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Col. Besigye Denies Terrorist Links

The Monitor (Kampala)
NEWS
October 31, 2004
Posted to the web November 1, 2004

By David Kibirige
Kampala
Exiled former presidential candidate and leader of the Reform Agenda, Col.
Kizza Besigye has denied links with any terrorist organisation.
He was reacting to recent accusations by President Yoweri Museveni on a Kfm
interview that his nemesis was working with terrorist organisations fighting
the government of Uganda.
In a statement dated October 26, Besigye, who lives in South Africa, said
instead it is the Movement government that orchestrates terrorism.
"Once again, I take this opportunity to inform the government and people of
Uganda that I, the Reform Agenda, or FDC have no links whatsoever with
terrorist organisations or acts. Regrettably, any credible and potent political
opposition is treated by the NRM government as an enemy of the State. It is
this outlook to political opposition which will inevitably promote conflict and
violence," Besigye wrote.
He also denied government claims that he heads a rebel group called the
People's Redemption Army (PRA) with bases in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC).
"It may be recalled that it is nearly two years since the so called PRA
fighters were arrested from the DRC; up to now, none of them has ever been
tried. Therefore, a new wave of State terrorism is underway. The objective of
all these actions remains the same; to criminalise and repress political
opposition; justify the Government policy of regional aggression; and to seek
the sympathy and support of the "western" countries, especially the UK and US,"
he said.
He also repeated his perennial allegation that military hit squads are
following him in South Africa. Besigye was runner-up in the March 2001
presidential elections.

   

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