by on

Our documentary A Brilliant Genocide  which exposes the  Museveni‬ government for atrocities in Northern Uganda is screening next week in Los Angeles.

A Brilliant Genocide was chosen with another 60 films to be included in the Official Selection for this years Cinema at the Edge Independent Film Festival.

The screening will take place on Saturday the 21st of May at 9pm, in Santa Monica’s Edgar Centre for the Arts. Change is coming to ‪#‎Uganda‬ and justice is too. Join us.

ABG POSTER 1a CATE16

The Cinema at the Edge in Santa Monica, CA is one of the “Top 10 destination film festivals in the world,” Our film festival screens over 60 films, mostly by new filmmakers and rising stars. Come and join this Los Angeles film festival.

Cinema at the Edge Film Festival (CATE) celebrates independent films of all genres that feature a distinct vision, a unique voice, or a challenge to what is expected and accepted in the medium. Submit your film and join us for great movies, panels, parties, and more!

TICKETS    Click Here  

(more…)

by on

[UPDATE] GREAT NEWS, WE WON BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY FILM AT THE LOS ANGELES WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL! 

A Brilliant Genocide is screening this Sunday in L.A as a part of the LA Women’s International Film Festival! (see details below)

The next opportunity to see the film will not be until the 7th and 14th of April in Florida at the Palm Beach International Film Festival – Which the festival is promoting the film as their strongest and most powerful documentary this year!

If you care about human rights, about Uganda, Africa… about people, about truth, about justice…about humanity, and if you are in the California or Los Angeles area over Easter – then please attend the screening of A Brilliant Genocide this Sunday the 27th at 3.30pm at L.A Live Cinemas Hollywood.

Tickets $10 at http://www.lawomensfest.com or at the door at L.A Live, 9. (read about the festival below!)

#SpeakTruthToEmpower
#ABrilliantGenocide

ABG_LA_Invite_March27

(more…)

by on

It is with pleasure and excitement that I announce the new title of our feature documentary… ‘A Brilliant Genocide‘.

ABG Logo 1
Pre-release teaser video from A Brilliant Genocide (scroll down) 

After 6 years filming, researching and editing this film, it has naturally evolved and transformed into a much different film that we set out to make in 2009 when it all began. 

We spent 3 years on the Joseph Kony / child soldier path – and the issue of children / child soldiers and other related  human rights abuses that are of much interest to us – we condemn the use of children in war, and the abuse of any child in any way, in any part of the world. 

However, the film is no longer 100% focused on the issue of children at war and Joseph Kony’s war in northern Uganda. The film remains very much connected with Kony and his use of child soldiers- but along our 6 year journey we found some completely untold ‘hidden’ stories that we felt were even more important to bring to light.

What we discovered and continue to discover, is that the world has been fooled, as I was 6 years ago, about Joseph Kony and his war in northern Uganda. There’s another side to this story that has never been told, and we have been on a journey for the past few years to find out the truth and the backstory that has received zero media attention – and even worse than that – the people responsible for these concealed human rights abuses, are those who have been supported by the west for 30 years, and who are still in office today. And the West is still today supporting the regime, while the regime continues to enjoy complete impunity for their crimes. 

We have discovered that Kony, although blamed for the war and the suffering, is just the tip of the ice-berg. We have found that Kony did have a reason, a very legitimate reason, for his rebellion, and although his acts of violence and child abductions are deplorable, and in no way justified – he has a reason for what he has done, and in his mind his actions are justified. The truth that no one who knows will admit – will bring many people – the bigger criminals and the puppeteers who have orchestrated this war and allowed it to continue – to account. The people we have spoken with call the situation in Uganda ‘a global conspiracy of silence’. And what we will be showing in our film is that indeed it has been, and sadly continues to be so today. 

(more…)

by on

Otunnu Pins Museveni to Serious War Crimes

By Norman S. Miwambo

26th March 2012:

undefined
Dr. Olara Otunnu in London, 2012

UPC Party President Dr. Olara Otunnu, who is on a working visit to the United Kingdom, has established a contributory link between President Yoweri Museveni’s role and the war crimes for which Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga was convicted by the Hague-based International Criminal Court [ICC].

