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Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 11:27
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Subject: ugnet_: Death Threats Rock UK
Acholi-New Vision-11/11/2002
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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