US pressure group releases Kony video follow up
LOS ANGELES - Agence France-Presse
A scene from the video Kony 2012 Part II made by California advocacy group Invisible Children, is pictured in this handout photo received by Reuters April 5, 2012. REUTERS Photo
The US pressure group that caused an Internet sensation with a documentary calling for the arrest of Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony posted a follow up yesterday and urged a day of action on April 20.Invisible Children, a San-Diego based non-government group, said "KONY 2012: Beyond Famous," had been made in response to criticism it received after the original film went viral last month.
"One month later, we are releasing this film to explain the creation of the campaign, the progress that's already been made and what we can all do now to support the ongoing effort to stop the violence of the LRA," said Ben Keesey, director of Invisible Children.
The LRA is the Kony-led Lord's Resistance Army, whose ruthless rebels were infamous for mutilating civilians and abducting children to use as soldiers and sex-slaves during their two-decade war in northern Uganda.
The rebels have been forced out of Uganda and since 2006 have been operating in neighboring countries.
The original 30-minute video, "Kony 2012", has been viewed by more than 100 million people worldwide.
In an on-screen message on the new 20-minute film, Invisible Children said: "On the 20th of April, we will turn this digital revolution into something more and show the world who we really are.
"We will earn the right to be heard globally by serving locally." Invisible Children urged supporters to wear their Kony 2012 shirts all day, lobby via letter for Kony's arrest and "after work, school, or whatever it is you do all day, meet up with your team and do three hours of local service." "When the sun goes down, it's time to hit the streets and execute your team's plan to spread the word about bringing an end to LRA violence. Keep it legal and go huge -- that's your challenge," it added.
Kony, a semi-literate former altar boy, took charge in 1988 of a rebellion among northern Uganda's ethnic Acholi minority, to fight the Kampala government it wanted to replace with a regime based on the bible's Ten Commandments.
He is accused by the International Criminal Court of the rape, mutilation and murder of civilians as well as forcibly recruiting child soldiers.
Regional armies launched a hunt in 2008 to capture Kony after he repeatedly refused to sign a peace deal with Uganda. Kony is believed to be in the Central African Republic, protected by around 300 fighters.
The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor on March 31 voiced confidence that Kony would be arrested this year, praising the role of Invisible Children's online campaign.
