UGANDAÂÂ21/2/2004Â16:27
ARCHBISHOP ODAMA RETURNS TO GULU FOLLOWING PEACE MISSION
Archbishop of Gulu and President of ARLPI (Acholi Religious Leadersâ Peace Initiative), Monsignor John Baptist Odama, returned to northern Uganda today following a long peace mission in Europe and the United States, a local source has told MISNA.
âMonsignor Odama has been absent from Gulu for around a month on a trip whose aim was to sensitise the international institutions, some countries and global public opinion to the tragedy that is playing out in the north of Uganda,â said the source.
For 18 years, the rebels of LRA (lordâs Resistance Army) led by Joseph Kony have killed and tortured tens of thousands of people (at least 100,000 dead), abducted more than 20,000 children (reduced to slavery or enlisted in the guerrilla) and displaced over one million people from their homes in the northern districts of the country.
During his mission, the Archbishop travelled âto the US, where he also met with UN officials, Canada, Belgium, where he spent time with European Union representatives, Germany, Great Britain, on the invitation of the âRoyal Institute of International Affairsâ in London, a study centre linked to the British Foreign office, and Italy, where he took part in a conference organised by the Community of SantâEgidioâ.
He was accompanied by the Anglican Bishop Emeritius of Kitgum, Baker Ochola, and a large delegation of local human rights representatives. On their return to Gulu, âMonsignor Odama and the Bishop Emeritius of Kitgum were greeted outside the cathedral by at least a thousand people, who sang and danced.
Once inside the cathedral, the Archbishop explained to the congregation that he had gone away âto take your voice on peace to everyoneâ,â the local source told MISNA, pointing out that, contrary to the international media, the Ugandan press completely ignored the journey of hope undertaken by Monsignor Odama.[LC]
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Mean while in Northern Uganda, Museveni continues with his campaigns of wars. The lastest is that the dictatorship has formed yet another militia force in Gulu known as "Elephant" Brigade to fight Kony "rebels".
Commenting to Journalist, the dictatorship, through it's Army spokesman , Muhezi has been gloating over the past couple of days that they have killed 65 "rebels" in various "battles" with "Rebels."
However there has been NO independent confirmation of Muhezi claims.
Matek
"The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest enemy of the state."
- Dr. Joseph M. Goebbels - Hitler's propaganda minister
