ugnet_: SHORT WAS BRIEFED ON BLAIR'S SECRET WAR PACT
Short: I was briefed on Blair's secret war pact Patrick Wintour, chief political correspondentWednesday June 18, 2003The Guardian Senior figures in the intelligence community and across Whitehall briefed the former international development secretary Clare Short that Tony Blair had made a secret agreement last summer with George Bush to invade Iraq in February or March, she claimed yesterday. In damning evidence to the foreign affairs select committee, Ms Short refused to identify the three figures, but she cited their authority for making her claim that Mr Blair had actively deceived the cabinet and the country in persuading them of the need to go to war. Ms Short told the first day of the committee's inquiry into the events leading up to the Iraq conflict that Mr Blair had "used a series of half-truths, exaggerations, reassurances that were not the case to get us into conflict by the spring". She claimed Mr Blair told President Bush that "we will be with you" without laying down conditions to temper US ambitions. She also claimed that the intelligence and diplomatic community had privately opposed the war. This is the first time she has alleged that intelligence figures had serious doubts about the need for early military action. Justifying her charge of deception, she said: "Three extremely senior people in the Whitehall system said to me very clearly and specifically that the target date was mid-February." She went on: "I believe that the prime minister must have concluded that it was honourable and desirable to back the US in going for military action in Iraq and therefore it was honourable for him to persuade us through various ruses and ways to get us there - so for him I think it was an honourable deception." No 10 last night denied Ms Short's charge and said Mr Blair had worked as hard as possible to secure support for a second UN resolution that might have persuaded Saddam Hussein to cooperate. In the same evidence session Mr Cook exonerated Mr Blair of the charge of deliberately misleading the country, but asserted that intelligence material was chosen selectively to fit a predetermined policy. He said his own personal briefing by the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) confirmed him in his belief that Iraq did not have weaponised chemicals, let alone weapons capable of being fired within 45 minutes, a claim made in the main intelligence document published last September. "I think it would be fair to say there was a selection of evidence to support a conclusion," he said. "I fear we got into a position in which the intelligence was not being used to inform and shape policy, but to shape policy that was already settled." He asserted that No 10 had "a burning fixation" with weapons of mass destruction that led Mr Blair to reject Mr Cook's view that the policy of containment was working. Both former cabinet ministers confirmed a previous Guardian story that cabinet ministers had been given private intelligence briefings by SIS, but insisted the briefings did not indicate that the world had to act immediately to stem an imminent Iraqi threat. At best, Ms Short said, Iraq had scientists working to try to develop biological and chemical weapons, but it was wrong to suggest that meant there were "weaponised" materials. Ms Short also claimed there was a shocking collapse in proper government procedure, with a small unelected entourage in Downing Street making the decisions without minutes, proper options papers or any written material. She said the cabinet was never shown military options papers. She also gave the impression that the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, was a cypher who "went along" with the decisions, while the real decision-making was "sucked out" of the Foreign Office. The vehemence of the attack by the two ex-cabinet ministers and their damning analysis of the intelligence failure over Iraq raises fresh questions for Mr Straw when he gives evidence before the committee next week. He will defend the use of intelligence material in both public and private evidence sessions. The prime minister has declined to speak to the foreign affairs committee, but will co-operate with the private inquiry by the intelligence and security committee. He is determined to disprove the claim that the September document was manipulated by No 10 to exaggerate the case for war. The former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix has withdrawn his earlier offer to give evidence to the foreign affairs committee, arguing the misuse of intelligence is a matter for the British government and parliament. The Mulindwas Communication Group"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" Groupe de communication Mulindwas "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"
ugnet_: Re: [Ugandacom] North, Eastern MPs Furious Over Rebels
The UPDF security agents who stop people from fleeing vampire terror should be sued for participation with the LRA. Let then take shelter in around Kampala where their fate can not be blinked away. RGDS NOC´L From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Ugandacom] North, Eastern MPs Furious Over Rebels Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 00:42:53 EDT North, Eastern MPs Furious Over Rebels A HREF=http://allafrica.com/publishers.html?passed_name=The%20Monitorpassed_location=Kampala;The Monitor/A (Kampala) June 18, 2003 Posted to the web June 18, 2003 Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda Kampala Members of Parliament from Teso, Acholi and Lango sub-regions yesterday vented their anger against the government for failure to protect local people from the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels. These fellows are walking as if they are walking in their own compound. How can a few thousand people be more effective than a government with 50,000 soldiers? said Oyam South MP Ben Wacha. They are 100,000, chorused some MPs giving their own estimate of the size of government troops. The MPs are angry following the latest rebel attacks by Joseph Kony's LRA rebels in Katakwi, Lira, Apac, Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts. Kasilo MP Elijah Okupa told Parliament yesterday that he had received a call from Katakwi at 2 p.m., just 30 minutes before the beginning of the plenary session, and was informed that LRA rebels had attacked two primary schools. He [Kony] has now started training more than 200 children of between 10 to 15 years, Mr Okupa said. He said that the UPDF had deployed 70 soldiers in the area but they had made the situation worse by stopping residents from running away. This is the only security [running away] that our people have, said a very angry Soroti Woman MP Alice Alaso. Explanations from the Minister of State for Defence Ruth Nankabirwa only got the MPs angrier. It was MP Alaso who started it all when she said that the rebels had attacked Katakwi, killed four people and abducted 100 from a camp for people displaced by the Karimojong cattle rustlers. She said that the MPs from the affected areas had rushed back to their constituencies on Sunday and Monday only to discover that the UPDF had not deployed in the threatened areas. Minister Nankabirwa promised to deliver a statement on the security situation in the country today. She said that she would be short on details because of national security considerations. Ms Nankabirwa said that 19 battalions had been deployed but Agago MP Ogenga Latigo demanded that the minister explain the actual numbers deployed instead of hiding behind military jargon. West Budama South MP Akisoferi Ogola said that the country should analyse the causes of the endless insecurity, citing possible failures in defence and foreign policy. The MP wondered why President Yoweri Museveni had committed the country without consulting Parliament to supporting demands by the United States that her soldiers should never be tried by the International Criminal Court. No minister stood up to challenge him. Mr Wacha proposed that the Parliament should sit in a closed session to discuss the security situation. _ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
ugnet_: Not in our name, Mr President!
No-Holds-Barred By Peter G. Mwesige Not in our name, Mr President!June 19, 2003 He has done it again! President Yoweri Museveni last week broke ranks with the dominant opinion of the international community and signed an agreement that exempts American personnel from prosecution in the International Criminal Court (ICC). This comes on the heels of his support for the US war on Iraq, where he again broke ranks with African and other world leaders and committed Uganda to support the dubious American military campaign. Up to now the Americans and their British allies have not unearthed any credible evidence that suggests Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction prior to the shock and awe war that was justified mainly on those grounds. International human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned Ugandas latest deal with the Americans. President Museveni should uphold Ugandas obligations as a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by rejecting such agreements, Amnesty International said in a statement last week. These agreements are illegal as they violate Ugandas duty to cooperate with the ICC and the obligation of all states to ensure that people responsible for the most serious crimes under international law are brought to justice. The ICC, the worlds first permanent war crimes tribunal, was inaugurated in March this year in The Hague. The U.N. charter, ratified by both the United States and Uganda, calls for the creation of such a court. The concept had its genesis in the Nuremberg trials of Nazi war criminals after World War II, and gained currency in the 1990s following the creation of international tribunals to consider charges of genocide in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. Individuals can be brought before the International Criminal Court on charges of genocidal crimes that involve the widespread and systematic murder, torture, rape, deportation and enslavement of civilians. The Rome Statute that created the ICC in 1998 has been signed by about 140 countries, and ratified by 90. The American administration of Bill Clinton had signed it in 2000, shortly before the cowboy from Texas took over the White House and abrogated the action. The Bush administration justifies its opposition to the Court and exemption from the Rome Statutes provisions on grounds that American citizens, be they peacekeepers or soldiers involved in military campaigns, could become vulnerable to frivolous or politically motivated prosecutions. Of course the Americans have every reason to worry given their involvement in armed conflicts all over the world. And a lot of these have often been brutal campaigns that claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians. A year ago the United States leaned on the UN Security Council to approve a measure exempting American peacekeepers from the jurisdiction of the ICC. In a resolution last week the Security Council passed a one-year renewal to that measure. The United States has also signed so-called Article 98 agreements with 38 countries, including the latest one with Uganda, stipulating that neither side can surrender the others citizens for trial to the ICC. The U.S. Congress went as far as enacting a law, the American Members Protection Service Act of 2002, which bars military assistance to governments that ratify the treaty that created the ICC. As UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said last week following the renewal of the Security Council resolution exempting the US, such exemptions could undermine not only the authority of the ICC, but also the authority of this Council and the legitimacy of United Nations peacekeeping. The exemption of the U.S. creates a two-tiered standard of justiceone for Americans and another for the rest of us. Now enter our own Mr Museveni. It is amazing that the president can commit the country to such agreements without any attempt at forging national consensus or even explaining his actions to the nation. There was no debate on the matter in Parliament, which he did not consult, and it would not be far-fetched to suggest that his own cabinet was also in the dark. Such is Mr Musevenis contempt for institutions of government, civil society and public opinion. For all his arrogance and unilateral streak, Mr Bush has the backing of the American Congress on his stance on the ICC. And his administration has clearly put its case before the bar of American public opinion. Not Mr Museveni. He is wont to remind us that power belongs to the people, but he often exercises it without due regard to their voice. His unquestioning embrace of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and now his acceptance of the new imperial American foreign policy starkly contradict his self-glorified history of struggle against imperialism and colonialism. Perhaps, as a leading legal mind in Parliament intimated to this columnist, His history was just a façade.
ugnet_: Is it right to shift political goal posts?