In an exclusive interview with this news paper, Dr Otunnu started by welcoming the conviction of Thomas Lubanga.  “I am happy with the conviction.  Actually, it’s the first conviction of the ICC since it was established in 2002,” Dr Otunnu said in reference to the March 14 judgement.

Commenting on the specific charge of recruiting child soldiers for which Lubanga was convicted, Otunnu, a former UN Under Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict, also highlighted his role in framing the war crimes offence.

“The three charges against him were all to do with the recruitment and abuse of children,” said Otunnu, adding that:  “In fact, the particular provision in the Rome Statute under which Thomas Lubagnga was convicted is something I drafted myself.” Otunnu said.

The UPC leader also wasted no time in establishing a firm link between Lubanga’s crimes and Uganda’s role in aiding and abetting those war crimes.  “Lubanga was a relatively small player in the DR Congo.  What gave Luganga his power and sway in the Congo was actually sponsorship by Ugandan leaders,” Otunnu said.

He added:  “As you know, this is not Olara making things up.  There is a very thick Judgement that was delivered…not by the ICC…but by the International Court of Justice.  Numerous charges of crimes committed by Uganda in the Congo are in that Judgement.  Aggression, crimes of war, crimes against humanity, it is all those things.”

Dr Otunnu, a Harvard trained Lawyer, also said he believes that Ugandan leaders and commanders are legitimate suspects for prosecution under the Rome Statute. “The little fellow [Lubanga] who was manipulated from Uganda been charged, but the real fellows who were in charge of his crimes are walking scot-free.  That is what is wrong with the application of the Rome Statue.” Otunnu charged.

He said he told ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo that the ICC’s process and choice of those to be indicted has been highly politicised and highly selective.  “I still very much hope that what was done inside Uganda, on Ugandan territory and elsewhere in Congo will be punished.  I hope to see a day of reckoning when the ICC will investigate and bring them to book for what they did.” said Otunnu.

“Thomas Lubanga was not a hugely significant player in the overall scheme of things.” Otunnu maintained.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.

http://www.ugandacorrespondent.com/articles/2012/03/otunnu-pins-museveni-to-serious-war-crimes/

by on

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The International Criminal Court handed down its first sentence Tuesday, imprisoning for 14 years a Congolese warlord convicted of using child soldiers.

Thomas Lubanga was convicted in March of recruiting and using children in his Union of Congolese Patriots militia, sending them to kill and be killed during fighting in Congo’s eastern Ituri region in 2002-2003.

Presiding Judge Adrian Fulford said the sentence reflected the need to protect children in wartime.

“The vulnerability of children means they need to be afforded particular protection,” he said at the sentencing hearing.

The 51-year-old Lubanga is the first person convicted by the 10-year-old permanent war crimes tribunal.

Rights activists hailed the case as a milestone in efforts to prosecute the widespread use of child soldiers in conflicts around the world.

Prosecutors had asked for a 30-year sentence, but said they would be willing to cut it to 20 years if Lubanga offered a “genuine apology” to victims of his crimes.

Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga awaits his sentence in the courtroom of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, July 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Jerry Lampen, Pool)

(more…)

by on

http://widget.newsinc.com/single.html?WID=2&VID=23523457&freewheel=45981&sitesection=sfgate

Angelina Jolie witnessed history in the making on Thursday when she attended a trial at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands.

The “Changeling” actress headed to the hearing in The Hague to observe proceedings as the case against Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga, who is accused of recruiting child soldiers, wrapped up.

She tells the Associated Press, “(This is) an extraordinary moment for international justice but more than that for children of the world.”

Jolie, who is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, is currently living in Scotland while her partner Brad Pitt films zombie movie “World War Z.”

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?entry_id=96247#ixzz1WFyr6lRu

by on

War on LRA Rebels Loses Momentum Report:  Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Efforts to defeat feared group run into trouble as regional governments fail to address threat.

ACR Issue 300, 17 Aug 11 – By Barrett Holmes Pitner – International Justice – ICC

Amid concerns that efforts to flush out Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army, LRA,

are flagging, the international community is facing stark challenges to defeat the

rebels as they continue to wreak havoc in the region. Since the United States

announced a long-awaited strategy to defeat the LRA and capture its leaders by

bolstering the military effort in the region, Uganda has instead withdrawn 700

troops that were pursuing the rebels and curtailed  funding for the operation.