LETTER TO THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL
Last updated : 29 Aug 2008, Kampala
By JC Amone
LONDON, UK.
20 August 2008
His Excellency Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General
United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
U.S.A.
Your Excellency
Re: Let My People Go!
I am privileged to call upon you to command the Dictatorship in Kampala, to release Acholis and Let My People go back to their Ancestral Land and resettle in their respective traditional homesteads in Northern Uganda, from where they were brutally herded by the NRM regime, to perish in the concentration camps.
As the Guardian of the International Law, Your Excellency is very well placed to use all the means available within your powers, to protect the left-over of my Acholi people, from extinction; the genocide of which was carefully planned, viciously orchestrated and overtly continued to be implemented to precision by the unrepentant NRM regime in Kampala, in the full view and silent enjoyment of the International community of nations.
I am heart-broken; write further to my letter of appeal to you recently dated 9 April 2008, in which I catalogued for your attention and urgent action, concerns and representations of all Acholi people originating from Uganda and indeed, that of Acholi Association, being a legally constituted organisation advocating for Acholi Welfare and Well-being, Human Rights and Development. Now, I want to tackle with you the contentious issue of releasing Acholi people from encampment to their ancestral homes, fully compensated:
1. The Responsibility for Acholi Justice is a Divine Obligation under the Sun, bestowed upon you as a World leader, by God.
You may not yet believe in God, which is irrelevant to the existence and the working powers of the Most High immortal; the Almighty God, the same creator of the Heavens and the Earth, who has given life freely to all mankind including the Acholis, you and I. The same God has the ultimate prerogative and unquestionable power to take away any life, at His Will. As you read this script, may the same God burden you to know that you are under obligation to Let Acholi People go free from captivity, ordained to build His Temple and worship Him? I pray God for a “Moses” to Acholi, who will be such a blessed and whichever Dictator in Kampala continuously disobeys and resists instructions to let my people go, will not be blamed for the consequences of their own actions (Exodus 11:1-8).
Acholi people detained in the concentration camps must be overtly released immediately, in the full view of the ill informed but horrified, speechless world community of peaceful nations. They must neither be suppressed nor quietly sneaked back, the way they were herded to the death camps by the NRM regime, more than ten years ago. The world is yet to witness genocide committed against Acholi, to be documented and published. Any illegitimate authorities must not interfere with the Reconstruction of Acholi communal life, but left to the Acholis themselves, to enable them rebuild the walls of their traditional livelihood as once the greatest and industrious Uganda community. Lost years of the Individual Acholi must be fully compensated; in the same way, Families and all Acholi Clans, forcefully herded from their communal settlements, to camps must be compensated for the years lost in captivity (Neh.1-5).
Remember also, that many have repeatedly complained against Genocide committed against Acholi people to you and other defiant world leaders, but world leaders of today have stubbornly not heeded our grievances. For that reason Acholi people have now turned to petition God Himself, and we believe our prayer will be swiftly answered timely (Habakkuk 1:1-10).
Surely, God is not a respecter of man; He judges the wicked, oppressors, and nations alike. No power on earth is above that of the Almighty God. His Word that is Alive will not (by exception) return void for the Acholis, but will come to pass, for this generation to be witness (Psalms 94:1-24).
The Word of God is that He is Husband to Widows and Father to Orphans. Acholi people have been struggling against the most destructive Evil ever. We the Acholi Orphans and Widows have cried and knelt down before the Almighty God, the avenger of the oppression against us; His Word says vengeance is His. God stands and will avenge for Acholis (Malachi 4:1-6).
2. Museveni must be indicted to The Hague, for charges of Massacres, Herding and Detaining Acholis in the Concentration Camps, blatantly acts of Genocide and Crime against Humanity.
