After Forced Marriage to Warlord, an Activist Writes to Reclaim Her Life
For 12 years, Evelyn Amony lied and told soldiers of the Lord’s Resistance Army that her name was Debbie.
“That’s what our families told us to do if we are ever kidnapped,” Amony said as she spoke through a translator. Her family had already prepared her to mask her identity from militants should she be captured. “That way, if we escape, they wouldn’t know where to look or who to contact.”
And, while holding on to that hope of escape, Amony denied her identity while being forced to assume another - child soldier, forced marriage to Joseph Kony -the leader of the LRA- and eventually the mother of his children.
Amony was retelling her story June 15 during a United Nations’ sponsored event for the release of her new book ‘I am Evelyn Amony.’ The book is her account of captivity, war and life as a prisoner held by the LRA.
But Amony has proactively shifted her role from being a victim to an activist. She is now chair at Women’s Advocacy Network, a group of more than 400 formerly abducted and war-affected women who counsel women who share their experiences.
‘It’s women helping women,’ she said. And as LRA kidnappings and violence begin to steadily increase, UN officials present said voices like Amony will provide an intimate view of the human costs in this conflict.
'The book is her reclaiming her life,’ said Erinn Baines, editor of the book and professor at University of British Columbia.
Baines also appeared with Amony for her book release event in New York as she spoke in front of a crowd on how she was kidnapped, brutalized brain washed and forced to trek alongside the marauding gang.
'The journeys were endless, Amony said, 'day in and day out.’
While in captivity, she was brutally beaten unconscious, lived and fought in conflict zones and, unwillingly, at age 14, became a confidante and bride to Kony, she said. She recalled being overcome with an illness and pain when he first made his attempts to emotionally connect with her. There were constant efforts, Amony said, to brainwash her and others that he cared for her more than her family.
Evelyn Amony's new book reveals her life in forced captivity with the Lord's Resistance Army, a militia whose leader is wanted for crimes against humanity.
'First, you want to kill me, then you want to give me medicine,’ she said she thought. 'I’d rather die.’
Since 1968, Joseph Kony has led the Lord’s Resistance Army as the group has evolved from a militia to overthrow Uganda to a multinational guerrilla that relies on child soldiers. The U.S. labeled the LRA as a terrorist group in 2001 as did the African Union in 2011.
The U.S. Department of State also classified Kony as a 'specially designated global terrorist,’ and the African Union authorized an initiative to enhance regional cooperation toward the elimination of the LRA.
The African Union continues an ongoing campaign to combat LRA and stabilize occupied regions in countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Central African Republic.
“There’s a long and hard road to stability ahead that must be based on accountability and reform,” said David Tolbert, president of the International Center for Transitional Justice, who spoke at the book reading.
The LRA has fled Uganda, said UN experts at Amony’s book reading, and their only goals now seem to be survival of its top leaders, including Kony, at any costs.
Until then Amony, said she will work closely in efforts to promote peace and the empowerment of women who are kidnapped and held in captivity in conflicts.
'Thank you for listening to my story,’ she said. 'My story is painful for many, but I speak about it to help others.’