"We therefore, hope these incidences are not pre-planned operations and policies of the very authority that is supposed to provide protection to these victims. In our opinion, this would confirm President Museveni's statement that the victims of the war are like grasshoppers gathered in a pot (camp) and are biting (killing) one another. If true, this would be a very serious and worrying development indeed."

***************************************

Well done my brethren.  Information is a powerful weapon.  By informing ourselves and the entire world, we will be wiser in knowing how to deal with these blood-suckers and all other and future problems and the root causes to them.

And should we on top of this manage to stand together, we will never fall!!.  Uganda, and indeed Africa as a whole is bleeding - it needs the efforts of many, if not all of us.

Political awareness is the key.  Uganda and Africa should come first before our tribes, regions and religions or the dollar ($).

Best regards,

Nyar'Onyango

*********************


----- Original Message ----- 
From: George Okurapa 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2004 3:02 AM
Subject: APRG press release


Subject: FW: APRG Press Release
>Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2004 18:46:05 +0000
>
>Please find attached and also copied herein below the text of a statement 
>released on behalf of a Acholi Peace and Reconciliation Group, a new Acholi 
>initiative to try to reach out to their brothers and sisters affected by 
>the 18 year old conflict, to their friends in the diaspora and the 
>international community at large..
>
>ACHOLI PEACE AND RECONCILIATION GROUP
>
>(APRG)
>
>20 Merrick Road
>London UB2 4AU
>United Kingdom
>Tel: 07782269791 / 07939 246 236
>Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>5th March 2004
>
>Press Release!
>
>On behalf of Acholi Peace and Reconciliation Group (APRG), we would like to 
>voice our concerns about the escalating violence in the current conflict 
>between the LRA and UPDF in northern and eastern Uganda. We condemn in the 
>strongest terms the recent attacks and massacres of innocent and 
>defenceless civilians in internal displaced persons (IDP) camps, the most 
>recent ones being at Pabbo in Gulu district, Abiya and Barlonyo in Lira 
>district. We are particularly appalled and express regret that such attacks 
>have caused the resultant tension amongst the ethnic communities in the 
>affected areas of northern and eastern Uganda. We therefore call upon 
>leaders in the affected areas to bring the situation under control by 
>appealing to the general pubic to exercise restraint since such acts of 
>violence and attacks, inadvertently exact the heaviest price in innocent 
>civilian lives. We further appeal to all political, business and community 
>leaders, especially our MPs, religious leaders, local
>  LC5 and LC3, to work towards reinforcing only those positions that lead 
>towards peaceful co-existence and a negotiated solution.
>
>We hope that the proponents of the 18-year conflict are not exploiting this 
>kind of ethnic violence as yet another method of 'operation' for 
>depopulating the war affected areas. We therefore, hope these incidences 
>are not pre-planned operations and policies of the very authority that is 
>supposed to provide protection to these victims. In our opinion, this would 
>confirm President Museveni's statement that the victims of the war are like 
>grasshoppers gathered in a pot (camp) and are biting (killing) one another. 
>If true, this would be a very serious and worrying development indeed.
>
>Testimonies coming from our elders reveal that the wave of massacres 
>currently taking place in Acholi, Lango and Teso are being carried out by 
>UPDF with the full knowledge of their senior commanders including the 
>Commander in Chief, Lt Gen Museveni. This is confirmed by the following 
>contradictions:
>
1)
>     Why did the government order by way of an ultimatum for civilians to 
>abandon their villages and go to these so-called protected camps?

2)

>    Why are the killings taking place in the camps supposed created and 
>protected by the government?

3)
>    How comes a force that is capable of carrying out such murders and 
>brutality disappears in thin air after committing such terrible acts?