12:12 pm All results 5 results 10 results 20 results 30 results 50 results Is it right to shift political goal posts?By John IrakaJune 19, 2003 In the Ugandan farmyard some animals are more equal than others. And it is not the cows. You will identify them by their dominance of the political scene and also by their cunning behaviour, greed and outright arrogance. They balance on their hind limbs, brushes in forelimb knuckles and paint new rules over existing ones. Thus, instead of keeping to the two presidential terms prescribed for in the constitution, they are busy altering the script to allow third and everlasting term for a president. Instead of no detention without trial they are busy adding except in safe houses. Instead of giving equal opportunities to all political parties they are busy funding one while strangling others. Yes, their children will be chauffer driven to exclusive private schools in Kampala or even sent abroad while up to seventy peasant children crowd under a tree for a classroom to receive basic education. But what hurts most of all is their arrogance of saying they are doing all this for the good of the country. First of all let those who are involved in the current political debate about the future of Uganda identify what is at stake and what this fight is all about. What is at stake are principles. The fight is about principles. Those people who are caught up in the crossfire are what is often referred to as collateral damage. We should focus on what is more important: collateral damage like the possible loss of a proven and capable leader or the loss of the sacred principle that allows us to identify even a better leader in good time? I have no doubt that President Yoweri Museveni wants to run for the third (actually fifth) term. His actions in purging those opposed to the third term, his body language while speaking on this issue, his silence as to whether he will retire come 2006 are enough indicators of his intentions. I have never known Mr Museveni to be shy on political matters unless he is planning a surprise move like announcing his brother or son to be his chosen successor. Is the opposition intent on humiliating Mr Museveni? Not at all in my opinion. On the contrary, after sampling the various divergent views, the most commonly expressed sentiment is that they would like to see him retire as a dignified statesman. I am one of those who share this view. When people like former ministers Eriya Kategaya, Bidandi Ssali, Miria Matembe, Mathew Rukikaire, Nuweamanya Mushega etc and religious leaders start coming out in the open to advise the driver of the bus to change course, the driver had better listen. These were once upon a time reliable fellow travellers on the bus. They must have sensed something amiss. They cannot all be misguided, mischievous or malicious in advising the driver to change course. A lot has been made of previous winning margins by Mr Museveni. There was a lot going for him then. He had brought relative peace and order to the country save for the North. Economic growth rate had taken off from zero and was bound to accelerate even if it reached two percent. He had good press reviews both locally and internationally. Above all let us not forget that Mr Museveni was very popular in Buganda and Western Uganda at that time. Given such favourable parameters plus control of government machinery, who would fail to win an election? But is the political climate still so favourable? Voters, especially in Uganda are extremely unpredictable as to which way they will sway. If a candidate is perceived to have the potential to deliver on certain promises, that candidate is likely to win the elections. When that candidate reneges on the promises he made, then he or she stands a good chance to loose the next round of elections. To me this appears to be what is awaiting the majority of our current parliamentarians who have contrived to support a third term for the president. There is of course the unpredictability factor. No one gave Mr Museveni much chance of becoming president on his second attempt sixteen years after losing his deposit in his maiden attempt. As the debate gets hot on the subject of the third term, I wish to advise participants not to jump into the fray just for the fun of getting their adrenaline going. I remember whenever there was a fight in my locality Obwinobwencende, Sheema North, you could always count on two notorious young men getting involved in the fight without even asking what the fight was all about. During such a fight often the wrong person got the puffy eyes. We must not confuse issues when debating the third term. In my opinion the hue and cry is not so much against Mr Museveni as a person getting an extra term in office as president. It is about a precedent being created for any other president in future. No president, however popular and gifted, should attempt to remain in office longer than what the
ugnet_: Poverty is in the minds of Ugandans I think
Poverty is in the minds of Ugandans I thinkBy Joseph M. MwagalaJune 19, 2003 Many political wannabes have taken advantage and used the issue of poverty to discredit those in power today. They have taken the public captive and continued to pound the self-fulfilling claim that Ugandans are poorer now than they were a number of years ago. I assert here that Ugandans are not poorer today, in fact we are richer today than we were years ago. This is why: The Ugandans of today have spending habits which leave them, not necessarily poor, but with no cash in their pockets. For example, many Ugandans own items like mobile phones, which they do not need to have. The mobile phones are mainly used for gossip how many times have heard a person in a bar call another just to ask how that person is doing, where that person is, and why that person is lost? A few years ago how many people would afford such items. Look at the statistics of the three mobile phone companies; they indicate a growing clientele and of course this means less money left for the phone owners to spend on necessities. Definitely the grandmother in the village will not get sugar from the working relative in Kampala because to the latter mobile phone airtime and service fee are the most demanding day to day needs. Look at how many bars are springing up at every corner these days in fact even village joints sell beer these days. Where hasnt Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola reached? These days you see their trucks criss-crossing the village roads delivering goodies. This was not the case 10 years ago. Look at the traffic jams in Kampala - these days it is no longer a pleasure to drive in Kampala. Look at the skyline of Kampala. All these show that we are spending more on unnecessary items I mean items the majority of Ugandans can do without. I will look at the salaries of the most poorly paid cadre the civil servants and compare it in real terms over two points in time. The year was 1984 when former president Dr Apollo Milton Obote announced in a budget speech that the minimum wage for the lowly paid civil servant was to be Shs 6,000 from midnight tonight. The first salary my mother earned found me nagging her for canvas shoes which were in vogue then and she had to part with Shs 6,500 for me to purchase the shoes. This means that the lowly paid civil servant then could not afford a pair of shoes and at the same time live. Today the most lowly paid civil servant gets over Shs 100,000 per month and new good canvas shoes can be got for Shs 25,000. The get rich quick attitudes of Ugandans can only work when one is a thief, or in rare circumstances, lucky. This mentality has led many to despise jobs and vocations and opt for idling, gossip etc. This attitude is coupled with laziness among the population. There is a lot of arable land in Uganda and there are many countries, which do need food and other agricultural products. A person would rather work as a taxi tout shouting (noise pollution) destinations which the travellers already know and demand money from the taxi owner for having `given or lured travellers for the taxi instead of going to till the largely available land in the countryside. There is a lot of money and opportunity in Uganda that is why foreign investors come all the way to Uganda and go to upcountry areas such as Gulu, Mbarara, Mbale etc. And they do this while Ugandans are soundly alseep. Poverty is in the minds of those who want it near them and are willing to listen to self-seeking politicians drumming up the allegation of widespread poverty. Eventually they actually begin to believe that the poverty stricken. We Ugandans should wake up and have it in our minds that unless we make a contribution to the economy, through participating in production, then we should not expect to partake in the fruits of the freedom we are experiencing now. We should also change our spending habits and learn to save for future investment. © 2003 The Monitor Publications Gook "You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom."- Malcom X STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*
ugnet_: Rebels Kill 3 in Gulu IDP Camp
"The rebels," in a letter dropped during their massacre at Pabbo IDP camp in Gulu, said they were showing their power by killing civilians." What an outrageous ridiculous statement. This so called Rebel behavior is in sic with the UPDF's Modus Operandi. saninimous MK Rebels Kill 3 in Gulu IDP Camp New Vision (Kampala) June 18, 2003 Posted to the web June 18, 2003 Dennis Ojwee Kampala REBELS of the Lord's resistance Army (LRA) have again struck Anaka Internally Displaced Persons' (IDP) camp in Nwoya county, about 35 miles (56km) west of Gulu, killing three people including a UPDF soldier. Dennis Ojwee reports that they also set ablaze over 380 grass-thatched huts. The rebels reportedly looted foodstuffs from the camp and forced the captives to carry the loot to their hideouts in the bushes. Local sources said the rebels, whose number could not easily be determined, struck the camp from its western side, the same direction they used when they attacked the catholic mission late last year. Details of the attack were still scanty by press time due to the poor communication network between Anaka and Gulu town. Anaka hosts over 25,000 internally displaced persons from various villages within Anaka sub-county. Others are from Purongo in Nwoya county. The army spokesman based in northern Uganda, Lt. Paddy Ankunda, yesterday said three people, including a UPDF soldier, were killed. He said the rebels burnt down at least 382 grass-thatched huts, looted foodstuffs and abducted several civilians. The rebels, in a letter dropped during their massacre at Pabbo IDP camp in Gulu, said they were showing their power by killing civilians.
