Besigye planning fresh demonstrations
SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 6 JUNE 2011
The Forum for Democratic Change president, Dr Kizza Besigye, has said he is gathering fresh support from the public to reactivate peaceful anti-government demonstrations seeking to bring about political reforms and address the current inflation.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Parliament yesterday, Dr Besigye asked donors to push for a meaningful dialogue between the government and the opposition to, among others, address what he called the sham February 18 national elections.
Mobilising public
“We are mobilising public opinion towards peaceful demonstrations. It is a new campaign we are launching to bring about political reforms in the country. We do not want brutal repression to continue,” Dr Besigye said. He added: “We, however, think that if development partners can play an important role to put pressure on the government to undertake dialogue and minimise violence, that would be in the interest of Ugandans.”
“We are mobilising public opinion towards peaceful demonstrations. It is a new campaign we are launching to bring about political reforms in the country. We do not want brutal repression to continue,” Dr Besigye said. He added: “We, however, think that if development partners can play an important role to put pressure on the government to undertake dialogue and minimise violence, that would be in the interest of Ugandans.”
The delegation, which is led by Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Mr Soren Pind, sought Dr Besigye’s views on the political situation in the country, governance, the February 18 elections, the recent demonstrations, corruption, and which areas needed more funding by the donors. Dr Besigye was brutally arrested by security operatives in April over the walk-to-work protests over the rising cost of fuel and food prices in the country.
Dr Besigye, however, emphasised that for change to take place, there has to be a dialogue with the regime. “We welcome dialogue with the government. What we demanded to know was for us to agree on who should be on the table and to know how whatever is decided would be implemented. But we have not heard from them and the government does not consider it important to have the dialogue. I doubt that the dialogue will materialize anytime soon,” he said. Dr Besigye was defeated by President Museveni in February’s election but he said the poll was rigged.
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