UGANDA, 24 JAN 2003 (13:43)
PAJULE: REBEL ATTACK AGAINST CATHOLIC MISSION (BRIEF, CHURCH/RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS)
A violent attack was launched last night by the rebels of the LRA (lord’s Resistance Army) against Pajule (district of Pader, North Uganda). MISNA sources referred that at least 200 men of the movement headed by Joseph Kony stormed the Catholic mission, opening fire and terrorising the civilians. A bomb was thrown in a hut, killing two children, one 8-yrs-old and the other just a few months. After stealing a radio and some batteries, the Olum (‘grass’, as the rebels are called in the Acholi language) headed for the rehabilitation centre for former child-soldiers and killed a 13-yr-old girl that they had held hostage and released two weeks ago. Another child of just a few months was killed in cold blood. The violent attack went on for at least 2 hours, while the government troops preferred to remain at a distance and fire mortar shots. The LRA rebels concluded the attack with the abduction of twenty-some girls and boys, all fortunately later released. This last offensive of the Olum, that for over 15 years have been causing death and devastation in the North Ugandan Acholi districts, casts a shadow on any possibility of reaching an accord for an end to this ‘forgotten war’. (BO)
