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Secret Photos Reveal New African Horrors

May 18, 2007 11:16 AM

Secret_photos_r_mn Documentary filmmakers in Uganda were subjected to intimidation and coercion and were the victims of break-ins while attempting to film what a former U.N. official calls "Uganda's secret genocide" in the northern part of that country. The filmmakers say these threats came from Ugandan officials and secret intelligence organizations there.

The cameraman for an American film crew, who did not want to release his name in fear of further retaliation, says he was robbed of videotapes and CDs of photos after filming major human rights abuses in Uganda last year.

The cameraman told ABC News an official had told him that "he [the official] had so many ways to deal with me in order to stop me from reporting things [that] either portrays him as a person and/or the government in a bad light."

Viewer Discretion Advised: Photos of Uganda's Secret Horrors

Despite the efforts at intimidation, the filmmakers obtained dramatic footage of what they say is fresh evidence of atrocities and inhumane living conditions in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, where millions of displaced Ugandan minorities live in squalor and disease. The filmmakers says it's a humanitarian crisis that has been covered up by the Ugandan government and largely ignored by the Western media. 

"We walked across mass graves, through an inferno of burning huts and across a field of bodies that were just left to decompose by a government that didn't even care enough to dig a hole and bury them," said Tiffany Gravel, the American director, as she recounted her trip through Uganda's northern civil war-ravaged countryside in 2006.   

The documentary, "Abila Pe," which translates from native Lwo as "The Shrine is Gone," is the story of the Acholi people who were "involved in a civil war and ends with a forgotten genocide," according to the rough DVD trailer released to ABC News.

"It's a huge conspiracy of silence about the genocide which has been committed in northern Uganda," said Olara A. Otunnu, the former U.N. undersecretary-general and special representative for children and armed conflict.

Otunnu told ABC News Gravel's documentary is important because it shows rarely seen images and tells the story about how the Ugandan government "stripped the [Acholi minority] from their homes, and those who wouldn't move were killed, and the rest were herded into concentration camps."

"The Acholi people in the camps are now dying at 1,500 deaths per week," Otunnu told ABC News.  "That's three times the death rate in Darfur. No wonder they want this covered up."

The Ugandan government, however, denies these claims. "Nobody forced anybody to come to the camps," said Col. Charles Angina from the Ugandan Embassy. "These are lies," he says.

Angina further denied any intimidation or threats toward Gravel or her film crew by the Ugandan government.

But, according to a recent report by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in northern Uganda, "approximately 1.2 million IDPs reside in overcrowded camps where mortality rates remain above emergency levels, largely as a result of inadequate water availability, poor sanitary conditions, and the spread of diseases."

The Ugandan government says it created refugee camps for displaced people who were victims of a violent, ongoing civil conflict with a rebel group from the north called the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

"Once the bad guys come, the terrorist groups come to the area, people are forced to run where they think they can have sufficient security. They become displaced because they have nothing," Angina said.

While the government and its critics argue over the death rate in the camps, both sides agree that millions have been displaced -- mostly the Acholi people -- whose cultural traditions have been nearly wiped out because of the civil war and the dislocation, according to the USAID.

Despite the intimidation and threats to her crew, Gravel hopes the images of war-torn villages and testimonials of the victims in her documentary will provide enough proof for more investigation.

"Whether or not you call what is happening in northern Uganda genocide or not, what's happening to the Acholi people is wrong. No human being should be forced to live in the conditions that the Acholi are forced to live in every day," she said.

May 18, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (177)

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Thank you, Asa Eslocker and ABC News for being one of the major media outlets to bring this to the attention of the world. If you read Article 2 of The Convention on Genocide, it is no longer a debate whether you call what Museveni has done and continues to do in Northern Uganda a genocide. For those of us who have followed this since the beginning of Museveni's rule in Uganda, it's nothing, but genocide. There is a lot more that is still not yet known to the outside world. Museveni and his supporters in the west over the years have very carefully manipulated the media to his advantage. Thank you again ABC News. Continue to do the right thing.

