UGANDAÂÂ22/2/2004Â16:36
BARLONYO MASSACRE: 173 DEAD
The rebels of LRA (lordâs Resistance Army) have carried out a violent attack on âBarlonyo Campâ for displaced people in Ogur, 25 kilometres northeast of Lira in northern Uganda. So far, the number of dead stands at 173, although the toll may rise; the wounded - around 70 - have been taken to the district hospital in Lira and to âOgur health centreâ. The news comes from Father Sebhat Ayele, a Comboni missionary from Eritrea who has served in the parish of Ngeta and in the local diocesan catechism centre for many years. The missionary arrived at the site of the massacre this morning at 10.00 local time. âThe number of dead was terrifying, many of the victims were lying charred inside their huts, which were still smouldering,â he told MISNA. âThe attack began at 17.00 yesterday. The rebels bombarded the camp for about 15 minutes, forcing the civilian militia to pull back. The âolumâ (meaning âgrassâ, as the rebels are called in the local Acholi language) then entered the camp, which contained around 5,000 people, many of whom women, children and the elderly. Unfortunately, rather than fleeing, the civilians shut themselves into their huts, which were then besieged by the cruel aggressors for over three hours.â The missionary continued: âThere are no words to describe what I saw at Barlonyo.â Witnessesâ report that the rebels numbered around 100; most of them were allegedly children or adolescents. The victims include 11 militias and a local Red Cross worker from Uganda, called Albino Opera. âIn addition to those who died in the flames, dozens of civilians were also killed at short range,â said Father Sebhat. The international community cannot continue to ignore this war,â he added, stressing that âit is the duty of the government of Kampala to guarantee the safety of these poor people! The silence surrounding this war is a major sin against God and against mankind!â Two weeks ago, the rebels of LRA carried out another massacre, in Abia, also in the Lira district, killing numerous civilians.
[LC]
"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
