Lango leaders deny plot
Feb 26, 2004
THE Lango political, religious and cultural leaders have denied a pre-meditated and organised plan to kill Acholi living in the area.
By John Kakande
THE Lango political, religious and cultural leaders have denied a pre-meditated and organised plan to kill Acholi living in the area.
In a statement in Lira yesterday, the leaders said of the five people killed in the Wednesday riot, only one, Joseph Banya from Pader, was an Acholi. The others were Langi.
The leaders, however, strongly condemned a section of the crowd, which turned lawless during what they called a well-intentioned peace march.
The statement was signed by the Lira district chairperson, Franco Ojur, Bishop John Charles Odurkami, the head of Lango Religious Leaders Forum, Omara Atubo, the vice-chairperson of the Lango parliamentary group and Angelo Okello Ajok, the cultural leader. Minister Okot Ogong said yesterday he did not incite the rioting.
The leaders identified some of the dead Langi as James Obal, Alex Kali and Sadik Ayang.
Those reportedly killed by security forces were Sadik Ayang and James Obal.
“Following the massacre in the IPD camp at Barlonyo, which to date has left 239 innocent civilians dead, Lira district leaders met last Monday and unanimously declared one week of mourning,†the statement said.
“It was agreed yesterday’s (Wednesday) activities should be a peace march and prayers, which was also sanctioned by the Police.
Unfortunately, the peace march turned riotous, forcing the prayers to be abandoned. The Police and army were forced to fire to disperse the rowdy crowds,†it added.
“Five people were most unfortunately killed. Two have been identified as Richard Obal, a Langi and Alex Kali, a Langi. Out of the five, two persons were killed by security forces,†the leaders said.
“We deny any organised plan to kill the Acholis living in Lango, which is backed by the low number of those killed,†they said.
They called on the people of Lango and Acholi to live in peace and that the situation was back to normal.
They also called on the Government to protect the people of Lango and end the war.
THE Lango political, religious and cultural leaders have denied a pre-meditated and organised plan to kill Acholi living in the area.
In a statement in Lira yesterday, the leaders said of the five people killed in the Wednesday riot, only one, Joseph Banya from Pader, was an Acholi. The others were Langi.
The leaders, however, strongly condemned a section of the crowd, which turned lawless during what they called a well-intentioned peace march.
The statement was signed by the Lira district chairperson, Franco Ojur, Bishop John Charles Odurkami, the head of Lango Religious Leaders Forum, Omara Atubo, the vice-chairperson of the Lango parliamentary group and Angelo Okello Ajok, the cultural leader. Minister Okot Ogong said yesterday he did not incite the rioting.
The leaders identified some of the dead Langi as James Obal, Alex Kali and Sadik Ayang.
Those reportedly killed by security forces were Sadik Ayang and James Obal.
“Following the massacre in the IPD camp at Barlonyo, which to date has left 239 innocent civilians dead, Lira district leaders met last Monday and unanimously declared one week of mourning,†the statement said.
“It was agreed yesterday’s (Wednesday) activities should be a peace march and prayers, which was also sanctioned by the Police.
Unfortunately, the peace march turned riotous, forcing the prayers to be abandoned. The Police and army were forced to fire to disperse the rowdy crowds,†it added.
“Five people were most unfortunately killed. Two have been identified as Richard Obal, a Langi and Alex Kali, a Langi. Out of the five, two persons were killed by security forces,†the leaders said.
“We deny any organised plan to kill the Acholis living in Lango, which is backed by the low number of those killed,†they said.
They called on the people of Lango and Acholi to live in peace and that the situation was back to normal.
They also called on the Government to protect the people of Lango and end the war.