Bantariza calls for nationalism in war reporting
By Henry H. Ssali
Army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza has asked the media to be nationalistic while reporting conflict."When reporting the war between government forces and the LRA belligerents ask yourself, who has a socially justifiable cause," Bantariza said while speaking at the annual media convention organised by the Mass Communication Department at Makerere University at the weekend.
"You cannot be neutral between right and wrong," he said.
Bantariza admitted that during the northern war UPDF soldiers have committed some crimes against the people, but said they have been punished.
"Of course we are not angels," he said. "There are mistakes in every institution. That is why we have court martial to deal with errant soldiers."
He, however, said crimes committed by errant UPDF soldiers cannot be compared to what the LRA has done.
"There is a difference between crimes and atrocities. The UPDF has committed crimes," he said.
He said that putting Shs 780m on the 39 LRA rebel leaders' heads is not testament to the UPDF's failure to get them.
"It is one of the tactics used to enhance the recovery of a wanted criminal throughout the world," he said.
"Measure what you are writing, whether it is going to aggravate or to solve the conflict," said Presidential Press Secretary Mary Karooro Okurut.
The Monitor's Production and Multimedia Editor David Ouma Balikowa decried government�s double standards in dealing with the media.
"The media sometimes makes mistakes, but government uses a sledge-hammer on some media houses and treats others with kid gloves," he said.
December 02, 2002 04:39:02
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