By all legal standards and description; massacres, planning, orchestration, the forceful herding and encampment of Acholi people by the NRM regime in Kampala, to perish in the concentration camps for over a decade, are incontestable acts of Genocide. Should there be debatable and different description of those actions commanded by the Dictator regime, Yoweri Museveni must be allowed to prove his and military gangsters’ innocence, in the International Courts of Justice, at The Hague.
The NRA/M hatred for Acholi people worsened from 1981 when Museveni assumed a guerrilla fighter status against the democratically elected UPC government, on the false claims of election rigging. The unelectable self- proclaimed General Museveni has continuously headed and shamelessly conducted Western-backed, Northern Ugandan, most bloody and reckless military hegemony in the history of Uganda, arrogantly confronting insolence against the hard-working Acholi people of Northern Uganda, with intent to ethnically cleanse the Acholis, as an able opposition entity.
Yoweri Museveni has been quoted repeatedly of proudly swearing to wipe out the Acholis. Indeed, as he says he has many ways of dealing with his enemies, General Museveni has actively invalidated at least three generations of Acholis in the silent view of the International community, and still forcefully takes the surviving able-bodied ethnic Acholis to die in meaningless wars in Rwanda, Congo, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Iraq, to mention but a few. If those are not examples of crime against humanity, acts of ethnic cleansing, what could the shielding UN be calling them?
If you had ever visited Gulu town and not seen the painfully Night Commuting children of Acholi, the commonly assumed understanding about this lost generation is that the children are running away from LRA. Yes, that may also be the case, but have you ever asked yourself questions including whatever have happened to the parents of these children? Is any government responsible for protecting its citizens and their properties?
If all what has, and continue to take place in Acholiland (Uganda) had taken place in Germany or South Korea, what would have happened? Would General Museveni and his gangsters not face the long arm of International Justice? If UN/ICC/you will not cause this Darling of the West to face The Hague, what then in your learned opinion would be genuine and alternative peoples’ justice for the Victimised Acholi people? The assurances all the victims of the Dictator want from you is honesty, not Western double standards of punishing victims and protecting culprits.
3. Peace Talks or No Talks between the NRM/LRA, Acholi People Must Be Released Immediately, From the Concentration Camps.
The release of Acholi people from the concentration camps to where they were herded, and detained by the NRM regime in Kampala, must not be linked to signing or not, of any Peace Pact between Kampala and the opposition LRA. In the first place, the detained Acholi civilians are mere victims; completely innocent and impartial of the conflict between the warring parties, they are vulnerable and purely seeking their rights to peace that they have been denied. The assumption, if left in the villages, the Acholi civilians would not be safe from the LRA, is blatant NRM lie.
The Dictator Yoweri Museveni and the NRM regime must be stopped from using Acholi civilians as their Human Shields and bargaining Chips for the regime’s failed policy in the country, particularly in Northern Uganda. Should one peddle the notion that Acholi civilians have been affronted by both the NRM and LRA, then as victims, they should be allowed to testify but must be allowed to do so independently, as witnesses to the cases of Genocide and crime against humanity, to be brought against Museveni and his NRM criminal regime at an appointed time. If the UN seriously wants to neutrally make fully brokered peace between both the warring parties, then you should not shy away from pursuing the very root causes of the crises, as stated in my previous letter to you dated 09/04/08. In that event, the safeties of civilian Acholis must be reassured, to become explicate, integral part of any negotiations you intend the warring parties to make.
In circumstances where there the UN fails to mediate and there is going to be neither harmony nor Pact between the NRM/LRA warring parties in Uganda, Acholi civil populace must never again be targeted or uprooted from their traditional land, by any authorities, NRM or whoever. Acholi people must be free now and allowed under the provisions of the International Law, to resettle and conduct their own independent cultural, social and economic activities, uninterrupted by anybody or grouping. We foresee that negation repeatedly of the will of Acholi people for peace, stability and development that they deserve and are legally entitled to, would mean courting further damaging, protracted conflict in Uganda, with more serious consequences in Africa, which the UN may in the future find very difficult to negotiate and/or intervene forcefully and stop.