ugnet_: Democrats' Online Appeal
Moveon Conducting Online Presidential Primary Democrats' Online Appeal By Harold Meyerson Washington Post Wednesday 18 June 2003 As revolutions go, this one began with remarkably little fanfare. Last Thursday MoveOn.org sent out an e-mail to its members -- all 1.4 million of them -- asking if they'd like to take part in an online Democratic presidential primary later this month. Candidates would answer questions that MoveOn put to them, and if one of them managed to pull a majority of the members' votes, the organization would endorse him. This is no straw poll: MoveOn does real politics. Founded by some Silicon Valley entrepreneurs as a way for liberals and others to electronically register their rage at the impeachment lunacy of 1998, MoveOn has already become a force in American politics. It has coordinated its members to lobby Congress on a host of issues, was a center of opposition to the Iraqi war, and has proved itself as a source of grass-roots campaign contributions ($4.1 million in 2002) to progressive candidates. Last fall MoveOn made a special pitch to its members to help out Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone, then embroiled in a tight reelection contest. Within a couple of days Wellstone's campaign had an unexpected windfall of more than $600,000 in hard-money contributions. Now our membership is nearly three times as big as it was then, MoveOn President Wes Boyd notes. (Membership skyrocketed during the run-up to the war.) In last Thursday's e-mail, MoveOn stated that one reason it wanted to try for an endorsement now was to help its endorsee, should one emerge, rake in some megabucks before the June 30 contribution reporting deadline. It also mentioned that preliminary polling of its members showed that Howard Dean, John Kerry and Dennis Kucinich had the lion's share of early support. The candidate with the most backing from MoveOn members (though by no means necessarily a majority) is Dean. Not surprisingly, winning this primary has emerged as the Dean campaign's chief focus in the next several weeks. The former Vermont governor has clawed his way into the first tier of Democratic candidates in part through his campaign's unparalleled success in waging a candidacy online. In its last financial statement, the campaign reported $750,000 in online contributions; campaign manager Joe Trippi says that figure now totals roughly $1.25 million. The campaign already claims 33,000 online Dean supporters who came together through MeetUp.com, a Web site that enables people of like interests to, well, meet up. Trippi is urging his MeetUppers to join the MoveOners but acknowledges that 33,000 new members would just be a drop in MoveOn's bucket. Both Trippi and the MoveOn leaders think that winning 50 percent support this early in the process will be an arduous task. The thing about an online election, however, is that it's no big deal to hold another one 30 or 60 days later -- a process to which MoveOn seems committed until an endorsement emerges. Still, Dean's legions are filled with highly educated, Internet-savvy young people, and that's a pretty good description of MoveOn's members as well. How much money such an endorsement would be worth to its recipient is one of the hottest topics in liberal America today. MoveOn's staff offers only the most cautious projections, but political operatives sound awestruck as they contemplate what the numbers could be. If Dean has their support and wins Iowa, says one longtime liberal strategist who's no Dean partisan, what people don't realize is that MoveOn could get him $30 million in the next two days. This is a topic to which Trippi has given a lot of thought. A mature Internet, he says, could be the link that earlier insurgent candidates missed. If Gary Hart had had the Internet in 1984, you have to wonder if Mondale would have won the nomination, says Trippi, who worked for Mondale that year. Hart had no way to raise the money to go national after he won New Hampshire and had to compete immediately in a nationwide Super Tuesday. With the added technology, the Eugene McCarthys and John McCains of this world might
ugnet_: Rebel group breaks out in Teso?
from radio simba: Rebel group breaks out in Teso A new Rebel group is feared to have emerged in parts of Teso sub region .The group identified by sources as the Union For Democracy is suspected to have ganged up with Joseph Konys LRA . The group whose Leaders have not yet gone public have submitted a hand written letter to Government through the state Minister for Disaster Preparedness Christine Aporu. When called for verification Thursday afternoon the Ministers phone was off. However Kumi county MP Amuriat Oboi Patrick says there is growing fear in Teso. Army spokesman Shaban Bantariza says the UPDF is not scared, because it has the capacity to deal with any submissive group. He noted that any body who forms a rebel group at a time when political space is being opened up is mad, because he should instead form a political party in order to compete for political power. Bantariza said, what is the rebel group going to do and how long will it last more than the UPA we put out of action? They can gang up with Kony or the even with the Devil, but we shall be in charge of Uganda until Jesus comes back. = _ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail
Re: ugnet_: Rebels Kill 3 in Gulu IDP Camp
Matek, "What an outrageous ridiculous statement. This so called Rebel behavior is in sic with the UPDF's Modus Operandi." Good to point this out. Note also that the reporter is a new vision reporter, the govt. mouthpiece. And he wrote, as you correctlyquoted: "The rebels, in a letter dropped during their massacre at Pabbo IDP camp in Gulu, said they were showing their power by killing civilians." Can this reportertell us how many people were killed, or, could someone forward the news story about this massacre at Pabbo IDP to us please? It is hard to believe the so called rebel would want to show "their power by killing civilians.", and yet, in a place likePabbo IDP when civilians are spread out all over the north. Why would the rebel walk all the way from their bases in Sudan, passing civilian settlements along, only to kill those in Pabbo IDP supposedly to show "their power"? I therefore tend to concur with you thus "What an outrageous ridiculous statement. This so called Rebel behavior is in sic with the UPDF's Modus Operandi." [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: "The rebels," in a letter dropped during their massacre at Pabbo IDP camp in Gulu, said they were showing their power by killing civilians."What an outrageous ridiculous statement. This so called Rebel behavior is in sic with the UPDF's Modus Operandi.saninimous MKRebels Kill 3 in Gulu IDP Camp New Vision (Kampala)June 18, 2003 Posted to the web June 18, 2003 Dennis OjweeKampala REBELS of the Lord's resistance Army (LRA) have again struck Anaka Internally Displaced Persons' (IDP) camp in Nwoya county, about 35 miles (56km) west of Gulu, killing three people including a UPDF soldier.Dennis Ojwee reports that they also set ablaze over 380 grass-thatched huts.The rebels reportedly looted foodstuffs from the camp and forced the captives to carry the loot to their hideouts in the bushes.Local sources said the rebels, whose number could not easily be determined, struck the camp from its western side, the same direction they used when they attacked the catholic mission late last year.Details of the attack were still scanty by press time due to the poor communication network between Anaka and Gulu town. Anaka hosts over 25,000 internally displaced persons from various villages within Anaka sub-county. Others are from Purongo in Nwoya county.The army spokesman based in northern Uganda, Lt. Paddy Ankunda, yesterday said three people, including a UPDF soldier, were killed. He said the rebels burnt down at least 382 grass-thatched huts, looted foodstuffs and abducted several civilians.The rebels, in a letter dropped during their massacre at Pabbo IDP camp in Gulu, said they were showing their power by killing civilians.Post your free ad now! Yahoo! Canada Personals
ugnet_: Re: ugnet:Rebel group breaks out in Teso?
