3:07 PM

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Ceasar Acellam, considered the fourth-highest ranking member of the LRA, was arrested by Ugandan forces.Caesar Achellam was captured in the Central African Republic, Uganda says"This is a big fish," a Ugandan military spokesman saysAchellam is a top lieutenant to wanted LRA chieftain Joseph Kony

(CNN) -- Uganda says it has captured a top commander of the Lord's Resistance Army, the guerrilla movement notorious for its attacks on civilians and use of child soldiers.

Ugandan commanders displayed Caesar Achellam to reporters after his capture in what they said was a weekend raid in the Central African Republic. The CAR is one of several African Union countries that has committed troops to hunt down LRA chieftain Joseph Kony, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court.

Achellam told reporters he hoped his capture would lead "my people remaining in the brush" to give up, "so that sooner maybe the war would come to an end."

Kony led a failed uprising against the government of Uganda and was pushed out of Uganda in 2006. He has been moving around other countries in the region ever since.

Abou Moussa, a special U.N. envoy for central Africa, told CNN in March that Kony may be in the Central African Republic with between 200 and 700 remaining troops.

Kony is accused of using vicious tactics to recruit children to use them as soldiers and sex slaves and of slicing off ears, noses and limbs of his victims. There are reports of child soldiers brainwashed into killing their own parents.

A celebrity-backed video that went viral earlier this year helped make Kony's alleged crimes more widely known. The half-hour documentary "KONY 2012" was viewed more than 89 million times on YouTube, but the video also spurred a flurry of questions about its producers' intentions, their transparency and whether the social-media frenzy was too little, too late.

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A former child soldier for the LRA explains why he doesn't support "Kony 2012" calls to remove Joseph Kony by military force. March 9, 2012 -- Updated 1704 GMT (0104 HKT)

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The U.S. has committed a small number of troops to track down the Lord's Resistance Army -- but how has it evaded justice for so long?March 14, 2012 -- Updated 1051 GMT (1851 HKT)

World Bank social media strategist TMS "Teddy" Ruge says the film tells the same story about Africa and fails to empower locals.March 9, 2012 -- Updated 1357 GMT (2157 HKT)

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Criticism aside, viral video 'KONY 2012' is the fastest growing social media campaign of all-time. March 11, 2012 -- Updated 0239 GMT (1039 HKT)

Evelyn Apoko, a victim of Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, says "KONY 2012" should be making the children famous, not Kony.March 9, 2012 -- Updated 0318 GMT (1118 HKT)

Miquel Marquez reports on a Ugandan warlord responsible for horrific atrocities and the charity bent on stopping him.March 10, 2012 -- Updated 1150 GMT (1950 HKT)

Dr. Drew discusses singer Rihanna's topless photo, that she tweeted to raise awareness about African Warlord Joseph Kony.October 23, 2011 -- Updated 2300 GMT (0700 HKT)