{"id":386686,"date":"2011-04-21T13:52:47","date_gmt":"2011-04-21T13:52:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/04\/21\/opposition-leader-faces-treason-charge\/"},"modified":"2011-04-21T13:52:47","modified_gmt":"2011-04-21T13:52:47","slug":"opposition-leader-faces-treason-charge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/04\/21\/opposition-leader-faces-treason-charge\/","title":{"rendered":"Opposition Leader Faces Treason Charge"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Observer<\/a> (Kampala)<\/p>\n

Edris Kiggundu<\/p>\n

20 April 2011<\/p>\n

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The police and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) operatives are piecing together treason charges against FDC president Dr Kizza Besigye, The Observer has reliably learnt.<\/p>\n

Sources close to the scheme have told The Observer that Besigye could face the charges soon–possibly even today. In fact, Besigye was supposed to be charged on Monday but prosecution was not ready with whatever evidence it wants to present.<\/p>\n

The charges arise from Besigye’s prominent role in the ‘walk to work’ campaign which has paralysed several parts of Uganda every Monday and Thursday over the last two weeks. The campaign, initiated by Activists for Change (A4C), intends to draw government’s attention to the escalating fuel and commodity prices. But the government maintains that the protestors are seeking to overthrow the establishment.<\/p>\n

President Museveni told journalists at his Rwakitura home last Saturday that Besigye’s actions amounted to treason.<\/p>\n

“If any group of people sits somewhere and says, ‘we should demonstrate to bring down an elected government’, they are committing treason”, Museveni said.<\/p>\n

Shortly after Museveni’s statement, his cabinet released a statement perpetuating the President’s line.<\/p>\n

“This group is politically motivated, trying to undermine legitimate authority, aiming at capturing power through illegitimate means. This grand plan is to hoodwink the public to believe that the opposition agitation is in their interest,” the statement read in part.<\/p>\n

It added: “Government is aware that the group intends to psychologically prepare the masses, especially the youth, for armed insurrection. Government sounds a strong warning that such actions will not be taken lightly. All those involved will be apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”<\/p>\n

On Monday, the police intercepted Besigye just a few metres from his home, soon after he had embarked on his ‘walk to work’ campaign. Realising that the police would not even let him join the main road, we have been told that Besigye opted to go back home but the arresting officers insisted that he had to answer some questions at the police station.<\/p>\n

This operation was reportedly led by plain clothed CMI officer. The same officer had been sighted at Kampala Hospital on Thursday last week, when Besigye was rushed there after sustaining rubber bullet wounds on his finger.<\/p>\n

Our sources told us that during Monday’s questioning, Besigye was asked about events relating to Thursday’s events (April 14), perhaps in an effort to establish a chain of events that can link him to treasonable activities.<\/p>\n

Vincent Ssekate, the deputy police spokesperson hinted on this on Monday, when he said that Besigye was arrested because he was being investigated over a number of cases unrelated to the protests.<\/p>\n

“Several cases are being investigated. We brought him in so that he could help us with our investigations,” Ssekate said, without elaborating.<\/p>\n

The FDC chief already faces charges of disobeying lawful orders and inciting violence. He is scheduled to appear in the Kasangati court on May 18. The director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Edward Ochom, told The Observer that he was not aware of the pending charges.<\/p>\n

“Where have you got it from? I do not know anything about it,” Ochom said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Our sources in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DDP), which handles such matters, told us that they had been told to be on the alert because anytime they could receive a police file seeking Besigye’s prosecution on treason charges.<\/p>\n

“We have to be ready for anything,” the source said.<\/p>\n

On his part, Richard Butera, the DPP, said on Tuesday that he was yet to receive such a file from the police. The FDC Vice President for Eastern Uganda, Salaamu Musumba, said the party obtained information on Monday that government intends to charge Besigye with treason.<\/p>\n

“We are waiting and you know this is a criminal government… a criminal regime that can do anything. But we are prepared for the legal challenge,” Musumba said.<\/p>\n

However, legal analysts doubt that prosecution can get enough evidence to prove that Besigye’s actions amount to treason.<\/p>\n

“I do not think it would stand any test of a competent court,” said a prominent lawyer who preferred anonymity. Yet political observers believe that the government’s intention in pursuing the treason charges would not be to secure a conviction against Besigye but rather to keep the FDC leader in check.<\/p>\n

Since it started two weeks ago, the walk to work campaign has put the government on tenterhooks and rejuvenated the political life of Besigye which had deflated following his defeat in the Febraury 18 elections.<\/p>\n

Old story<\/strong><\/p>\n

If government goes ahead and prefers treason charges against Besigye, it will be the second time in six years that the FDC leader has been accused of engaging in activities aimed at overthrowing the government.<\/p>\n

In 2005, Besigye and 10 others said to belong to the shadowy People’s Redemption Army (PRA) were charged with treason and concealment of treason in the High Court and in the General Court Martial.<\/p>\n

Two years later, in 2007, Besigye petitioned the Constitutional Court seeking the dismissal of the charges on grounds that conducting simultaneous trials in both the military and civilian courts was unconstitutional.<\/p>\n

In October last year, the court ruled in Besigye’s favour, stating that his rights had been violated and that it was unlikely he would receive a fair trial.<\/p>\n

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