Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2008, Page 34
on Fridays because of Kony‘s belief that Islam bans working on those days (Doom and
Vlassenroot 1998, 25).
(Ironically, enforcing this ban must require that members of the LRA work on Fridays to
locate and mutilate offenders). Other mutilations include sewing eyes shut, raping, inflicting
burns, and removing ears, hands, or heads (Vinci 2005, 370). Kony‘s soldiers—abducted
children who appear to ―have had little compunction in punishing what they see as [the
civilians‘] failure to obey the spirits‖—inflict these punishments under the guidance of their
commanders (Ward 2003, 216).
Life Inside the LRA
Many abductees realize that they need to ascend the hierarchy within the LRA to increase
their survival chances (Behrend 1999a, 194 Doom and Vlassenroot 1998, 25). New recruits
fight on the front lines where death rates are high and commanders are more generous to
children who adhere to the LRA‘s ideals. Survival chances within the LRA depend on respect
for religious beliefs, obedience to familial rules, and success in military actions (Hundeide
2003, 118). These three areas—religion, family, and militia—also represent the three
hierarchies that exist within the LRA. Each hierarchy legitimates the privileges of certain
members and the need to respect senior members. Kony—who is the spiritual leader, the
Father, and the Major General—heads each of these dimensions with the help of his
commanders and the alleged guidance of his jogi (Amnesty International 1997, 15).
Many escapee children use familial terms to describe their LRA units (Amnesty International
1997, 15). Joseph Kony is the head of all the extended families of the LRA: ―‗The rebels call
Joseph Kony their father...‘‖ (Christine, quoted in HRW 1997, 32), and senior commanders
under Kony operate as heads of smaller families and teachers (Amnesty International 1997,
15-16). Kristen Cheney (2005, 33) argues that by filling the roles of fathers and teachers,
commanders replace normative structures (such as schools and families) for the abducted
children. Normative structures within the LRA serve to teach children how to behave in the
‗pure‘ society that the LRA hopes to create (Cheney 2005, 33). For instance, the LRA
regulates who has sex, determines with whom recruits eat, and requires respect for elders
and commanders (Cheney 2005, 33). The rules within the LRA contradict many Acholi
traditional values—such as the sanctity of life and the taboo against rape. In addition, the
LRA punishes disobedience with severe beatings or death.
Senior commanders and their wives are the parents of all children within their units. Wives
are subordinate parents ruled by their commanders and are responsible for bearing children
and maintaining their families. Each commander and his wives are responsible for the
children under the age of thirteen (called siblings) and new children (called recruits
[Amnesty International 1997, 15 Behrend 1999a, 195]). A commander has the authority to
teach, punish, and kill siblings and wives (Cheney 2005, 34).
Kony‘s commanders (some of whom were child soldiers) control military factions and
subunits under the direction of brigadiers who head large divisions and advise Kony. Each
unit has a midlevel religious officer who administers prayers, fasting, and other spiritual
duties (Vinci 2005, 368). Field commanders, who usually are abductees who have proven
their loyalty, head each subunit (Vinci 2005, 368). Subunits might further split down to
groups of two or three during attacks, in which case the abductees usually supervise each
other but occasionally escape together (Vinci 2005, 368). Each unit is self-sufficient, even
when broken down to two members, although the units often are disorganized despite
communication efforts using cell phones and radios (Vinci 2005, 368). This organization
style makes escape attempts risky because children constantly supervise each other in both
their families and military units. Some abductees who are trying to obey and advance in the
LRA report those who try to escape to commanders and the commanders subsequently
force the other children to murder those whose escape attempts have failed.
on Fridays because of Kony‘s belief that Islam bans working on those days (Doom and
Vlassenroot 1998, 25).
(Ironically, enforcing this ban must require that members of the LRA work on Fridays to
locate and mutilate offenders). Other mutilations include sewing eyes shut, raping, inflicting
burns, and removing ears, hands, or heads (Vinci 2005, 370). Kony‘s soldiers—abducted
children who appear to ―have had little compunction in punishing what they see as [the
civilians‘] failure to obey the spirits‖—inflict these punishments under the guidance of their
commanders (Ward 2003, 216).
Life Inside the LRA
Many abductees realize that they need to ascend the hierarchy within the LRA to increase
their survival chances (Behrend 1999a, 194 Doom and Vlassenroot 1998, 25). New recruits
fight on the front lines where death rates are high and commanders are more generous to
children who adhere to the LRA‘s ideals. Survival chances within the LRA depend on respect
for religious beliefs, obedience to familial rules, and success in military actions (Hundeide
2003, 118). These three areas—religion, family, and militia—also represent the three
hierarchies that exist within the LRA. Each hierarchy legitimates the privileges of certain
members and the need to respect senior members. Kony—who is the spiritual leader, the
Father, and the Major General—heads each of these dimensions with the help of his
commanders and the alleged guidance of his jogi (Amnesty International 1997, 15).
Many escapee children use familial terms to describe their LRA units (Amnesty International
1997, 15). Joseph Kony is the head of all the extended families of the LRA: ―‗The rebels call
Joseph Kony their father...‘‖ (Christine, quoted in HRW 1997, 32), and senior commanders
under Kony operate as heads of smaller families and teachers (Amnesty International 1997,
15-16). Kristen Cheney (2005, 33) argues that by filling the roles of fathers and teachers,
commanders replace normative structures (such as schools and families) for the abducted
children. Normative structures within the LRA serve to teach children how to behave in the
‗pure‘ society that the LRA hopes to create (Cheney 2005, 33). For instance, the LRA
regulates who has sex, determines with whom recruits eat, and requires respect for elders
and commanders (Cheney 2005, 33). The rules within the LRA contradict many Acholi
traditional values—such as the sanctity of life and the taboo against rape. In addition, the
LRA punishes disobedience with severe beatings or death.
Senior commanders and their wives are the parents of all children within their units. Wives
are subordinate parents ruled by their commanders and are responsible for bearing children
and maintaining their families. Each commander and his wives are responsible for the
children under the age of thirteen (called siblings) and new children (called recruits
[Amnesty International 1997, 15 Behrend 1999a, 195]). A commander has the authority to
teach, punish, and kill siblings and wives (Cheney 2005, 34).
Kony‘s commanders (some of whom were child soldiers) control military factions and
subunits under the direction of brigadiers who head large divisions and advise Kony. Each
unit has a midlevel religious officer who administers prayers, fasting, and other spiritual
duties (Vinci 2005, 368). Field commanders, who usually are abductees who have proven
their loyalty, head each subunit (Vinci 2005, 368). Subunits might further split down to
groups of two or three during attacks, in which case the abductees usually supervise each
other but occasionally escape together (Vinci 2005, 368). Each unit is self-sufficient, even
when broken down to two members, although the units often are disorganized despite
communication efforts using cell phones and radios (Vinci 2005, 368). This organization
style makes escape attempts risky because children constantly supervise each other in both
their families and military units. Some abductees who are trying to obey and advance in the
LRA report those who try to escape to commanders and the commanders subsequently
force the other children to murder those whose escape attempts have failed.
