IS THE YEAR 2001 ON ITS WAY FOR ANOTHER 2 MILLIONS OF CIVILIANS KILLED IN THE CONGO-CONFLICT?
The civilian populations of the Kivu continue to pay the price of the Congo conflict with their lives.
Few months ego, the International Rescue Committee, an American-based non-governmental organisation, published very disturbing figures revealing the toll rate of civilians killed in the Congo conflict: More than 2 millions killed in less than 26 months.
Is the year 2001 on its way for the same figures? This is the question that the following Heritiers de la Justice's release relating to the recent events of February is raising.
February is ending with its own figures of number of civilians killed in the conflict, which is currently affecting the Congo in general, and its Kivu region in particular.
Many civilians have been killed throughout the Kivu region during February. Amongst others, our last releases documented deliberate campaigns of terror observed in rural areas and the ongoing transformation of the Kivu region into a landmine. In all these cases, and numerous unreported others, civilian live have been and continue to be lost.
In the last few days 15 civilians were shot dead by a group of men armed with machineguns at Nyamirera, in the District of Bunyakiri, northern part of the region of South Kivu.
Nine people, including 2 women and seven men, died on the scene. These victims were identified as:
1. Mr. Xavier BAGUMA, sise Izege/Walungu ;
2. Mr. MULUMEODERHWA, sise Izege/Walungu
3. Mr. MUPENDA BUHENDWA, Sise Bumbalali/Ikoma-Walungu
4. Mr. TIKISELA KASUMUKULI, sise Ikoma/Walungu
5. Mme. ZIRHANE CHAMBO, sise Mulamba/Walungu
6. Mr. LARHAKULONZA LUNU, sise Muzinzi, Burhale/Walungu
7. Mme. SARTA TENGETENGE, sise Major Vangu, Panzi/Ibanda-Bukavu
8. Mr. AKILI NTUBURA, sise Nyamarhege/Kaniola-Walungu
9. Mr. BUSIGARE MUSOLE
A number of the victims' bodies reached Bukavu, the main town of the South Kivu region, where the identification took place. Five other bodies - (bodies of five men and two women) - were handed to their relatives on the way to Bukavu.
In addition to those who lost their lives, the following civilians were injured; some of them severely:
1 Mr. BIRINGANINE BUHAMBAHAMBA, chauffeur,
2 Mme. AISHA MUNYANZI, sise Nyamugo/Bukavu
3 Mr. BASHIMBE LWABOSHI, sise Nyamarhege, Kaniola/Walungiu
4 Mr. BASHIMBE NUMUGANDA, sise Izege/Walungu
5 Mr. MICHEL BARHAFUMWA
6 Mr. BISIMWA MONGANE
Since the start of the present Congolese conflict, vehicles travelling in troubled parts of the region of South Kivu are generally accompanied by military convoys provided by the rebel movement in control of the Kivu region, namely the (RCD). The military convoys are allegedly provided in order to protect civilians and goods from attacks by various militia groups, said to be based in along side numerous of roads.
On the day of the killing of the above 15 civilians, three convoys were programmed to leave Bukavu. The first one is reported to have made its way without experiencing problems. It is the second convoy, which is reported to have left thirty minutes later after the first one, which was attacked.
The attack occurred few kilometres away from the public market of Bulambika, between the villages of Kambekete and Lwana, in the District of Bunyakiri. As said before, a group of armed men emerged suddenly out of the bushes and started firing at the car, which had on board more than thirty people, mostly traders.
February has been also marked by the arrival in Bukavu of the body of one of its youth, who died in Rwanda where he was said to have gone for training.
The victim's name is Mr. MURHEBWA MWANDULO Seraphin. He was a civil servant, working for the rebel movement RCD within the urban area of Bukavu called Kadutu. He was a single and lived in Limanga area of Bukavu.
One would remember that from the 7th to the 11th of February this year, the rebel movement in charge of the Kivu region (RCD) organised, at Bukavu, a training-meeting known as the 'Forum on Political, Economic and Social life in Kivu'. Several people from rural areas as well as urban areas were called to the meeting in question.
Following this meeting, a number of the participants, including Mr. Seraphin, were then sent or taken to Rwanda for allegedly more training. Since then reports of sudden deaths of some of these people taken to Rwanda have started emerging.
HERITIERS DE LA JUSTICE condemns this continuing trend of violations of the right to life, crimes against humanity and war crimes, which continue affect the Kivu region.
In the memory of all the civilians who have lost their lives in the current Congolese conflict HERITIERS DE LA JUSTICE, continues to press for an international justice, which should establish responsibilities in the crimes being committed in Kivu.
HERITIERS DE LA JUSITCE
27 February, 2001.
La RONDE du Kivu
Mwenga centre | Kamituga | - - Dan Church Objectifs,...
Rapport des Droits de l'Homme & Media Internationaux sur le Kivu
Human Rights Watch
>International Rescue Committee:1.7 millions mort en 22 mois (Juin 2000):Resume
International Rescue Committee:1.7 millions mort en 22 mois (Juin 2000):Rapport en entier avec ACROBAT READER
Amnesty International HALT! Tribunaux Internationaux contre les violateurs des droits de l'hommes .
Kalambi | Baraka | Bideka | Ibanda-Ngweshe
| Baraka | Ville de Bukavu |
Uvira | Luvungi
| Kalehe | Sange | Lemera| Bunyakiri
|
Nyabibwe | Kitutu | Kalonge | Kaziba
Bailleurs des fonds
/ICCO-Hollande
Aid/Danemark
Connaître Heritiers?
Staff
Projets en Cours
Human Rights Watch Rapport de Mai 2000)
Version Francaise de l'avant dernier Rapport
Amnesty International: Dernier Rapport(Juin 2000, version Anglaise)
East du Congo: Quel carnage?
Links sur le Congo
(MONUC: UN au Congo)
Observatoire de l'Afrique
New Congo Net
