entree


Heritiers de la Justice, a.s.b.l.Service of protestant churches for peace and human rights, 211 Av. Patrice Lumumba/BUKAVU


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DO YOU REMEMBER THIS?If not please click here Civilians suffering in the East of Congo: shocking images, internationsl diplomacy and memorial service for the victims (May, 19,2001 6pm) The American-based human rights organisation known as 'Human Rights Watch' has just addressed a letter to the United States' Secretary of State, Colin Powells, in provision of his coming visit to Africa. Among other countries to be visited by the US Secretary of States is Uganda. For this reason Human Rights Watch brought to the attention of Mr. Powells the following concerns with regards to the involvement of Uganda in the Congo conflict. "...Of particular concern is Uganda's role in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Ugandan military forces have played a decisive role in local affairs in the areas under their occupation. Within the context of the broader war and the continuing political conflicts, a small-scale dispute over land between Hema and Lendu peoples in northeastern DRC has grown in scale and intensity. The Hema were thought to enjoy general support from the Ugandans, attributed to a supposed ethnic bond between the Hema of the DRC and those of Uganda. From the first violence in June 1999 through early 2000, an estimated 7,000 persons were killed and another 150,000 were displaced. In the most recent incident of violence in January 2001, another 400 people were killed during one day of violence in Bunia and at least 30,000 people were forced to flee the region. The assistance of Ugandan soldiers as well as the provision of training and arms to local forces resulted in a larger number of civilian casualties in these conflicts than would otherwise have been the case. All parties to the conflict, including the Ugandans, recruited and trained children to serve as soldiers. A recent U.N. report documented Uganda's role in the illicit exploitation of Congo's natural resources. Uganda has long benefited from substantial U.S. support, not just because of its success in promoting economic development, but also because it offered assistance in curbing the power of Sudan. Throughout the crisis in the Congo, the U.S. has relied on "quiet diplomacy" to raise concerns about human rights with the Ugandan government. Although U.S. officials maintain that they have criticized Ugandan conduct in the DRC, including in meetings with President Museveni, they have shunned any negative comment that might embarrass the Ugandan government. In so doing, they have missed numerous opportunities to underline concerns about human rights abuses and to insist on accountability for them. We urge you to use your visit to Uganda to raise these concerns about human rights, the reported involved of Ugandan soldiers in war crimes in Congo, and Uganda's role in the resource exploitation. Your public posture on these issues could contribute to changing the perception of U.S. bias in the region. We thank you for your attention to these important issues. Sincerely, ...." cc: Ambassador Nancy Powell, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frasier, Senior Director for Africa, National Security Council Bernd McConnell, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs For the last three years, Heritiers de la Justice has been publishing report on the hard conditions, and crimes against humanity that are being committed in the eastern part of the Congo in general and the Kivu region in particular. Today the situation has not changed that much. On contrary, as the following shocking images put together by two journalists of AF and Christian Science Monitor respectively reveal the civilians populations of the eastern part of the Congo continue to pay with their lives the cost of the war, which is emerging as one of the greatest ever African catastrophe. All these images are of Congolese children. They were all taken late last month in the eastern part of the Congo> Nothing can justify what these images are showing. Those responsible for these acts should not only be known but also taken accountable. In Kivu, this week has been characterised by the death of 16 civilians and more than 11 other injured following the shelling of Mdunda, a village located between Sange and Kiliba in the District of Uvira, South Kivu region. The shelling is reported to has been carried out by the Burundian army, which occupies an important part of this part of the Congo. Most of the victims are said to be fishermen who were caught fishing on the Ruzizi river, on border between Congo and Burundi. This week the town of Bukavu, the main town of the South Kivu region of the Congo, held a memorial service in memory of the victims of the Katogota massacre of the civilian populations by the rebel movement RCD and its occupying ally the rwandese army. During the service, the names of all the victims were red out. The participants to the service shared the view that the civilian victims of the present conflict tearing apart the Congo should never get forgotten. In many participants' view, these victims as well as many other uncounted symbolise the refusal by the population to endorse the occupying regime.	ARCHIVES La Reporting on Kivu Villages Mwenga centre \| Kamituga \| Kalambi \| Baraka \| Bideka \| Ibanda-Ngweshe \| Baraka \| Ville de Bukavu \| Uvira \| Luvungi \| Kalehe \| Sange \| Lemera\| Bunyakiri \| Nyabibwe \| Kitutu \| Kalonge \| Kaziba Funders - EZE-Germany - Christian-Aid/UK - - ICCO-Hollande - Dan Church Aid/Danemark - KIOS/Finlande What is Heritiers? Objectives and Aims,... Staffs Current Projects Human Rights Reports & International Media on Kivu Human Rights Watch 1.Latest Report de Mai 2000) 2.French version Previous Report International Rescue Committee a. 1.7 million deads in 22 months (June 2000):Summary b. 1.7 millions dead in 22 months (June 2000):Whole raport ACROBAT READER Amnesty International 1. Latest Report (Juin 2000, version Anglaise) 2. East of Congo: Horror HALT! International prosecution for human rights violations 1. Hussein Habre case in Senegal 2. Hussein Habre next 3. International Criminal Court . Others Reports Links on the Congo (MONUC: UN in Congo) Observatoire de l'Afrique New Congo Net *irin*