4. Acholi People, being the Traditional Owners of Acholiland are the unquestionable owners of the Oil and Minerals in their land.
The core reason for the NRM regime in Kampala detaining Acholis to die in the concentration camps is massive Oil and Minerals in Acholiland; which triggered immoral western business interests, calmed by Museveni. Whatever their business interests, Acholi Humanity is priority to any Western economic values; the Western governments and corporations must that are involved and are encouraging the Dictatorship must back-off.
Drilling oil and mining minerals on Acholiland by any domestic or foreign corporations must wait Acholi resettlement back from the concentration camps, the reestablishment of peace in Acholiland and the formation of legitimate government, and get fully negotiated consent of Acholi traditional land owners, to tape into their wealth. Violation of Acholi traditional land owners’ rights to their land-use will be direct grabbing of Acholiland and stealing their natural resources, without consent. That would be illegal denial of peace; unprecedented provocation of violence.
5. The continuous depopulation of Acholiland for the Settlement of Foreigners is Criminal Conspiracy, and will not be tolerated.
Commercial Farmers whether those ejected from South Africa, Zimbabwe, or are of Indian origin behind whom the NRM regime big-shots want to hide and conduct their dirty business, with intent to enslave Acholis to Work on grabbed-land (Acholiland), is forbidden business in Acholiland.
It is worth repeating that Acholi interned in the concentration camps must be released immediately to enable them return and resettle on their traditional ancestral land & officially empowered through compensation, to apply farming methods of their own individual preferences and choice.
The recent flooding of well-armed herdsmen of the Tutsi tribesmen of Museveni, with cattle grazing them on Acholiland that was evacuated by the Acholi people, detained in the concentration camps, has been recorded as an attempt by Museveni and his NRM regime, to resettle Acholiland with foreigners, especially Tutsis from around Africa. That is a criminal act of grabbing Acholiland and replacing original Acholi Landowners with his Tutsi tribe of Herdsmen. It is a sad exercise representative of ethnic cleansing. These criminal activities must be stopped, forthwith.
The increased spreading of Hepatitis E, an epidemic that has never been in Acholiland for generations, but has now come in the 21st Century when Acholis are beleaguered, is criminal attempt to wipe out the Acholis; first it was HIV/AIDS, then Ebola, now Hepatitis, where is the WHO looking?
6. Military Pact between the NRM regime and some Foreign States, remain the most single Source of Threat to Peace and Stability of the East African Region and the survival of Acholis.
Having signed many Military Pacts with some adventurous governments, which agree to undertake joint military operations with forces of the NRM regime, while others merely continue to sell record supply of arms; General Museveni has continued to bolster his military Dictator might, pursuing a venture vehemently to get rid of the Acholi power base-people.
As Commander in Chief of the UPDF (formerly NRA), Yoweri Museveni has managed to build himself a formidable force in the agrarian East African state to fighting against civilians whoever threaten his continued Dictatorship. The immediate questions that should be raised are whether the poor East African nation really needs military hegemony or genuine Democracy to prevail, for her to take care of the beleaguered citizens?
Secondly, the countries that sign Military Pacts and supply classic military equipments don’t just want to sell; they form active part of the conspiracy for Genocide against Acholi people. Like any other endangered peoples of the world, what should Acholi people’s natural reaction be? Will the UN label civil Acholi population who defend themselves against Museveni’s hegemony as provokers or defenders of peace & Freedom?
7. General Museveni Must be Stopped from Participating in, and Contesting yet another Round of Gimmick Elections, in Uganda.
Through the use of armed violence and false propaganda against elected government, General Museveni shot his way to bloody power in Uganda, in Jan 1986, amidst support and sustained Western-government backings.
To-date, the NRM led by the same Dictator Museveni still hungers for state power and growing African regional ambitions, as well as illegally amassing wealth, mainly through corruption. Recent reports from Kampala reveal that Museveni’s Generals are preparing his 4th Term Presidential elections campaigns for 2011.
