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Letter to the Editor, Irish Times, 9 November 2006
Madam,
Congratulations to Vincent Browne for his excellent article on the Democratic Republic of Congo in "Elections bring hope to Congo" (Nov 1st). It is imperative that the public are informed of the atrocities carried out in this cursed country - the theatre where the world's worst humanitarian crisis since the second World War was played out, culminating in the deaths of up to five million people.
Sadly, Vincent Browne neglected one important fact: one of Ireland's greatest aid friends - Ugandan president Museveni - played a key role in this tragic loss of life.
Last year the International Court of Justice ordered Uganda to pay reparation of $10 billion to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, arising out of the unlawful occupation and plunder of the Congo's mineral wealth by Ugandan armed forces. Does it surprise you then that a nation that can write a check for $10 billion is receiving about €35 million of Irish taxpayers' money in grant aid from our Government this year alone?
The Irish Government continues to route millions of aid directly through the same Ugandan administration despite their record of gross human rights abuses, and the theft, plunder and rape of its neighbouring country. -
Yours, etc,
John O'Shea
GOAL
Dún Laoghaire.
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