Netters: The statement below about Jesus is scary. Batarinza was quoted as saying: They can gang up with Kony or the even with the Devil, but we shall be in charge of Uganda until Jesus comes back. Jesus might not be coming back for quite a while! But I suspect this is yet another trick by dictator Museveni and his military sychophants to round up more Itesos and label them as rebels and terrorists. Disgusting! y += (from radio simba) Rebel group breaks out in Teso A new Rebel group is feared to have emerged in parts of Teso sub region .The group identified by sources as the Union For Democracy is suspected to have ganged up with Joseph Kony's LRA . The group whose Leaders have not yet gone public have submitted a hand written letter to Government through the state Minister for Disaster Preparedness Christine Aporu. When called for verification Thursday afternoon the Minister's phone was off. However Kumi county MP Amuriat Oboi Patrick says there is growing fear in Teso. Army spokesman Shaban Bantariza says the UPDF is not scared, because it has the capacity to deal with any submissive group. He noted that any body who forms a rebel group at a time when political space is being opened up is mad, because he should instead form a political party in order to compete for political power. Bantariza said, what is the rebel group going to do and how long will it last more than the UPA we put out of action? They can gang up with Kony or the even with the Devil, but we shall be in charge of Uganda until Jesus comes back.' == _ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
ugnet_: Hotso, Bo Ntate
'Hotso, BoNtate' Cindi, Francis and Gerald, It is open season for sexual predators against our dear ones - not only in the Rustenburg Diocese of SA. Please find two reports about this, and both seem to involve Ugandans. First, a quasi-elite 'mukwerekwere' and so-called priest, leaving Uganda to go and rape our mothers and sisters in Azania. Why he thinks that the best thing needed by the oppressed in SA is more indoctrination in these Arab religions, leaves me defeated. It is all nonsensical. Anyway he will have 10 years in the slammer. Good for him. I hope he meets some 'tsotsi' in prison to teach him a lesson. You, of course, remember Irish Nun and Medical Doctor, Sister McDonald, who wrote a report about some African sexual predator Bishops involved in this kind of criminality. One of those so-called Bishops had up to that time, impregnated 23 teenage nuns. And one of those nuns had died in some dark alley abortion attempt, and the criminal Bishop had the temerity to bring her body to the 'Alter' for a requiem mass. One does not wish to malign all the good priests, but where does one turn when the Vatican itself decides to shelve and hide this explosive Sr. McDonald report. Indeed, the church in Africa should insist at openess and exposure of these criminals, otherwise the institution's and everybody's name become soiled. ( Some of us continue to be inspired by people like the Rev. Fr. Roy Bourgeois, of the 'School of the America's Watch'. see http://www.erieindymedia.org/news/2003/04/13.php He indeed is a man of God. ) The second article is also self explanatory. Pedophiles are being recycled left and right. From UK to USA to Africa. ~~~ Ugandan priest jailed for rape By Alex B. Atuhaire June 17, 2003 ; The Monitor A Ugandan priest working in South Africa was on Friday sentenced to 10 years in prison for rape. A court in the Rustenburg province convicted Fr. Joseph Mugera, 33, of the Rustenburg Diocese in the northwest of South Africa. He was reportedly found guilty of raping a South African woman, Ms Agnes Moteni. Another Ugandan priest, Fr. Kizito Kaganda, also serving in South Africa, told The Monitor yesterday that Fr. Mugera had appealed against the sentence. Fr. Kaganda dismissed the rape accusations against his colleague as xenophobia aimed at discrediting the young priest before his bishop and the laity. He has been a threat to most of his colleagues because of his stand on celibacy. They envied him. He was the most loved priest in Rustenburg, Fr. Kaganda said by telephone from South Africa. Fr. Kaganda said that Fr. Mugera was another victim of xenophobia being targeted like many of the other foreigners (the so-called makwelekwele) living and working in South Africa. He said that there is a campaign by local priests to target colleagues from other African countries including those from Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda. He blamed the unholy campaign on rivalry for positions and promotions. This was not a shock. Something like this was expected anytime, he said. Fr. Kaganda said that there are about 20 Ugandan missionaries working in South Africa. Fr. Mugera was born in Lwagulu village in Masaka district. He left Uganda for South Africa in 1993 as a missionary and enrolled at St Josephs Kidala Major Seminary in Natal Province. He was ordained in October 2000 and posted to Rustenburg Diocese where he was appointed the parish priest early this year. © 2003 The Monitor Publications ~~ Bishop Unravels History of Accused Priest Sunday Times (Johannesburg) 25 Mai 2003 Publié sur le web le 24 Mai 2003 Johannesburg Bishop Kevin Dowling, left, is the head of the Diocese of Rustenburg, where Adam Okot alleged that he was raped by a Catholic priest. The Sunday Times sent the following questions to Dowling. This is his response Q. As the Bishop of the Diocese of Rustenburg, when did you find out that Father McCauley had been accused of raping Adam Okot? A. Father McCauley himself informed me, and I also was informed by Father Sean Wales, the Provincial Superior. I cannot remember the exact month, but it may have been some time in August 2002 or soon after that. Q. Were you kept fully informed about the Okot protocol proceedings ? A. I was not involved in the protocol proceedings, as I was not the
ugnet_: Nabagereka launches Princess Katrina stamp
Nabagereka launches Princess Katrina stampThe Nabagereka Lady Sylvia Nagginda on Monday 16th launched the princess Katrina-Sarah Ssangalyambogo postage stamp at Posta Uganda General office in Kampala. During the ceremony the Nabagereka urged parents to always be at the forefront in fighting for the rights of their children. She said that if parents and guardians fail to show their children the love and guidance they deserve, then Ugandas future is doomed. The Nabagereka also called for care and love towards people living with HIV/AIDS as well as appealing to parents to fully immunize their children against the preventable killer diseases. At the same function the acting managing director Posta Uganda Sarah Kawesa Kiyingi said that the Princess Katrina-Sarah Ssangalyambogo stamp is a dedication to all children of Uganda and in commemoration of the princess second birthday. http://www.simba.fm/pages/109000.aspMSN 8 helps ELIMINATE E-MAIL VIRUSES. Get 2 months FREE*.
Re: ugnet_: Rebels Kill 3 in Gulu IDP Camp
Matek Actually there is a some consistence in what the rebels are saying. These are statements which are the very opposite of what Museveni was stating when he was in Luwero. They are all in the opposite word for word. Remember he was stating that he is fighting for the masses? So what better way to concoct an enemy who states the opposite !! Em The Mulindwas Communication Group"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" Groupe de communication Mulindwas "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie" - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 8:11 AM Subject: ugnet_: Rebels Kill 3 in Gulu IDP Camp "The rebels," in a letter dropped during their massacre at Pabbo IDP camp in Gulu, said they were showing their power by killing civilians."What an outrageous ridiculous statement. This so called Rebel behavior is in sic with the UPDF's Modus Operandi.saninimous MKRebels Kill 3 in Gulu IDP Camp New Vision (Kampala)June 18, 2003 Posted to the web June 18, 2003 Dennis OjweeKampala REBELS of the Lord's resistance Army (LRA) have again struck Anaka Internally Displaced Persons' (IDP) camp in Nwoya county, about 35 miles (56km) west of Gulu, killing three people including a UPDF soldier.Dennis Ojwee reports that they also set ablaze over 380 grass-thatched huts.The rebels reportedly looted foodstuffs from the camp and forced the captives to carry the loot to their hideouts in the bushes.Local sources said the rebels, whose number could not easily be determined, struck the camp from its western side, the same direction they used when they attacked the catholic mission late last year.Details of the attack were still scanty by press time due to the poor communication network between Anaka and Gulu town. Anaka hosts over 25,000 internally displaced persons from various villages within Anaka sub-county. Others are from Purongo in Nwoya county.The army spokesman based in northern Uganda, Lt. Paddy Ankunda, yesterday said three people, including a UPDF soldier, were killed. He said the rebels burnt down at least 382 grass-thatched huts, looted foodstuffs and abducted several civilians.The rebels, in a letter dropped during their massacre at Pabbo IDP camp in Gulu, said they were showing their power by killing civilians.
