Print This Page
Visit�The�Publisher's�Site
New Vision (Kampala)March 10, 2004
Posted to the web March 10, 2004 Felix Osike And Milton Olupot
Kampala
THE Parliamentary Advocacy Forum (PAFO) yesterday vowed to push head with their resistance against a third-term for a president in spite of attempts by some hooligans to disrupt their meetings.PAFO chairman Augustine Ruzindana told a press conference at Parliament that his group would not be deterred by the Friday incident in which pro-government youths beat up some PAFO members in Jinja.
"We are not going to give up. We know we are on the side of history and history will be on our side," said Ruzindana, adding that the regional, district and constituency meetings would go on as scheduled.
The MPs said they would not resort to violence even when confronted by the "rented mobs."Salaam Musumba, who survived being undressed, said they had presented video tapes of the incident to the legal and parliamentary affairs committee.MP Nandala Mafabi said he had recorded a statement with the Police.PAFO said the attack was planned by government officials.
]
Ruzindana said Jinja district Police chief Pius Mutabazi and other LC officials just looked on as the hooligans roughed them up.He said when a regime base becomes narrower, the regime turns repressive."The democratisation process has stalled and is being moved backwards and the gains are being lost. If MPs in large numbers cannot be allowed to speak in this country, who then will be allowed to speak?" he asked.Over 20 MPs attended the meeting in Jinja.
"Our methods are peaceful. We have to show superior moral rights. We have enough arguments to make our case," Ruzindana said.Jack Sabiti (Rukiga) said a senior government minister from Ankole and State House operatives were sent to Jinja a day before to mobilise the disruption. He said state minister Daudi Migereko got money from the state to mobilise the hooligans.
"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
