Friends
When we talk about Acholi violence we need to pinpoint at the real net
effect it afflicts to people, and in this series I am going to raise the
issue of sheer fear but terror that Acholi conflict to their fellow Acholi,
and here are the numbers for the numbers have consistently failed to lie. In
the piece below a spokesman of The UN secretary general stresses that there
are people that are very innocent who are suffering. Relief workers estimate
that of the 1.4 million IDPs in Northern and Eastern Uganda, 300,000 are in
nine camps in Lira town alone, and another 200,000 in more than 10 camps in
rural areas North and East of the town. Barlonyo camp was home to 4,800
people. But this report also state that at Oguk trading center people just
ran away due to fear. Look at these numbers, about 300 Acholi attacked the
camp, and 257 people died in a single attack, 1,4 million people lost their
homes and livelihoods. And I am opining that even under Iddi Amins
government, there was never a part let alone a section of Uganda that was
ever terrorized is this manner. The violence Acholi inflicted on their own
people must always remind all of us how violent Acholi are. IRIN posted this
piece out of Lira.
Acholi violence is real and we so need to discuss it very candidly.
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Uganda: Fear sends scores of internally displaced people fleeing from camps
into Lira town
by IRIN NEWS, Lira
Fear sends scores of internally displaced people fleeing from camps into
Lira town
Scores of internally displaced people (IDPs) living in camps near Lira town,
on Tuesday took flight to seek refuge in the town centre, alongside students
from a nearby boarding school who also flocked in to join the thousands of
other IDPs already living there, relief workers and local officials said.
At Oguk trading centre near the stricken Barlonyo camp, UN agencies and NGOs
are registering and giving aid to at least 2,500 IDPs who fled Saturday's
massacre by rebels of at least 200 IDPs at the camp. This most devastating
massacre of civilians so far during the 18-year conflict in northern Uganda,
was perpetrated by about 300 Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels who,
dressed like regular army soldiers and armed with assault rifles and
artillery, attacked the Barlonyo camp, 26 km north of Lira town, and
overpowered the local Amuka militia posted there to protect it. The rebels
burned many of the IDPs alive by setting fire to their thatched huts after
ordering them into their homes at gunpoint. Other IDPs, who were trying to
flee, were shot, bludgeoned or hacked to death by the rebels wielding clubs,
machetes and AK-47s. Local leaders counted at last 192 bodies at the scene.
Relief workers told IRIN staff from the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA), the World Food Programme, the UN Children's Fund , and various NGOs,
including the Red Cross, Caritas and Coopid , as well as local leaders were
meeting in Lira, 380 km north of the capital, Kampala, to evaluate the
immediate humanitarian needs of the IDPs and affected local people.
President Yoweri Museveni, who arrived in Lira on Monday night, visited Lira
Referral Hospital the following morning and made a public apology for the
massacre. Blaming his army for having allowed the attack take place, he
stressed yet again, however, that the LRA would be defeated militarily.
Roman Catholic missionaries in Lira said 32 more bodies had been discovered
near the site of Barlonyo camp. Meanwhile, another five people among the
injured in Lira hospital had died, bringing the total death toll to 257.
At UN headquarters, meanwhile, Secretary-General Kofi Annan strongly
condemned the "senseless massacre". "The Secretary-General appeals to all
those at the national and international levels who are in a position to stop
the terrible cycle of violence in northern Uganda to do their utmost to
protect innocent civilians," Fred Eckhard, his spokesman, quoted him as
saying. In Kampala, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Daouda Toure,
also condemned the attack. "The main victims of these ruthless attacks are
defenceless civilians, women and children. Over the past few years,
thousands of lives have been lost senselessly while over 1.4 million people
have lost their homes and their livelihoods. These atrocities have to come
to an end," he said. The acting UN high commissioner for human rights,
Bertrand Ramcharan, also condemned the massacre in the "strongest possible
terms", calling for "the perpetrators of this appalling crime to be brought
to justice in accordance with international norms".
OCHA said the conflict in northern and eastern Uganda had brought a
devastating impact to bear on the region. "About 75 percent of the
population, have been displaced. Children, in particular, have suffered
enormously. An estimated 30,000 children have been abducted since the mid
1990s," it said. "All children are at risk of being abducted, forced to
fight and commit atrocities, and subjected to sexual violence and sexual
slavery." "Fear of abduction and attacks prevent most people in the camps
from cultivating the land. Economic activities have largely come to a halt
and most displaced persons depend on aid for their survival. But the
provision of aid poses several challenges, among which are access to victims
and their security in places of residence," OCHA added.
Relief workers estimate that of the 1.4 million IDPs in northern and eastern
Uganda, 300,000 are in nine camps in Lira town alone, and another 200,000 in
more than 10 camps in rural areas north and east of the town. Barlonyo camp
was home to 4,800 people. The cult-like LRA, led by a reclusive mystic,
Joseph Kony, say they want to topple the government, which is dominated by
southerners, and restore power to the northern people. Yet most of the
group's atrocities are committed against defenceless civilians, usually
fellow Acholis. Kony claims to have magic powers derived from the Holy
Spirit, and manipulates beliefs in witchcraft to instill fear in his
followers.
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
Stay in the forum for Series two hundred and fifty four is on the way
------>
EM
On the 49th Parallel
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in
anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni
katika machafuko"
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