Independent daily facing court action

The Ugandan independent 'Monitor' daily newspaper, whose operations have been suspended over a controversial story, is now facing court action on charges of "publishing false information" regarding sensitive state security matters, a senior army official said on Monday. An estimated 50 soldiers, some in uniform and other dressed as civilians, last week raided the paper's premises and began to search electronic and written material, according to media reports. The raid was connected to a story in which the paper reported that a government helicopter gunship had been shot down by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) during battles in northern Uganda. The army has denied that any of its helicopters have been been shot down. "We have given them [the paper] advice verbally, informally, officially and in writing. They have ignored this advice," Major Shaban Bantariza, the Ugandan army spokesperson, told IRIN. "They must now realise that there is a law and the law must be respected." According to Bantariza, the paper had on several occasions violated provisions of the Ugandan law which cautions the media against publishing or broadcasting "false information", especially on state security. "They have published several items that are not correct. They got false information originating from enemies of Uganda's security forces and went ahead and wrote false stories. We think there should be a limit," Bantariza said. Several international press freedom organisations have condemned the army raid on the paper, acusing the government of "suppressing press freedom". Charles Onyango Obbo, the 'Monitor's' managing editor said he did not expect the paper to begin publishing soon. "I do not think the paper is going to come out for the rest of the week. That is the first step in shutting down the paper," Obbo told Uganda's Capital FM radio. Bantariza, however, said the police had not stopped the paper from publishing, but only went to the premises to obtain "vital information". He said the paper was "free" to continue publishing. Meanwhile media reports on Monday indicated that that the LRA had, during a weekend attack, killed 56 people in Pader district. According to radio Uganda, the assistant district commissioner for Gulu, Semeyo Okwir, said the rebel group - which was fleeing army attacks - gathered people on Saturday in the Kapwoni area and "started shooting at them".