Posted by: Wod pa Lapit - Producer: ABILA PE (The Secret Genocide} | May 18, 2007 2:00:59 PM

I am embarrassed to be an American with all of these atrocities in the world. And all we see on television are stories about the troubles of celebrities, it's a shame that's really what most of the US cares about. All of our wasted efforts in Iraq, when we could be helping millions in Africa. Why, oh why? How about a new reality TV show where George W. gets to live for a month in one of these refugee camps?

Posted by: Dave | May 18, 2007 2:05:24 PM

Sudan currently produces about 520,000 barrels per day, and we import 5% of Uganda's oil.

Before you spout off about "war for oil" crap, please do some homework.

Just "educating" some of the commenters who posted here.

Posted by: Paige | May 18, 2007 2:09:32 PM

no, i don't care. these people are a waste of energy and resources. the less people to subjugate, the less genocide. There are too many problems here. We cannot start invading every country whose poitics we do not agree with. Saddam was a murderer and not a nice guy, but he kept those animals in iraq in their cages where they obviosly belonged.

Posted by: lee | May 18, 2007 2:10:32 PM

Kudos to those who are telling the story, exposing the truth!Another truth is that the US and donor countries have donated millions of dollars to this regime that has failed to protect its citizens and allowed them to rot in these concentration camps. The money does not get to the people and there is nothing to show for it.US and donor governments have to also be held accountable to make sure that the money that is given to the Government of Uganda is used for the purpose. What can you do? Write to your government demanding to know what programs it supports. Then ask where the evidence is that the money is being used for the purpose it is given. Keep in mind that the US government considers this abominable government of Uganda to be an ally. It knows exactly what northerners in Uganda have had to go through in the past 11 years in these wretched camps. Also keep informed: Read All Africa.com/Uganda...also read what is NOT there. Your voice when added to others DOES count!
Carolyn

Posted by: Carolyn | May 18, 2007 2:14:45 PM

For those people looking for the US govt to take a role in this situation (or Darfur for that matter) I ask one question.

Why does the world look to the US to solve their problems? When they need us they love us - when they dont need us they hate us.

Shame on all of you haters out there that cant get past your fellings to seet this for what it is - bad people doing bad things. We can't stop that from happening on our own - what the heck is the UN doing? They do NOTHING at all ...NOTHING. And the libs and the media just love them anyway.

Libs - look to yourselves for the root of all of these awful events in Africa. If it werent for wanting "peace" (a completely undefined term) so many people wouldnt die at the hands of people that dont want "peace".

Posted by: duhize | May 18, 2007 2:15:19 PM

Thank you ABC for giving these brave filmmakers a platform.

Posted by: Lisa | May 18, 2007 2:15:56 PM

"You can't solve a problem at the same level of awareness that created it." Albert E.

Posted by: Gerald | May 18, 2007 2:31:14 PM

I am so glad to see the film makers diligently pursuing to share this. It is important that our media focus on important issues than political drama. These human beings need help. Between non profits and private parties, we have the resources to end this.

Posted by: Natalie | May 18, 2007 2:42:09 PM

Everyone is asking what you can do to solve the problems when there are so many things that need attention throughout the world.

Maybe you can't give money, or go, but you can pray. Your prayers are a vital and essential part of a solution because God does care about these people and we have a responsibility if nothing else, to pray. Know that God does care about this ongoing geniside .

Posted by: Genny | May 18, 2007 2:49:01 PM

Good point Danny....

Yes, where is Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Spike Lee at? Why aren;t they on the news expressing their outrage about how their "brothers" are spilling blood of fellow blacks? Better yet, why don't they take the next flight out and visit the thousdands of families involved giving them money from their supporters?

God, they are such a fraud! There you have it people...anyone care to reply to that?

