Page 7 - aruba-today-20220208

A7
WORLD NEWS Tuesday 8 February 2022
U.S., EU raise alarm over alleged torture by Ugandan forces

By RODNEY MUHUMUZA rupt" soldier who hopes to
Associated Press succeed his father as presi-
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — dent. Rukirabashaija, who
The European Union and writes satirical fiction, has
the United States are rais- been detained twice be-
ing alarm over torture al- fore over his work highlight-
legedly perpetrated by ing Museveni's failures. He
Uganda's security forces, was last year awarded the
with a prominent writer and PEN Pinter Prize for an inter-
government critic saying national writer of courage.
that he is a recent victim. His case has renewed focus
The EU Delegation to Ugan- on the alleged excesses of
da in a statement Monday the security forces in en-
expressed concern over forcing Museveni's author-
"a situation that for more ity.
than a year has seen a sig- Opposition politician Bobi
nificant increase of reports Wine, a popular singer who
of torture, arbitrary arrests, challenged Museveni in last
enforced disappearances, year's elections, has seized
harassment as well as at- on Rukirabashaija's troubles
tacks against human rights to urge the international
defenders, members of the community to hold Musev-
opposition and environ- eni's government account-
mental rights activists." Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, who charges that he was tortured for weeks while in detention, appears able.
That statement followed a before a court in a failed bid to have his passport returned so he could seek medical treatment "The world cannot and
abroad, at a court in Kampala, Uganda on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.
strong declaration Friday Associated Press must not watch on any lon-
from the U.S. that cited "re- ger," he said.
curring credible accounts" Rukirabashaija has posted where," he said in an ac- mented on allegations its Museveni, once praised as
of forced disappearances photos that show many count to the local Daily members held the writer. part of a new generation of
and torture by the secu- scars on his back, drawing Monitor newspaper. "That Nor has it responded to the African leaders and a long-
rity forces which "reflect anger from activists, oppo- day I thought I was dying torture allegations. time U.S. security ally, still
poorly" on the government sition politicians and others and thought of denounc- Rukirabashaija is charged has support among many
of President Yoweri Musev- who demand accountabil- ing my Ugandan citizen- with offensive communi- Ugandans for bringing rela-
eni, who has held power ity. He lost his bid to retrieve ship." He said he was forced cation allegedly targeting tive stability to the country.
since 1986. Fresh criticism his passport from the courts to stand before a camera Museveni and his son, Lt. He once criticized African
of Museveni's human rights when a magistrate ruled and apologize to members Gen. Muhoozi Kaineruga- leaders who refused to step
record comes amid torture on Monday that he had of the first family. ba, who commands Ugan- aside but has since over-
allegations by local writer not proved an urgent need Rukirabashaija's attorney da's infantry forces. seen the removal of term
Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, to travel. But the writer in- believes his client was in In a series of tweets late limits and an age limit on
who charges that he was sists he needs to get better the custody of the Special last year, Rukirabashaija the presidency in Uganda.
tortured for weeks while in care abroad. Forces Command, an army described Museveni as an Uganda's elections are of-
detention before a mag- "They started using a pair unit that protects the first election thief and Kaineru- ten marred by allegations
istrate ordered him freed of pliers and plucked flesh family. The Special Forces gaba as an overweight of fraud and abuses by se-
late last month. from my thighs and every- Command has not com- and "intellectually bank- curity forces.q

Mexican authorities evict Tijuana

migrant camp near border

By JORGE LEBRIJA "It was a relocation that were moved to the Migrant
Associated Press had to be carried out care- Integration Center shelter,
TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — fully to avoid a collapse," the Salesian project and
About a hundred mem- Tijuana Mayor Montserrat the Migrant Sanctuary,
bers of the police, National Caballero Ramírez told re- she said. "It's inhumane be-
Guard and army on Sun- porters, saying the families cause they did it at dawn
day evicted 381 migrants, were living in a state of "in- and the children were
mainly Central Americans security" for health reasons. asleep," said Mexican mi-
and Mexicans, from a Caballero Ramírez said the grant Guadalupe Omeca,
makeshift camp they had eviction was carried out who had lived in the camp
been staying in for almost peacefully and denied for seven months with her A makeshift migrant camp stands near El Chaparral pedestrian
a year in Tijuana at the U.S. that the decision to take three children, grandson border bridge in Tijuana, Mexico, Thursday, July 1, 2021.
border crossing. down the camp was in re- and her partner. Associated Press
The migrants' tents around sponse to U.S. pressure. The "El Chaparral" camp
El Chaparral crossing were "You know that Tijuana is began forming at the end for their immigration court dren, living in the makeshift
demolished with the help governed by its own legal of January 2021, with the hearings as well as for pan- camp. Last year, Mexico's
of excavators and trucks norms," she said. arrival of the Biden admin- demic health measures. National Human Rights
while their inhabitants load- The 381 migrants, made istration, after U.S. authori- Activists and humanitar- Commission urged Mexi-
ed their few belongings up of 86 families, 24 single ties began to limit the flow ian organizations had ex- can authorities to guaran-
into bags and suitcases to mothers with children, 33 of migrants in compliance pressed concerns about tee respect for the human
be transferred to three lo- men and three members with policies that force mi- the situation of the mi- rights of the migrants and
cal shelters. of the LGBT community, grants to wait in Mexico grants, many of them chil- to offer them protection. q