4)

>    How comes that with over 100,000 men under arms and more than 4 combat 
>helicopter gunships and 10 back up reconnaissance planes, the government is 
>still not able or unwilling to eliminate a force of 300 rag-tag men laden 
>with abducted children and logistics?
>
5)

>·        How and why did they, the LRA spare the life of the UPDF commander 
>at Barlonyo, but instead stripped him off his uniform and gun and let him 
>free to escape?
>
>The questions could go on and on. One thing however, is certain; we (the 
>victims) know who our killers are. It is not the first time that those who 
>do not have Uganda at heart have in the past used aliens to exterminate us.
>
>We are profoundly appalled and therefore would like to deplore the record 
>of both the LRA and UPDF for abducting and using children for their 
>military as well as political ends. The reliance of the parties to the 
>conflict on military means to fulfill their ambitions is once again being 
>called into question. We therefore urge the Ugandan rulers especially, to 
>come up with a Comprehensive Policy for the resolution of the conflict:
>
>·        A policy based on confidence building and promoting peace and 
>security amongst its people.
>
>·        A policy that commits them to obligations under international law, 
>including the common Article III of 1949 Geneva Conventions, to take 
>constant care to protect the civilian population, and civilian objects 
>against the dangers arising from any military operations.
>
>·        A policy that looks at the root causes of the problem and comes 
>out with solutions that unite our peoples.
>
>We are extremely concerned about the ongoing military operations in 
>Acholiland and the continuing military build up in northern and eastern 
>Uganda. 

It has come to our knowledge that most of the Arrow and Amuka local 
>militia Brigades that were created solely for the protection of people in 
>the districts of Teso and Lango respectively are now being deployed in Gulu 
>district. 

We hope that these troops are not being deployed for the 
>following purposes:

a)

>·        Beefing up the number of troops necessary to protect Salim Saleh's 
>Security and Production Farming Plan,
>
b)
>·        committing massacres in IDP camps in Acholiland,
>
c)

>·        For fighting other foreign wars.

***STOP**>

Furthermore, witnesses have confirmed the deployment of unknown number of 
>SPLA, US marines and other foreign troops in Kitgum district. 

We also hope that the LDU or Frontier Guard recently raised in Acholiland by Lt Col 
>Otema Awany is not being deployed in other parts of Uganda.

 We therefore call upon Lt Col Otema himself to explain to Acholi elders their 
>whereabouts. We think that this new chaotic deployment and development will 
>further heighten ethnic tension and fuel the war even more.
>
>We therefore call upon the RDCs and LC5 chairmen to explain fully to the 
>international community and our elders the purpose for these new 
>developments. We also call upon the government of Uganda to explain its 
>lack of commitment to a peace process, lack of a comprehensive peace policy 
>and all the emerging contradictions and discrepancies, including the 
>deployment of foreign troops.
>
>We therefore appeal to the Government of Uganda directly, local religious 
>and traditional leaders, members of the international community to do 
>everything possible to stop this prelude to more massacres and genocide 
>being carried by the warring parties.
>
>We are in full support and in solidarity with all those individuals 
>appealing for calmness or promoting peaceful co-existence and brotherly 
>love amongst the affected communities. We send our sincere condolences and 
>heartfelt sympathies to all the relatives of the victims of the massacres. 
>We join mourners and the rest of the international community in prayers for 
>those who lost their lives in these tragedies.
>
>We are calling for your support to put the Uganda rulers to task for 
>failing to honour their primary obligation, the protection of its citizens. 
>The Uganda government has a duty to preserve our peoples, our cultures and 
>traditions, which should be passed on to many generations to come. 
>Unfortunately, the current Ugandan rulers have failed to honour and observe 
>precisely these cardinal obligations and human rights. The toughest 
>question is being asked now more persistently than ever before. Should our 
>people continue to entrust our security in the hands of a failed government 
>or anyone who tries to deter us from protecting ourselves?
>
>APR Group is committed to the promotion and propagation of intra-tribal, 
>inter-tribal and the wider regional and global conciliation exercises 
>through cooperation in social and economic developments. We hope that this 
>exercise will not just forge a better understanding amongst ourselves, but 
>also make it easier to identify our problems and their solutions. We shall 
>engage, support and work with every willing and committed Ugandans and all 
>those persons who have Uganda at heart.
>
>Signed:  P. Odokomoi.
>Chair, APRG.
>---------------------------------"

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