ugnet_: THE OIL BUISNESS AND FATE OF ITURI
THE OIL BUSINESS AND FATE OF ITURI Politics/Economy,Standard The sufferance of the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo is tied to the resources of the territory. The violence of Bunia, of Ituri and clashes in North Kivu are all part of one sole war, combated for control over the natural resources of east DR-Congo. Now in addition to the usual minerals there is also oil. These were the words expressed to MISNA by Melchisedec Sikuli, Bishop Beni-Butembo, the largest diocese of North Kivu (east DR-Congo), bringing attention back to the central problem of the Congolese war: its natural resources. The conflict being combated since 1998 in ex-Zaire is an economic battle played by local and international protagonists, in which the second often use the first as pawns. The reward for winning the game is often control of a territory, the east of the nation, which has an immense concentration of mineral resources. But a few kilometres from Bunia, right in the hottest zone of the entire east DR-Congo, theatre in the past weeks to indiscriminate violence and fighting between factions that want to obtain control, a recent discovery risks putting everything back in discussion. An oilfield that promises billions of barrels hidden under the waters of Lake Albert (a few kilometres from Bunia) and that may have the potential to change the destiny and maybe future of Congo and its people. A huge resource mentioned very little, or at least in whispers, shaded by legitimate and strange shadows cast by financial holdings that report directly to mercenary companies active in Angola and Sierra Leone. The oil company that has for some time been working around Lake Albert in its reports indicates that drilling operations may start at the end of the summer. The Heritage Oil Corporation is a small but aggressive oil company based in Canada and quoted on the Toronto stock market, that in the past years started its prospecting on the eastern bank of Lake Albert, in Ugandan territory. The natural basin of water known also with the name of the old Congolese dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, was until now known for its rich fishing resources and because together with Lake Eduard represents the border between Uganda and Congo. In Uganda the Heritage Oil at the end of the 90s acquired a lot of land of 1.1-million acres, named Block 3, where the Turaco 1 well starts its prospecting work. In relatively brief time the Heritage drilling machinery reaches over 2-thousand metres in depth, individuating natural gas and hydrocarbons, individuating a real treasure: an immense underground lake of oil. But something must not be going as planned and the Heritage is forced to suspend works in Uganda due to technical problems, as explained to MISNA by the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Michael Wood, contacted by phone in the past days. The company does not however appear to be bothered and in its communications to shareholders announces the opening of a next Turaco2 well, which will become operational in the second quadrimester of 2003 and that, always based on the communications, should consent the company to finally reach the oil. But the Turaco 2 becomes a small mystery. The company does not in fact provide other information on its geographical collocation, even though it always more often refers to the immense potentiality of it creating access to the oil. Meanwhile, almost contemporaneously some functionaries of the Heritage leave Uganda and in June 2002 fly to the other side of the border in DR-Congo. Once in the capital, Kinshasa, the Heritage delegation signs an accord with the government of ex-Zaire for the concession of a territory as large as Belgium along the Congolese banks of Lake Albert: 7.7-million acres of land that extend from the town of Mahagi, extreme north of Lake Albert, to the village Rutshuru, extreme south of Lake Eduard. Practically the entire border between Uganda and Congo. But that territory, that stretches around the Ituri province and that of North Kivu, is a zone afflicted by years of fighting, massacres, violence committed by a constellation of armed groups that since 1998 are protagonists of the first African world war, as the Congolese conflict was defined in 1998 by the US State secretary at the time, Madelaine Albright. A zone in which the control of the Kinshasa government is basically null and where the scarce influence of the Congolese executive comes through a few allied armed groups. In that zone
ugnet_: Rebel group breaks out in Teso?
Yaobanga Are you refuting the man's statement? Let me take you to task. Who is Museveni's threat today as we speak? who do you know in your mind that is seriously challenging Yoweri Museveni? I see none, none what so ever. And the danger is here, yes we have people who want to Challenge Museveni, but they are not challenging him for he is a bad leader who has put our nation to waste, they are challenging him for he is at the national cake and they are not. The main object in their minds to access that cake. Look here people will tell you of the killings in our country, but before they take drastic actions they start by making sure that their interests are secure. In Reaction Museveni has as well been smart enough for when he sees the winds shaking, he lets a little by little of the cake and the rest of Ugandans are very happy to pick up on those crams. Remember Buganda told Museveni that they wanted their kingdom back, to some of us we believed that Buganda Kingdom is an automatic institution, so if there is Buganda there must be a Kingdom, so Museveni had no authority to give it, we as well believed that if Museveni has the authority to give the kingdom back yes he can as well take it away. But Buganda did not care about National issues, their problem was getting the Kingdom. So Museveni delivered. But as Buganda got the Kingdom the rest of services which Buganda required from the government were not delivered. Buganda today can not call Museveni a bad leader, for the moment they start, he will call his highness to Rwakitura for a visit. That is a cram to Buganda. But I want to ask you a question, Do you remember when his Highness made any public statement last? Now Mengo has another group which wants to eat instead of the current one, and when they hear Kiiza Besigye stating that he will be a friend of Buganda, they get out of their way to look for support for their interests will be cared for too. A Minister I have forgotten a name stated that he is happy to be a minister under Museveni for he has become rich. What do you expect from that minister? Ugandans can die all they want for those are only numbers, the guy is rich. Go back way early on Movement days. Some of us had a huge fight with our people at home, we were telling them that Museveni is a killer and he has started a war in Northern Uganda which will never end. We gave them examples, we gave them the facts to back up our claims. They all said Ffe Kasita twebaka. Do you know how many Millions of Dollars Museveni siphoned out of that country as they were sleeping? Museveni has been in the States for a visit, and that was a good chance for all Ugandans to make their case. But a picture I got from the forums was laughable, UPC had questions for the president, UNAA had questions for the president, Reform Agenda had questions to the president, Federalists had questions to the president. But when you look in all these questions they are all asking the same question, the difference is that this is Kiiza Besigye's corner this is some other guy on and on corners. And that is how we act in Uganda. On the numbers of Ugandans NRM has killed in Uganda, surely we as Ugandans in North America would have made Museveni's visit a nightmare. Look here Museveni can never visit Canada as a head of State, yes he can visit as a private citizen but not as a President, in fact if my memory is good Museveni has never been received as a head of State in this nation. Why is he received in such a way in UK and US where we have more Ugandans than Canada? All these people are not attacking Museveni for he is a bad leader, they attack him for they want an access to the cake. Look on Kiiza Besigye's coming into the equation, as soon as that campaign started you know well the Ugandans in these forums who abandoned us for now they knew they were going to be ministers in the new Kiiza Besigye's government. In fact Museveni uses the same cards, for when you yell about his killings, he offers you a job, and very many people have taken them, some are still in Kampala driving Merc edes Benzes and some are dead. And as long as Museveni keeps on dropping the crams, the man is in power and in control, and when the fella tells you that NRM is going to be in power untill when Jesus comes back, take a step back before you fight him. The name is Em The Mulindwas Communication Group With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy Groupe de communication Mulindwas avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie - Original Message - From: Y Yaobang [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 4:00 PM Subject: ugnet_: Re: ugnet:Rebel group breaks out in Teso? Netters: The statement below about Jesus is scary. Batarinza was quoted as saying: They can gang up with Kony or the even with the Devil, but we shall be in charge of Uganda until Jesus comes back. Jesus might not be coming back for quite a while! But I suspect
ugnet_: THE POWER OF AMERICAN THREATS
Belgium rejects war crime claim against Bush - - - - - - - - - - - -By By PAUL AMES PAUL AMES June 19, 2003 | BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Belgium moved swiftly Thursday to dismiss war crimes complaints against President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, anxious not to create more tension with Washington over the Belgian war crimes law. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld warned last week that the United States may encourage NATO to move its headquarters out of Belgium unless the country changes the newly amended law to rule out complaints against Americans. The Justice Ministry acted within 24 hours after the complaints were filed, referring them to British and American authorities under recent changes designed to prevent frivolous or politically motivated use of the 1993 law. Under the statute, Belgian courts can hear war crimes cases regardless of where the crimes are alleged to have occurred. "This shows that ... the system works without changing the law any further," Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said from the Greek resort of Porto Carras, where he was attending a European Union summit. Belgian officials traveling with him said the complaints were filed separately by disgruntled individuals from Germany, Switzerland and Belgium and concerned the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. One targeted Bush, Blair, Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Gen. Tommy Franks for their role in the Iraq war. A second named only Powell. The third cited Bush, Rumsfeld, Attorney General John Ashcroft, National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice, and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and stemmed from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The public prosecutor's office alerted the government, which immediately sent the cases to judicial authorities in London and Washington, effectively blocking the complaints. But the fact they were filed at all will probably fuel anger in Washington. On a visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels last week, Rumsfeld demanded Belgium change the law again, warning that U.S. officials would no longer travel to alliance meetings if they continued to face such suits. He added Washington would block funding for a new NATO building in the Belgian capital. There have already been two complaints against U.S. officials. One targeted Iraq war commander Franks; the other former President George Bush, Vice president Dick Cheney, Powell and Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf for their roles in the 1991 Gulf War. Facing mounting international pressure over such complaints, the parliament modified the law in April, allowing the government to pass cases to the home country of the accused person if that country has a working judicial system. The amended law was the basis for dismissing the latest cases and the Franks case. Once accusations have been sent to the accused person's home country, Belgium will take no further action, judging that the home country, the United States in this case, would give the cases a fair hearing regardless of whether it leads to legal action. The Belgian laws were first used to target suspects who fled to Europe after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Since then cases have been filed against several world leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Cuban President Fidel Castro and Iraq's Saddam Hussein.
