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The Monitor (Kampala)February 24, 2004
Posted to the web February 23, 2004 Kampala Suspected Lord's Resistance Army rebels have attacked another Internally Displaced Person's (IDP) Camp in northern Uganda.Barlonyo IDP camp on Saturday afternoon became the latest victim of a Kony rebel attack.
Nearly 200 people were killed in cold blood in the camp.This attack occurred just 10kms from Abia IDP Camp, which the rebels attacked on February 6 and massacred 50 people, raises many questions.
Initial reports indicate that the rebels again came in force (about 300 fighters) and that they were dressed in uniforms similar to those of the local militia force, the Amuka Boys.
Question: Where did they get these uniforms? How did military intelligence fail to notice the movement of such a large number of people loaded with heavy equipment in broad daylight? And why didn't the army respond?
The army spokesperson says the rebels want the army, presently reportedly deployed in the field, to return to guard duty so that they can roam free in the bush.
But if we are to believe that the army is deployed in the bush to deny the rebels rear bases, where did these 300 fighters come from?The Amuka militiamen are lightly armed, possibly with only assault rifles. This force cannot match the rebels' apparent superior firepower.
We know the Uganda People's Defence Forces is known to have air capability and is also equipped with both light armoured battle vehicles and tanks.It is difficult to reconcile this with the knowledge that the LRA wreaked havoc for three hours, hardly 30 kms out of Lira town, and the fact that the army did not reinforce the outgunned militiamen.
Government must stop the continued slaughter of Ugandans.As we again join with the families of the bereaved, the country waits for answers from the government.
"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
