Uganda People Congress
Washington DC Bureau
February 23, 2004
Fellow citizens:
I address you while in a state of profound shock and dismay as a result of events which has happened in our country in the Last 48 hours.
You are by now aware that over two hundred of our fellow citizens in Lango, Northern Uganda, were murdered in cold blood by the so called "rebels" of the LRA.
This so called "rebels" many of whom were dressed in UPDF Army Uniform and . Carried and used sophisticated weapons including B-10, artilleries, Antiaircraft guns which only an organized national army such as the UPDF could have.
This leads to a wild spread speculation among Ugandans, including my self, that this so called " LRA rebels" who are carrying out atrocities against our people, are actualklu\y elements of Yoweri Museveni UPDF.
It does appear that Museveni and his UPDF are intent upon punishing the Lango, for none other then the reason that the Lango are staunch supporters of his opponents in Uganda Political scene.
You Know as well as I do that prominent leadership of Uganda Peoples Congress comes from Lango. Museveni has therefore calculated that came election time in Uganda the population of the Lango would have been greatly reduced so much so that votes of the people from this area would be insignificant against him and the NRM military dictatorship to affect any change. More those who would vote would be greatly intimidated to vote" the right way"
My party, and your Party, the Uganda Peoples Congress has relentlessly and always advocated to members of the International Community and to the regime in Kampala, that the conflict in Northern and Eastern Uganda should and must be resolved through peaceful negotiated means.
Unfortunately, the NRM Military regime in Kampala, because of it's proclivity to promote violence, has time and time again refused to heed any advise from the UPC or other members of the Uganda Opposition, let alone advise of the religious leaders.
The NRM regime continues to issues statements and claims that it would resolve the conflict in northern Uganda through military means...we are told that the days of the so called "rebels" are numbered ... that the activities of the rebels are that of a dying horse.
In the meantime, our people continue to die en-mass. 50 here..200 there, 75 here...100 there. Nobody seems to care about this fact. Not the US, Britain, Germany, and other members of the International Community. To this members of the International Community it is business as usual..the world moves on.
But , we who are losing lives every single day, feel the pain..we feel the suffering.
Fellow citizens in Lango, I would like to tell you that I share in your pain.. in your suffering. Even though the world has abandoned us, let rest assure that we shall and will overcome ... nothing lasts for ever.
God bless you all...and my the souls of your loved ones rest in peace.
Matek
PPc Member of the UPC
"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