ugnet_: Nabagereka launches Princess Katrina stamp
Ugandans On June 16th 2003Posta Ugandalaunched three new stamps honouring Princess Katrina-Sarah Ssangalyambogo of Buganda. It is stated that the stamps were a dedication to all children of Uganda. Nabagereka stated that the new stamps are culturally important to Buganda and they would help to display its vast heritage. There are more of those details in New Vision of June 17th 2003 if you want any more details. What I want to do tonight is to look at this action which took place in our nation and to wonder whether it was right. I am going to start with Nabagereka, for some reason she is right that Buganda has a vast heritage, but who told her that she has a right to get a national institution likePosta Ugandato promote the culture of Buganda? And I am going to base my argument from the fact that I live in a nation with the greatest Federalism in the World. Federalism to survive in any nation, it must start with respect of what you have and what the rest of the people have. That is why you see that federalism can never survive in a nation where there is no democracy. For what Nabagereka did was to hijack a national corporation and use it to our own benefit, including the population ofBuganda. We can not practice Federalism in Uganda when we do not have aclear linebetween Provincial and national jurisdiction. With the same breath I must wonder who was in his/her right mind to allow Ms Sarah Kiyingi Kaweesa, the Managing Director of Post Uganda, to allow a national institution to be used in such a flimsy way. If the culture of Buganda is very important to Nabagereka, she should have used any other institution she has put in Buganda to promote the culture of her region and I would have not interfered at all. But if Nabagereka has been in Uganda this long, and the best she can get to promote the Buganda culture was a national institution, then she owes Ugandans an apology accompanied with a promise to respect national institutions the same way the nation respects her culture. Secondly I must comment on the logic of choosing Ssangalyambogo to represent the Uganda children on this very vital day. And I must start with a very simple question, What does Ssangalyambogo has in common with Uganda children? This is a day which was established by UNICEF to recognise the plight of children amongst our selves, to know the problems they have, and a nation like Uganda which has millions of children who are internally displaced in their own country, I think this was a very clear day to let them speak out. But who is Ssangalyambogo? Yes she is a princess in Buganda by all means, but I want to look at her connection to the children of Uganda. When Nabagereka reached the time to deliver this Princess, she looked into the entire nation of Uganda even into her own territory of Buganda and made a conscious decision that she could not find a single hospital which would fit her standards. Although all her subordinates use Uganda hospitals, she refused to use them and preferred to be flown to London. Yes she delivered the baby but not only that but she even refused for a while to return to Uganda with the newly born, for she feared that Uganda dust might endanger the new born. Ssabasajja and Obuganda stayed single untill when Mengo complained and bitterly then Nabagereka accepted to come back to Uganda with the Princess. Let record as well show that due to Nabagereka's fear of Buganda's hospital/s, Buganda ended up with a Princess with a British Birth Certificate, there fore a British Citizen. Today Uganda children have a British citizen representing them on a UNICEF day. It is sad for our children are being forced into recolonisation by Nabakyaala her self. My question to you today, what does Princess Ssangalyambogo has in common with Uganda children? I wonder whether Nabagereka knows the plight of Uganda children or she is just a very insensitive person. For if she is not insensitive Nabagereka should have looked in the entire spectrum, we have many kids who would fit this occasion. let me remind Nabagereka that we have a child in Gulu who was breast feeding, the camp was attacked and the mother was shot and killed. This child stayed with the dead mother sucking for ten hours untill when a red Cross worker came and plucked it off the breast of a dead mother. We have some 3 girls who were sent home due to lack of school fees at a time of final exams, these girls went to The Central Police Station in Kampala, they ended up making their story public through Bukedde paper and they got the school fees from caring Ugandans abroad, in the end they did their finals. I can count very many of such. And let me make clear one point, the commemoration of the Children's day is a national issue, there for Nabagereka and the entire Mengo sad story must have nothing to do with it. But if she had decided to interfere with national matters, she should have respected Ugandans
ugnet_: BURUNDI IS IN THE HEART
Burundi Is At Heart Of Great Lakes Conflict, Says Former Congressman H. Wolpe testifies before Africa Subcommittee By Kelly Machinchick Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- Burundi has suffered over 40 years of tragedy, losing an estimated 400,000 people to ethnic violence and seeing another 800,000 flee the country. For a small country with a population of only six million, this has proved devastating, according to former Congressman Howard Wolpe. However, the conflict between the dominant Tutsis and the majority Hutus shows some sign of abating, said Wolpe in testimony submitted to the House Africa Subcommittee at an April 3 hearing titled: "The Democratic Republic of Congo: Key to the Crisis in the Great Lakes Region." Wolpe, a former Congressman from the state of Michigan who was also a Presidential Special Envoy to Africa's Great Lakes Region, is now the Consulting Director of the Africa Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center. His testimony focused on the situation in Burundi because, he said, "The conflict between Tutsi and Hutu in Burundi, as in Rwanda, is at the heart of the Great Lakes crisis, producing massive refugee flows, insurgencies and cross-border violence. The Tutsi/Hutu schism within Burundi and the war within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been interlinked." In Burundi, Tutsis comprise only 14% of the population, yet dominate politics and economics and systematically exclude the Hutus from participating in key social, political, and economic institutions, said Wolpe. This has perpetuated the cycle of violence in both Burundi and the DRC. Finally, in August 2000, regional leaders signed the Arusha Peace Accord, but then as now, the Burundi peace process is still "very much a work in progress." The agreement left unresolved three contentious issues: -- Who would lead the 36-month transition government? -- How would the reform and integration of the armed forces be handled? -- How would two principal armed groups, absent from the negotiations, be convinced to lay down their arms and participate in the transition process? These issues must be dealt with if the ceasefire is to become a lasting peace, he said. The first issue was resolved when the parties agreed that President Pierre Buyoya would lead the Transitional Government for 18 months and then be succeeded by a Hutu president. As of May 1, 2003 Buyoya, despite an attempt to retain leadership, is set to hand over power to current Vice President and Hutu Domitien Ndayizeye. Unfortunately, said Wolpe, other issues remain unresolved. "Negotiations have not yet begun on the highly sensitive issues of security reform, the integration of military forces, and demobilization." In addition, the promised African Union peacekeeping force -- led by South Africa, Ethiopia and Mozambique - intended to monitor the ceasefire has yet to be deployed. Part of the reason for the delay is lack of funds. "These African nations can neither undertake -- nor sustain -- this critical mission without the substantial financial and logistical support of the United States and others within the international community. This will be an expensive mission, but absolutely vital to the efforts Burundians themselves are making to move from war to peace. There can be no higher priority than standing up and maintaining this peacekeeping mission," he said. Obviously, Burundi faces stiff challenges as the peace becomes more lasting. One of the country's "most daunting tasks" is re-integrating over one million refugees and internally displaced persons back into society. Burundi lacks infrastructure and economic stability, and will need the financial and technical assistance of the world community, Wolpe asserted. These are challenges the world community must help the nation meet, he said. "The active involvement of outsiders...has had a significant calming impact." He listed the presence of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the South African security forces, the World Bank as among those calming influences. "The knowledge that the international community is now deepening its economic cooperation with Burundi will help to strengthen the confidence of those Burundians who are courageously working to establish the conditions for a sustainable peace," said Wolpe. "Leaders of both sides of the ethnic divide appear determined to do whatever they can to keep the peace process on track. Within the transitional government, people are talking to one another -- and collaborating -- as never before." The peace process is fluid and still unstable, but Wolpe believes the future is promising for the Burundians and by extension the rest of the Great Lakes region. "There can no longer be any question about the courage and political will of Burundians on both sides of their ethnic divide to work for a more peaceful and a more secure future." But, he said, the peace
ugnet_: Nabagereka launches Princess Katrina stamp
