DEATH THREATS ROCK UK ACHOLI
By Maxwell Ochan
and Chris Omony
THE Acholi community in the UK has been gripped by fear following murder threats by suspected LRA support groups residing in London.
The threats were contained in a recent anonymous bi-monthly English language newsletter, Wii-Bye (Acholi phrase meaning �on Top of an Ant Hill�) released two weeks ago, bearing issue No. 0001/02 and posted to all the Acholi community in the UK.
The LRA�s (Lord�s Resistance Army) failure to win the hearts and minds of Acholi in London, has culminated into an evolution of terror tactics of intimidation and threats of �elimination� of some individuals suspected to be pro-movement, through implied murder threats by alleged LRA sleeper cells (support group) living in the UK.
An act of �elimination� has raised mixed feelings and reaction over the safety of some residents there.
The English language newsletter alleges that �since the 1970s, people of Acholi origin have been butchered with the help of Acholi Judases�. Thus Wii-Bye has assumed the role of naming alleged �Kaguta collaborators� in the murder of Acholi people so that they may be �eliminated.�
It further states that, �the tactical killings of Museveni is being encouraged by our own sons and daughters, this must stop� adding that, �the government is killing people and blaming it on LRA and this is typical of what Museveni did in Rwanda.� The newsletter does not disclose when and how.
Key figures on the elimination list are Kacoke Madit�s Dr. Patrick Oguru, an Acholi pro-peace lobbyist, Norbert Obonyo, a consultant and human rights activist with strong views on both LRA and government actions,
UPDF director of intelligence for the northern operation Lt. Col. Charles Otema Awany�s family, Kenneth Onekalit P�Obita, formerly a worker with the ministry of information and the proprietor of a UK employment agency �Connect Nursing.�
Others are Silver Odwar, a UK-based accountant, Jenkins Ociti, a dealer in second-hand goods and vehicles, former Uganda Nat
ional Liberation Army (UNLA)_ officer Caeser Ojok and Monday Collin Ocaya.
The list also includes Aldo Okot, a law graduate, John Can, an economist who campaigned in Gulu for the �No change� task force during the March 2001 presidential elections and Patrick Okello, a businessman.
Others not based in the UK are col. Walter Ochora, Gulu LC5 chairman, Onen Omer (brother to Ociti) and Lt. Col. Charles Awany.
Sources in the United Kingdom said the anonymity of Wii-Bye had raised a lot of doubt over the authenticity of its content, but strongly believe that the newsletter is the work of LRA Support Group and other members closely linked to the group.
Our London sources said the members of the LRA Support Group meet regularly at the Christian Alliance Centre, Seeker Street, Waterloo, London to strategise LRA operations.
Sources further said occasionally, the group is �blessed� by the presence of Nasser Ssebaggala, a former presidential aspirant in the 2001 March presidential elections.
The group is also said to defy britain�s Terrorism 2000 Act.
The act broadens its definition of terrorism to the use of threat of violence for the purpose of advancing a �political, religious or ideological cause.�
Under the new law, the definition of terrorism would include religious or ideologically motivated violence and acts such as targeting non-compliant members of the London Acholi Community through the anonymous Wii-Bye in this case.
In the newsletter�s editorial, the group undermines the efforts of religious leaders, saying, �the religious leaders in the north are not speaking up either,� comparing them to �a snake without the head.� Ends
Published on: Monday, 11th November, 2002
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