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Daniel Philpott talks about a new short film seeks to rebuild Ugandan communities.
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I'm not no -- many of you were among the millions who watched the -- 2012.
Video on YouTube that went viral over several days just a few weeks ago unusual film is now being published.
Trying to help rebuild Ugandan communities through a spirit of forgiveness how would you like to be joined now by Daniel -- -- it was associate professor.
A political -- some peace studies at the university of note today a great to see you professor thank you very much for being here.
Good for you Jonathan I tell me a little bit about this film.
Well we wanted to produce a film that would tell a different side of the story namely.
Remarkable people who are practicing.
Forgiveness and reconciliation.
In the wake up civil war that has inflicted terrible atrocities.
And it didn't.
Explain the atrocities a little bit I mean I think a lot of people a lot of our viewers have obviously seen the -- 2012.
The film.
But explain to -- you'll woods.
What kind of atrocities.
Will perpetrated -- in those years there was a wolf -- -- in Uganda.
-- -- 2012 is really write about -- Joseph colony in the Lord's Resistance Army dead.
-- they have -- -- thousands of child soldiers and force them by gunpoint to go back into villages and commit terrible atrocities against the so that civilians there.
And so you had done thousands of children who were abducted -- you had one to two million internally displaced people.
You had.
A huge problem that once.
Conflict -- down there was a huge need for re integration for.
These display displaced people in child soldiers to go back to their villages to take up life again.
So how does how does simply for giving it -- professor.
It's a good question forgiveness is not easy and and it's not simple.
The religious leaders who advocated forgiveness and showed extraordinary leadership in this regard.
One -- forgiveness to be accompanied by a process -- repentance a process of reparations.
A process of reintegration into village life often with the help of traditional tribal rituals that have been used for centuries to.
Deal with wrongdoers and reintegrate them back into the life of the community.
So -- have.
You seen no evidence that this is good simply being able to forgive.
Is working and is helping the healing process.
I have I took a research trip over there in January.
And with the question is this really true can it be that people are really forgiving and these kinds of circumstances.
Circumstances a mass atrocity.
Almost uniformly the answer I got was yes.
To a very wide degree ordinary ugandans have embraced forgiveness and reconciliation.
Again in the context of many other measures.
Like com repentance and truth telling and reparations and and so forth.
But it is remarkable how widespread it has happened.
And through that they've been able to build peace and to a significant degree they still have a long way to go but the strides that they've made are very impressive how one.
Walton is -- professor do you believe for the people of Uganda and those who have suffered.
That -- Joseph coney is brought to justice I -- there was -- a suggestion from some quarters when the company 2012.
Movie became so mom ubiquitous.
That it was perhaps that now an irrelevance and we had to.
Look more to the sort of project you're talking about forgiveness and looking to the future rather than the past do you think he needs to be brought to justice.
I do I think -- 2012 has that part right.
It is true that -- has not been in Uganda for some three years now he's been on the landing nearby African countries -- -- it's still continuing to perpetrate atrocities.
With about 250.
Soldiers under his under his command.
And I think he needs to be stopped just in order to protect these people in yes he should be tried he should do time.
The other thing I would emphasize and what our video you've gone to the challenge of forgiveness emphasize is that there's a whole other side of the story -- peace building.
One in which -- religious leaders play a vital role.
One in which thousands of ugandans are participating they're drawing upon the religious faith their own rituals and traditions.
And -- so yes.
Apprehending -- has to be part of the picture.
And there was popular support for that's great popular support that is diminished somewhat now ugandans much more want peace.
One normalcy to return to their lives but I think.
Most of them would say that yes -- coney can be caught then yes that's a good thing so.
There's -- there's an argument to to try Joseph -- a powerful argument in you'll.
View but -- basic message from this movie Uganda the challenge of forgiveness.
Is that the human spirit is what can really try and fail would that be -- Yes I would say so.
One of the things I understand -- how can people forget given these terrible mass atrocities.
Is the deep religious faith the Christian faith the people of northern Uganda as well as the presence of tribal traditions.
That are deeply ingrained in their way of life.
And the role of tribal elders and helping people to reintegrate those act as very powerful resources.
In that particular culture which they can draw upon for this massive task of re integration.
But yes there is something called the human spirit that is necessary people have to.
Drop looked away within themselves for strength -- look to god for the grace and that is absolutely crucial.
And -- Professor the front let you go just very quickly where can people with view this movie if they want to learn more about Uganda the challenge of forgiveness.
But they still are a sponsor the passer instituted is now on YouTube and the -- video I guess that's called it sun.
-- the challenge of forgiveness you can easily Google let's send -- we'll come right up.
All right Daniel still thought associate professor of political -- and peace studies of the universe you know today.
Great to have you it's a great movie I at urge everybody to go and watch it as soon as they candidate thank you so much.