These are the Photographs I wanted you to look at and you be the judge of who is a Ugandan kid UNICEF had in mind in setting up this day. Em The Mulindwas Communication Group"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy" Groupe de communication Mulindwas "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie" - Original Message - From: J Ssemakula To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 4:27 PM Subject: ugnet_: Nabagereka launches Princess Katrina stamp Nabagereka launches Princess Katrina stampThe Nabagereka Lady Sylvia Nagginda on Monday 16th launched the princess Katrina-Sarah Ssangalyambogo postage stamp at Posta Uganda General office in Kampala. During the ceremony the Nabagereka urged parents to always be at the forefront in fighting for the rights of their children. She said that if parents and guardians fail to show their children the love and guidance they deserve, then Ugandas future is doomed. The Nabagereka also called for care and love towards people living with HIV/AIDS as well as appealing to parents to fully immunize their children against the preventable killer diseases. At the same function the acting managing director Posta Uganda Sarah Kawesa Kiyingi said that the Princess Katrina-Sarah Ssangalyambogo stamp is a dedication to all children of Uganda and in commemoration of the princess second birthday. http://www.simba.fm/pages/109000.asp MSN 8 helps ELIMINATE E-MAIL VIRUSES. Get 2 months FREE*. 1055926156Alito09.jpg
ugnet_: AFRICA SHOULD FIGHT, DEFEAT IMPERIALISM
By Chinondidya-chii Mararike United Kingdom Mugabeism is a pan-African revolutionary philosophy, the final onslaught on imperialism on the continent, and for Africans to use the war against the imperialists. This is Africas revolution, the Third Chimurenga, another name for pan-African nationalism. Our revolution has and will surely effect a fundamental transformation in the way African nationalism is perceived in Africa and the world, and has brought about positive changes in the nature, pattern, execution, and direction of revolutionary nationalist struggles on the continent and beyond. Zimbabwe provides, through this third revolution, a fitting reply to imperialists whose hurtful hypocrisy of the past few decades had seen them writing countless obituaries on Africa, prophesying the continents imminent doom and ultimate death. Revolutionaries see and equate President Mugabes anti-imperialist creed with something that sounds like "a hold on a minute comrades, the coffin lid is still open so lets have another look around, storm back and put things right". Zanu-PF revolutionaries are appealing to others on the continent to confront, fight and once and for all defeat the imperialist forces responsible for the continents excruciatingly painful and frustratingly snail-paced political and economic progress. Millions of youths in places such as Soweto, Egoli, Windhoek, Kinshasa, Dar-es-Salaam, Maseru, Maputo, Nairobi, and Accra find our revolution attractive a philosophical and ideological guide, nay a practical spear and bayonet for imperialist victims to use in anti-imperialist battles and wars of today, tomorrow and for posterity. Our revolution has been adopted and is being implemented both in and outside Africa, notably in Namibia, South Africa, Fiji and Brazil, and is being considered for adoption by similarly committed revolutionaries in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Australia, and New Zealand. The Mugabe Revolution is an assertive combativeness in the art of revolution against crude forms of Western imperialism, widely seen as an appropriate response to globalisation, has revived the pan-African ideals of Du Bois, Nkrumah, Garvey, Lumumba, Cabral, and Sekou Toure of total liberation for self-determination, and has great relevance to global politics. In the meantime those of us in Davira Mhere are appealing to all African presidents and their ruling parties, and to all our brothers and sisters on the continent, kuti vaDavire Mhere yeChimurenga chiri kutekenywa nemaComrades enyu muZimbabwe, and that in doing so, they clearly understand the tenets of Mugabeism, which are: l Politicise the masses, and into them and through the educational curriculum secrete the pan-African ideology, which necessarily is anti-imperialist. l Be sure you maintain a modern and well-equipped army, police force, and security network, and which you control, for these help the nation guard the countrys hard won independence and sovereignty. Guard against these being infiltrated by the imperialists. l Politicise the public service, as these are best positioned to implement your governments pan-African programmes. Forget the imperialist myth of an apolitical public service; theirs are extremely politicised, and politicised to formulate and implement racist and exploitative policies. l Through legislation, designate the land, put your soldiers and other security agencies on the highest state of alert, take the land from the settler colonists and re-distribute the same to your own people, the Africans. l Confront, with courage and determination, any Western sponsored opposition parties and other imperialist stooges, and be ready to deal with imperialist machinations especially economic and political sabotage (through sanctions and the actions of traitors in our midst), and hostile propaganda. l A cultural revolution should immediately follow, or be executed in tandem with, the land reform programmes. l Ensure you get support from your African comrades on the continent, and the African-Americans and African-Caribbean folk in the Diaspora. l Make land a racial issue, for thats exactly what it is otherwise how else do you explain the anomaly of a minority group of settler white immigrants, mostly less than 2 percent, occupying 75-80 percent of African land in Africa, and controlling the resources on and underneath it, in countries where the majority Africans constitute 98 percent of the populations. All the above, youll do well to remind yourselves that power comes through the barrel of the gun. There is no mystery attached to Zimbabwes ruling Zanu-PF partys resounding successes against the forces of colonialism and imperialism because, to paraphrase Dambudzo Marechera and with a thoroughness that amounts to surgery to the extent of creating something entirely new I say: The Third Chimurenga is a reaction to terrible truths of naked
ugnet_: FOR YOUR PERUSAL
To topple Movement, parties need to uniteBy Richard M. KavumaJune 18, 2003 Reform Agenda recently met with President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Nakasero. The group, headed by exiled former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye, is pushing for national dialogue with the Movement government on the countrys political stability. In this interview with Richard M. Kavuma, RAs vice chairman Sam Kalega Njuba spells out their hopes and fears: You have become conspicuously quieter since you met the president. Is there any reason for this? No, we are not quiet. We have not stopped our weekly press briefings, for instance, and we have not stopped defending innocent Ugandans who are unlawfully detained. This meeting boosted our confidence. Remember we did not invite ourselves to State House. The president invited us and that shows that our work is visible. A recent poll showed that your leader, Dr Besigye, is losing support. Did this bother you? The tempo normally goes up before, during and immediately after an election. It is now two years since the elections and Ugandans are now concerned with other things as opposed to politics. The poverty is biting. People have to earn a living. But we are also not reaching the people. Even after the court ruling against the Political Parties and Organisations Act, they [government] are still harassing us. As for Mr Museveni, he is losing support. During the last election there were senior Movement leaders who asked us not to campaign for Dr Besigye in order to allow Mr Museveni to serve his last term. Now he doesnt want to go. People are seeing through his plot. What did you benefit from the Nakasero meeting?Well, the president recognised our existence and our stake in the future of this country as the opposition. He also agreed to meet with all opposition groups. That is significant because previously he thought only he knew what this country needs. What role does RA see itself playing in the transition? Our role is the same as that of any other political organisation interested in genuine democracy in our country. But we are also working to see that all these opposition parties work together: This is partly because we believe that no single political party can force Mr Museveni or the Movement, for that matter to change.We want to ensure Ugandans have free and fair elections next time round. We want the political playing field to be levelled. And this is not easy essentially because Mr Museveni is not comfortable with a fair competition. Did he invite you to woo you back into the Movement? If that was his aim, then he failed miserably. Are you in touch with the other parties? We are trying to work with all the seven political groups but this excludes the MPs opposed to the third term. We are waiting for government to extend the invitation extended to us to all the other parties; then we can meet and start planning for the national dialogue. We need to determine the structure, agenda, direction and composition of this dialogue. Why are you excluding the anti-third term MPs? We welcome these MPs who are standing up to Mr Museveni. We have long said many of the things they are saying now: that the Movement is becoming intolerant. We are talking with some of them in their individual capacities. The problem is that they claim they are still in the Movement. We think you cannot reform the Movement from within. Their objectives also appear to be limited to opposing the third term. We are trying to reform the whole body politic. But even if they are still within the Movement, we shall work with them in the struggle to prevent a dictatorship being entrenched in Uganda. What are your major challenges as an organisation? We still face a major hurdle in the obnoxious political party law that government uses to prevent us from reaching the population.We cannot hold rallies or major meetings or travel outside Kampala. It is very shameful for government, for instance, to fight even a party that has only two MPs. How can you be scared of such a group unless you have a hidden Agenda? When Dr Besigye contested the 2001 election he was branded an enemy even though he brought credibility to the regime by his mere participation. These undemocratic tools government uses are a major problem for us. We can hardly do anything substantial without being harassed. The
ugnet_: Way to go!! Can you believe this? In a country as poor as Uganda!!
