[allAfrica.com]  [Leon_H._Sullivan_Summit]


Kony Rebels Drown 45 Children in River

The Monitor (Kampala)
NEWS
July 14, 2003
Posted to the web July 14, 2003

By Richard M. Kavuma & Patrick Elobu Angonu
Kampala
Rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army yesterday attacked the Aliwang Catholic
Mission, in Otuke County, Lira district.
The Otuke MP, Mr Omara Atubo, said that three people were killed and about 40
abducted.
The rebels attacked in the wee hours of Sunday.
Aliwang, with a health centre, a secondary school and an army unit had hitherto
been considered "safe", according to Atubo.
However UPDF 5th Division spokesman, Lt. Chris Magezi, would not confirm the
incident.
He said that the army was present in Otuke and pursuing the rebels.
Meanwhile, information emerged yesterday that the LRA drowned up to 45 children
in the Moroto river two weeks ago.
Obalanga LC-V Councillor, Mr Julius Ochen, said that he had received
information indicating that about 45 bodies (mostly of children) were found
floating in the river in Orum sub-county.
According to the vice-chairman of the National NGO Forum, Mr Santos Labeja, the
rebels were trying to cross into Lango under hot pursuit by the UPDF.
Quoting his brother-in-law, who reportedly managed to swim to safety, Labeja
said that the rebels chained the children like slaves before pushing them into
the water.
The water was however too high for them, and 45 of them drowned.

   

  =============================================================================
  Copyright © 2003 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica
                         Global Media (allAfrica.com).
  =============================================================================