- No change in North through Christmas
- I have been reading a lot of statements like �Christmas has been peaceful in the North� or �Acholi has enjoyed calmness during the last four months� in the Ugandan press recently.
- I am afraid the reality on the ground tells a very different story. Here are some of the violent incidents I have been able to trace during the Christmas period in Acholi:
- - Dec. 21. Fierce fighting west of Minakulu in the evening. On the following day, I took two escapees to hospital who told me the story.
- - Dec. 22. Ambush in Perediam (Kitgum). One killed and three wounded. There was another ambush near Rackoko (Pader), which left one killed and two wounded. An attack in Omiya Pacwa (Pader) left five killed.
- - Dec. 24. Ambush between Puranga and Rackoko. Three killed.
- - Dec. 25. Fighting in Omiya-Anyima (Kitgum). One person was killed and several seriously wounded. I personally knew the one killed and one of the wounded, who is the LC 5 councillor of the area.
- - Dec. 26. A priest coming from Madi Opei on his way to Kitgum fell into an ambush and sustained injuries on his face. He is still in hospital. On the same day the rebels attacked Lalogi camp (Gulu) and during the fighting three civilians were killed.
- They also entered Pagad camp at night, ransacked all the shops and abducted eight people (I met two of them after being released) while the army did not react.
- - Dec. 29. Dozens of persons were abducted from villages South of Minakulu (Apach).
- - Dec. 30. Ambush between Rackoko and Kilak. One killed.
- - Dec. 31. Attack in Namokora. At least one person killed and several abducted.
- - Dec. 1. At least eight persons abducted in Kabette (Kitgum).
- I take no pleasure in putting down these records. I am the first person who would have liked the official propaganda to be true, but unfortunately this has not been the case. At most one could say that �during this Christmas season there have been comparatively fewer violent incidents�, or that such incidents have taken place, but the press - as it happens often with our war in the North - chose to be silent about the plight of these innocent victims.
- Fr Carlos Rodr�guez,
- Gulu Catholic Archdiocese.
- � 2003 The Monitor Publications