Back to The New Vision Kazini Bought Sh340m Vehicle DREAM CAR: Top-of-the range Range Rover 2003, the model Maj. Gen. Kazini bought Former Army Commander Major General James Kazini (above) may be a tough field commander but he also has refined tastes, report Grace Matsiko and Emmy Allio. In his last days in office, he broke army rules on standardisation of equipment and logistics to acquire the latest version of a Range Rover with special escort vehicles at a cost of over sh400m. The 32-valve V8 petrol engine top of the range car was delivered in May this year, along with two jeeps, bringing the total of the set to sh405, 380,000 including taxes, defence sources said. The Range Rover alone cost about US$170,000 (about sh340m). The Army Commander (Kazini) flew to Britain to inspect the vehicle before shipment. The driver was then taken there to learn how to drive it, the source added. Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the five-door Range Rover model last year. The vehicle has 17 security features, a bullet-proof body, a finger-print memory for the driver, an automatic brake system for emergency situations, a dynamic stability control, electronic traction control, hill descent control, six airbags, inertia reel seat belts, side impact protection, remote central door locking with alarm and an electronic air suspension that enables it be raised or lowered. Other specifications include automatic air conditioning for front and rear compartments, leather upholstery, electric windows and automatic dimming mirrors to defray reflections from the drivers sight, power steering, cruise control, electric sunroof, front fog lamps and fuel flap that can be remotely controlled. It also has a heated windscreen with a rain sensor, park distance control and a global positioning system that can help the army headquarters to locate it wherever it is. The vehicle has 11 hi-fi speakers, six compact disc autochanger and electronically adjustable seats with memory. It is the only one of its kind in the country. A certain Asian businessman is reported to have contacted Cooper Motor Corporation, the company that handled the UPDF shipment, for an order for a similar Range Rover. As part of the professionalisation of the army, there is a standardisation which means uniformity of equipment like same type of uniform from a single factory, a source at the army headquarters in Bombo said. The standard vehicle for a general is a Toyota Prado valued at around sh80m. But Kazini broke the regulations and preferred a Range Rover, which has cost the army a fortune. The money it swallowed would have catered for soldiers welfare or would have helped to purchase vehicles for several army battalions, another source said. On being dropped as army commander, Kazini handed the keys of the high performance vehicle to his successor, Maj. Gen. Nyakairima Aronda, who now cruises in Kazinis dream vehicle. It is said Kazini developed the desire for a Range Rover after last years visit to Tanzania where he was driven in a similar car for Tanzanias Chief of Defence Forces. The arrival of the Range Rover dwarfed other vehicles including the one of the Defence Minister, Amama Mbabazi, a Land Cruiser. Analysts say the sophistication of the vehicle rivalled that of President Yoweri Musevenis cross-country Benz. The vehicle was on Friday driven out of Cooper Motors where it was taken for servicing and driven back to Bombo UPDF headquarters. Kazini could not be contacted for a comment while Aronda was reported attending meetings. Army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza referred The New Vision to logistics department but officials there said the matter was sensitive. Ends
ugnet_: 20,000 Congolese Flee to Hoima
20,000 Congolese Flee to Hoima New Vision (Kampala) June 19, 2003 Posted to the web June 19, 2003 Kampala MORE than 20,000 Congolese refugees have entered Hoima district through Lake Albert following the bloody tribal clashes between the Lendu and the Hema in the Ituri region. This brings the number of refugees in the district to 30,000. The Hoima district security committee chairman, who is also the RDC, Deo Nsereko described the situation as "worrying". Nsereko, who was addressing the Hoima district council recently noted that the refugees from Congo were entering the district at a terrible rate. The immigrants are settled at Nkondo landing site in Kabwoya sub- county about 50 miles from Hoima town. Nsereko says he has already informed the office of the Prime Minister about the influx of the Congolese into the area. The district police commander, Sam Emokok said that some of the refugees have got guns. He appealed to the public to be more security conscious. "The general public should be on alert because the reports we have received indicate that some of those Congolese are armed," Emokok said. Security sources say some of the Congolese have been sighted in Hoima town. Both Nsereko and Emokok said the Congolese have refused to be registered as refugees because they don't want to be taken to Kyangwali Refugee Settlement.
ugnet_: Rebels Hits Atiak, Adjumani Church
Rebels Hits Atiak, Adjumani Church New Vision (Kampala) June 19, 2003 Posted to the web June 19, 2003 Patrick Alioni And Dennis Ojwee Kampala THE Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels on Tuesday night attacked Adjumani Catholic Parish, abducting 15 children from Redeemer Orphanage Centre. The parish priest, the Rev. Father John Bosco, said the rebels, who attacked the centre at 11:30pm, did not fire any shot. "I managed to escape as they tried to break the door into the radio room. They failed and moved to the Sisters' (nuns) quarters where they also failed to enter. They continued to Redeemer Orphanage, housing 34 Sudanese orphans," he said. The bishop of Arua Diocese, Frederick Dandrua, who was on a pastoral visit to the parish, was in the room. He said the rebels abducted nine girls and six boys including a seven-year-old. They stole a radio cassette, mobile phone, rosaries, a chalice, robes, hosts and some wine. "They took the children captive. Twelve were Sudanese," an army spokesman, Lt. Paddy Ankunda, said from Gulu. "Our forces are on pursuit," he added. The last time the rebels attacked Adjumani was in 1991 when three of them were killed. Meanwhile, the rebels yesterday stormed Atiak Police Post, about 44 miles on the Gulu-Juba road. Ankunda said the rebels grabbed a Police radio call communication system and looted shops near Atiak Police post. They were, however, repulsed by the UPDF. Travellers on a Gateway bus to Gulu town said the rebels emerged from the Atiak-Moyo road. Travellers on a Gateway bus said the rebels came from Atiak-Moyo road in single file. The rebels last year stormed a government post in Patongo and stole communication equipment.
ugnet_: Rebels Displace 5,000 in Katakwi
Rebels Displace 5,000 in Katakwi New Vision (Kampala) June 19, 2003 Posted to the web June 19, 2003 Richard Otim And Job Opolot Kampala OVER 5,000 people have been displaced in Obalanga sub-county, Katakwi district, following the Sunday night attack by suspected Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels. On Tuesday two rebel groups attacked Alito parish in Kabelebyong county and burnt over 100 grass-thatched houses in Angica internally displaced people's camp. The about 100 rebels reportedly attacked the area in the morning but found that the people had already fled after being alerted by the army. The Mideastern regional Police commander, Bob Ngobi, said the army, which had been deployed in Obalanga to battle the rebels, had advised people not to go to the area until it was declared safe. The Katakwi district security committee chairperson, who is also the chief administrative officer, Nicholas Muron Ochakara, told an emergency security meeting at the Soroti district chambers on Tuesday that 3,000 of the displaced had camped at Amuria sub-county headquarters. Meanwhile, Nathan Etengu reports that the rebels are operating in six sub-counties in the district. They are reportedly constructing camps and luring youth to their ranks.
ugnet_: MPs, Ministers Fight Over Kony Rebels
MPs, Ministers Fight Over Kony Rebels The Monitor (Kampala) June 19, 2003 Posted to the web June 19, 2003 Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda and Emma Mutaizibwa Kampala A statement by the Ministry of Defence yesterday sparked off an angry debate in Parliament. The Minister of State for Defence, Ms Ruth Nankabirwa, had returned to the plenary to deliver a statement on the security situation in the country. The focus was the war against Mr Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army rebels in northern Uganda. The minister came with 14 pages that she read to MPs. She told Parliament that the UPDF killed 19 rebels on 23 May and recovered documents showing "renewed contacts with some elements of the Sudanese Armed Forces which has resumed to supply the LRA". She said that when the LRA attacked the 77th Battalion on 12 June at Omunyore on the Pader-Lira border, "40 LRA rebels were killed in action and six rebels were captured". She reported that the UPDF recovered four SMGs from the rebels that day. But Prof. Ogenga Latigo, the MP for Agago, disputed the minister's figures, saying that instead the LRA had killed 48 UPDF soldiers, including eight lieutenants. Prof. Latigo said that if the minister insisted, he would take her to the area for verification. Bunyole MP, Mr Emmanuel Dombo, wondered how government troops could kill so many rebels but capture only four guns. Mr Hilary Onek, the MP for Lamwo in Kitgum, said that the figures of rebel casualties provided by the minister might include abducted children caught in the crossfire but also "counted as dead rebels". Some MPs dismissed the minister's statement as a joke. Mr Jacob Oulanyah (Omoro MP) said that Parliament wanted a serious statement and not "a joke from a joker". Kumi MP, Mr Patrick Amuriat, said that recent rebel attacks in Teso suggested that the war is spreading. He said that rebels have occupied some areas in Teso and were advancing. The Minister of State for International Relations, Mr Tom Butime, warned Mr Amuriat against using words like "occupying" and "advancing". Oyam South MP, Dr Okullo Epak, said that the government is not doing enough to fight the rebels in northern Uganda. He said that when there was insecurity in western Uganda (where many senior ministers and army officers come from) the government moved swiftly and even pursued the rebels deep into the DR Congo. The Minister of Local Government, Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, warned MPs against making sectarian statements. He said that if the government were not serious about ending the war in northern Uganda, he would not have accepted to be a minister. Ms Nankabirwa initially wanted to deliver her statement to a closed session but she changed her mind.
ugnet_: Rebel Fear Keeps Lira Schools Closed
Rebel Fear Keeps Lira Schools Closed New Vision (Kampala) June 19, 2003 Posted to the web June 19, 2003 James Oloch Kampala PRIMARY schools in Otuke, Moroto and Erute counties in Lira district have failed to reopen for the second term for fear of possible attacks and abduction of pupils and teachers by the Lord's Resistance Army rebels. The secretary for education and sport in the district local government, Rose Ongom, told The New Vision that schools in Aromo, Ogur, Apala, Aloi, Okwang, Orum, Olilim, Adwari and some part of Barr had not been operating since the the term began. Ongom said the situation worsened when the rebels abducted some school children from Abunga P7 school and Buluge Secondary and technical School in Barr sub-county recently. Ongom said schools in Moroto and Otuke counties might not open at all because of the persistent rebel incursions in the area. She said they were trying to meet the head teachers for the possible alternative to move the pupils to the safer areas in Lira Municipality. Ongom said if the plan failed, the only P7 candidate classes may move to Lira town so that they could make some meaningful revision with their teachers. The speaker, William Onyanga, decried rebel activity in the area saying the district will be affected mainly in the education sector. He called for peace in the area.
