The killing of the innocent in the Congo
I hope that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was watching because this film is the strongest case yet put forward for Ireland to cease all financial aid to the Ugandan Government, something for which I have been calling for five years. The bulk of Irish men and women do not want their money given to a Government which has been so heavily involved in the plunder and death of the innocent in the Congo. The Prime Time special confirmed how deeply involved the Museveni Government is in what is arguably the most serious human rights tragedy on the planet. If, as now seems likely, the international community imposes sanctions against Uganda, Mr Ahern risks severe embarrassment during the European Presidency by persisting with financial aid to this disgraceful regime. The fact that the OECD congratulated the Irish Government for its decision to redirect money away from the Ugandan Government should also help convince Mr Ahern and his colleagues that an urgent shift in policy is required. There are other channels through which financial aid can be delivered to the vulnerable people of Uganda.
John O'Shea, GOAL, PO Box 19, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