Posted by: Frank F | May 18, 2007 3:04:37 PM

Funny how western governments use the term liberation in situations like that of Iraq, but completely disregard situations like Uganda and Darfur. Saddam Hussein was bad for America and had controlled an area rich with a commodity that Americans willingly pay$3 a gallon for. This should show the intelligent American the true nature and extent of corruption within our government and the portrayal of their actions throughout the world to the American people.
Synopsis: Iraqi liberation- American economical advantages
North Korea- We have enough rice and coal
African liberations- who cares......

Posted by: Andy | May 18, 2007 3:10:48 PM

President Clinton stated that "If we had only known" in reference to Rwanda. We do know that this is a problem, Uganda. We can do something about it. It is time, NOW!

Posted by: Marcus | May 18, 2007 3:22:11 PM

Thanks to this photo report at least the true nature of the hidden genocide in Northern Uganda is being brought to the attention of the western world. Western Governments have for too long turned a blind eye to the suffering of the Acholi people. It is time the taxpayers in these countries began asking their governments why they spend their monet supporting the Uganda Government that in turn either misapproriate the funds or uses it for weapons against its own people.Why? Why? Why.

Posted by: joe nyero | May 18, 2007 3:22:19 PM

This tragedy has been known for the last twenty years. Unfortunately, in a situation where the big powers have vested interests, human lives don't count as long as it those of poor Africans in the so-called jungles. It's not the fault of the economic exploiters though, it's all the responsibility of the stooges, who allow their citizens to be massacred so that they self-interests and those of their masters are guaranteed!

Posted by: santonino banya | May 18, 2007 3:29:01 PM

Consider this. If the "Haves" of the world wish to prosper from the "Have Nots" of the world, receive a better return on investment when they don't have to deal with a stable governement that is concerned with the wellfare of the people. This short sighted view of payoffs and rewarding corruption assure that the country is available to have it's riches pillaged is what leads to a world of poverty and disenfranchised people willing to join extremist organizations.

Posted by: BooMan | May 18, 2007 3:35:14 PM

Genny,
How will praying help? Don't you think God has a plan? And if this is part of God's plan, what makes you think that he wants you to criticize his plan. I mean, what's the good in being God and having a plan for everything in the universe if everytime you get something going, here comes Genny with her stupid suggestion to change the plan? It's like you think God is too stupid to run the universe without your constant oversite and guidance.

Don't pray for God to change the plan unless you think he's too stupid to figure it out on his own. Pray for the humility to suck it up and take whatever he dishes out.

He is a JUST God!

Posted by: andrew | May 18, 2007 3:40:06 PM

Please help Buganda and carry out the same kind of investigation so that we can expose what Museveni has done throughout the past 30 years and especially in the early 80's in Luweero, Buganda. It makes me so bitter that he has managed to lie to the whole world about his role in the genocide in the North of Uganda and in Congo, Sudan and back in Luweero. Sam K. L. Kasozi

Posted by: Sam Kasozi | May 18, 2007 3:40:36 PM

Many many thanks for the endless efforts put in making this documentary, also thank you Asa Eslocker and ABC News for finally letting the rest of the world comes to light with this Genocide unfolding in Acoliland...at last those that supported the regime of Hilter of Africa, Yoweri Museveni will answer one day why they did go along with Museveni and yet the signs were written all over that Museveni is a murder. The Master Minds of the Genocide in Acoliland will have to account for their action sooner or later, now we have the evidences in print/still picture & motion picture

Posted by: AdilangAgagoAcoli | May 18, 2007 3:45:57 PM

To Genny, I'm not playing the race card. I'm white. Racism exists in this country, it's alive and well where I live. If Africans were white we would be helping them. But they're just a bunch of black people so who cares? One little white girl in South America gets kidnapped and everyone in the world is looking for her yet little black kids by the hundreds lay dead in Africa with little or no effect.

Posted by: Tony | May 18, 2007 3:53:41 PM

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