Civilians suffering in the East of Congo: shocking images, internationsl diplomacy and memorial service for the victims (May, 19,2001 6pm)

The American-based human rights organisation known as 'Human Rights Watch' has just addressed a letter to the United States' Secretary of State, Colin Powells, in provision of his coming visit to Africa.

Among other countries to be visited by the US Secretary of States is Uganda. For this reason Human Rights Watch brought to the attention of Mr. Powells the following concerns with regards to the involvement of Uganda in the Congo conflict.

"...Of particular concern is Uganda's role in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Ugandan military forces have played a decisive role in local affairs in the areas under their occupation. Within the context of the broader war and the continuing political conflicts, a small-scale dispute over land between Hema and Lendu peoples in northeastern DRC has grown in scale and intensity. The Hema were thought to enjoy general support from the Ugandans, attributed to a supposed ethnic bond between the Hema of the DRC and those of Uganda. From the first violence in June 1999 through early 2000, an estimated 7,000 persons were killed and another 150,000 were displaced. In the most recent incident of violence in January 2001, another 400 people were killed during one day of violence in Bunia and at least 30,000 people were forced to flee the region. The assistance of Ugandan soldiers as well as the provision of training and arms to local forces resulted in a larger number of civilian casualties in these conflicts than would otherwise have been the case. All parties to the conflict, including the Ugandans, recruited and trained children to serve as soldiers. A recent U.N. report documented Uganda's role in the illicit exploitation of Congo's natural resources.

Uganda has long benefited from substantial U.S. support, not just because of its success in promoting economic development, but also because it offered assistance in curbing the power of Sudan. Throughout the crisis in the Congo, the U.S. has relied on "quiet diplomacy" to raise concerns about human rights with the Ugandan government. Although U.S. officials maintain that they have criticized Ugandan conduct in the DRC, including in meetings with President Museveni, they have shunned any negative comment that might embarrass the Ugandan government. In so doing, they have missed numerous opportunities to underline concerns about human rights abuses and to insist on accountability for them. We urge you to use your visit to Uganda to raise these concerns about human rights, the reported involved of Ugandan soldiers in war crimes in Congo, and Uganda's role in the resource exploitation. Your public posture on these issues could contribute to changing the perception of U.S. bias in the region.

cc: Ambassador Nancy Powell, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Jendayi Frasier, Senior Director for Africa, National Security Council
Bernd McConnell, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

For the last three years, Heritiers de la Justice has been publishing report on the hard conditions, and crimes against humanity that are being committed in the eastern part of the Congo in general and the Kivu region in particular.

Today the situation has not changed that much. On contrary, as the following shocking images put together by two journalists of AF and Christian Science Monitor respectively reveal the civilians populations of the eastern part of the Congo continue to pay with their lives the cost of the war, which is emerging as one of the greatest ever African catastrophe.

All these images are of Congolese children. They were all taken late last month in the eastern part of the Congo>

Nothing can justify what these images are showing. Those responsible for these acts should not only be known but also taken accountable.

In Kivu, this week has been characterised by the death of 16 civilians and more than 11 other injured following the shelling of Mdunda, a village located between Sange and Kiliba in the District of Uvira, South Kivu region. The shelling is reported to has been carried out by the Burundian army, which occupies an important part of this part of the Congo. Most of the victims are said to be fishermen who were caught fishing on the Ruzizi river, on border between Congo and Burundi.

This week the town of Bukavu, the main town of the South Kivu region of the Congo, held a memorial service in memory of the victims of the Katogota massacre of the civilian populations by the rebel movement RCD and its occupying ally the rwandese army. During the service, the names of all the victims were red out. The participants to the service shared the view that the civilian victims of the present conflict tearing apart the Congo should never get forgotten. In many participants' view, these victims as well as many other uncounted symbolise the refusal by the population to endorse the occupying regime.