Not surprisingly enough, none other than his likes, General Gadhafi, earlier voiced support for a Lifetime Presidency in Uganda, for Museveni. This dictatorial lifetime burden is not what Acholis people will tolerate.
Museveni is a heavy “Yoke around the Neck of Acholi people and the Yoke must be broken.” For Acholi people to experience peace and stability in Uganda and worldwide, Museveni must be stopped at all costs. If the UN does not do so through your esteemed offices, but rather prefer to continue doing dirty business with him on our dead bodies, then the UN is indirectly encouraging Acholis to unilaterally take self-defence actions.
Being a leader puppet to the West, General Museveni is capable of doing anything demanded by Western governments, so long as they can promise to sustain him in power. This is a danger unfolding to the future of Democracy in Uganda, a dictatorial nature of future Africa. It must end.
8. The Strategies and Degree of Schemes to grab Acholi Land has Escalated with the NRM Regime employing the UPDF Generals.
The highest level of the NRM regime decision makers in Kampala continuously makes attempts to Grab Acholi Land, using every available means and strategies. The Dictator Regime leaders have now turned their ominous strategies by using the rude senior UPDF military commanders; to claim large chunks of land in their individual names or companies, deploy soldiers on guard, as if those large lands really belong to them. What evidence do they have to prove their legal rights to these chunks of lands-None? They only have the Dictator’s power backing according to evil plans drawn-up and directed from Kampala/State House.
The Dictator Regime is also manipulating some naive Traditional Chiefs who are politically ill-informed and unfortunately corruptly dependent on the Dictatorship for handouts, to help sensitise the already traumatised Acholi population with false propaganda about would be “benefits” to them, of commercial farming on their land, not knowing Acholi people would eventually turn into farm-slaves on their own land, should it occur.
Initial attempts to legally grab Acholiland through use of parliamentary Land Bill stalled due to credible challenges and competent, harsh national opposition, giving room for more of the brutal strategies, to sprout.
The majority Acholis are resentfully opposed to the NRM Regime’s Land-Grab policy; they need international support to prevent Land-Grabbed.
9. Famine Will Engulf the Acholi People in Uganda next year, should they not be released to return to their Ancestral Land.
The continued shameful detention of Acholi people in the concentration camps by the NRM Dictator Regime means that Acholi people will imminently be devastated world victims of starvation from famine next year, when the international community will be hit by severe starvation. Resettling the innocent Acholi people back to their customary land from where they were hunted and herded for political detention will mean sure pre-emptive way to prevent such natural catastrophe from Acholi people, who have been victimised already, for decades of wasteful life.
Acholi people are traditionally industrious and have the love to work on their land peacefully. They must return compensated fully, to enable them till the land and produce food for themselves, and also supply the world.
10. The Muzzled and Weak Opposition in Parliament means the NRM and Museveni will continue to Annihilate Acholi people, Bully Ugandans and Rule the Country for Life.
The political calamities continuing to face Acholi people derive from the weakness of opposition leadership and representation in the so-called Parliament. Whenever and wherever opposition accepts bribe in whatever form, the voice of the voiceless is silenced, dead. In any Democratic System sincerely responsible for the electorates, popularly acceptable conduct especially of opposition representatives in the House/s must be that portrays would be an alternative better government, to the one they oppose/criticise.
With the standard of the current opposition to the NRM Dictator regime in Kampala, Acholi people have no hope for any political regime change, or peaceful transition to real Democracy, therefore no hope. Museveni and company must be stopped at all costs, if Acholi people are to survive.
Please kindly acknowledge receipt and advise on possible UN actions that you will consider, following this second appeal to your representation.
Yours Sincerely
JC Amone
Chairman
ACHOLI ASSOCIATION
LONDON, UK.
Tel: +447983078330
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