‘Fr Carlos Must Go’
Apr 01, 2004
The Army has insisted that Fr. Carlos Rodriguez of the Comboni Missionary in northern Uganda leave the country because of his continuous clandestine activities against the State, reports <b>Roy Pike and Grace Matsiko. </b> <br>
The Army has insisted that Fr. Carlos Rodriguez of the Comboni Missionary in northern Uganda leave the country because of his continuous clandestine activities against the State, reports Roy Pike and Grace Matsiko.
“The rest of us are waiting to hear he (Carlos) has left the country. He is busy stocking drugs in funny locations,†UPDF spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza told a government press briefing at the Office of the President, Nakasero yesterday.
Bantariza who was flanked by State minister for information Nsaba Buturo was responding to questions from journalists on the fate of Carlos who was involved in a controversy with the army. Carlos alleged that soldiers deliberately set off fire that razed Pabbo IDP camp in Gulu recently.
“If the donors have to stop giving us money because Fr. Carlos is away then Uganda has to make a decision as a country,†Bantariza told journalists.
He denied allegations contained in the report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US based organisation that the UPDF was conducting extra-judicial killings, torturing opposition members and recruiting children.
Bantariza said “The HRW is a blind organisation. They write what they don’t see†adding that the organisation was manufacturing “ghost victims of torture.†He denied claims that the army had detention centres where snakes allegedly tortured suspects. He challenged HRW to prove the allegations.
Buturo said the Government had invited HRW to set up an office to cross check the information.
He said the allegations “bear little resemblance with the facts on the groundâ€. “Following the release of the report, the Government is studying the same and will soon give its detailed response. It broadly considers the report politically motivated and ill-informed,†Buturo said.
“Which government would promote talks (with political parties) while at the same time detaining and torturing the same people it is holding talks with?†he asked.
Bantariza gave journalists a 13-page document by CMI chief, Col. Noble Mayombo, responding to allegations in the HRW report.
Ends
“The rest of us are waiting to hear he (Carlos) has left the country. He is busy stocking drugs in funny locations,†UPDF spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza told a government press briefing at the Office of the President, Nakasero yesterday.
Bantariza who was flanked by State minister for information Nsaba Buturo was responding to questions from journalists on the fate of Carlos who was involved in a controversy with the army. Carlos alleged that soldiers deliberately set off fire that razed Pabbo IDP camp in Gulu recently.
“If the donors have to stop giving us money because Fr. Carlos is away then Uganda has to make a decision as a country,†Bantariza told journalists.
He denied allegations contained in the report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US based organisation that the UPDF was conducting extra-judicial killings, torturing opposition members and recruiting children.
Bantariza said “The HRW is a blind organisation. They write what they don’t see†adding that the organisation was manufacturing “ghost victims of torture.†He denied claims that the army had detention centres where snakes allegedly tortured suspects. He challenged HRW to prove the allegations.
Buturo said the Government had invited HRW to set up an office to cross check the information.
He said the allegations “bear little resemblance with the facts on the groundâ€. “Following the release of the report, the Government is studying the same and will soon give its detailed response. It broadly considers the report politically motivated and ill-informed,†Buturo said.
“Which government would promote talks (with political parties) while at the same time detaining and torturing the same people it is holding talks with?†he asked.
Bantariza gave journalists a 13-page document by CMI chief, Col. Noble Mayombo, responding to allegations in the HRW report.
Ends