REG ALERT: The Kivu is being transformed into a LAND MINE: more than 20 Killed in less than 7 days
Five civilians died on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 January 2001 following an explosion of two mines in South-Kivu. The explosion occurred in one of the former workers camps of the Sugar factory, known as SUCKI, a company based in the Rukoko area, District of Uvira, at the border between Burundi and Congo. DR. This incident follows another explosion of an anti-tank mine that went off around the Makobola area, on January 20, 2001 on the road Uvira-Fizi.
This new type of violence, which is taking place in the Kivu region of the Congo, has increased tensions and worries amongst an already terrified population, which have been victim of so many atrocities ranging from massacres, rapes, etc. in the last years.
In less than 7 days indeed, three mines have exploded within the Uvira District alone. The first caused the death of more than 10 people and severely damaged a number of vehicles.
Reliable sources confirm that the mine that exploded around the Makobola area was laid by the local militia called mai-mai. The mine, which allegedly contained more than 400 kg of explosives, was allegedly intended against members of the Burundian army, taking part in the Eastern Congo conflict. This section of the Burundian army is reported to shell or bomb the Luhanga village on a regular basis. The village of Luhanga is located not far from Makobola, and is allegedly occupied by some of the mai-mai militia.
The Rukoko explosion occurred few days after two other anti-tank mines exploded earlier in Sector 5 of the sugar factory's workers camps (SUCKI), killing four civilians, including thee civilian women. Amongst the victims was a wife of the local protestant vicar of Kiliba, Mr. Gustave Mushobolwa resident of Runingu area, and a local taxi-driver.
A sort of wild palm oil trees, known as mabilibili, covers the Rukoko area. According to manyof our sources and several local witnesses, these bushes serve as hideouts to armed Burundian rebel group called the "Forces Nationales pour la Liberation" (FNL). Understandably, the burundian army siding with the Congolese rebel movement (RCD) carry out regular military operations around this area.
Several other reliable sources from Kiliba indicate that most of the Ruzizi Valley, particularly the area around the borders between Burundi and the Congo, is being transformed into a land mine. The area from sector 6 of the Kiliba factory's worker camps to Mweba village, is reported to be affected the most
Since the start of this new type of violence and violations of humanitarian laws, peasants of Kivu have become unable to carry on with their ordinary activities as usual. In some areas, villagers have sacrificed their cattle to identify where mines are laid.
Recently, an armed group identified as one of the numerous local militia mai-mai raided cattle belonging to the Banyamulenge community, taking with them more than twenty heads.
The plain of Ruzizi continues thus to be a scene for many acts of violence and attacks against people as well as their properties. Last week (1-2 February) a group of armed men looted a warehouse where materials for the building of drinking water the infrastructure were stocked by a local non-governmental organisation called Solidarite Paysanne. The stock of materials was intended to provide water to more than 13 villages.
According to our local sources, no action was taken by the commander of the section of the Burundian army that is in control of this part of the Congo. The same sources indicate, on contrary, that local people were compelled to carry some of the materials up to the Nomoma, which is the checking point at the border between Burundi and the Congo.
Many people living in Kivu feel that, in addition to constituting a danger for human lives, this trend of transformation the Kivu into a land mine could hamper down the peace efforts and eventually delay the deployment of international forces (MONUC) in this part of the eastern part of the Congo.
Heritiers de la Justice regret the human lives lost so far in all this blasts, and reiterate its call for a quick and strong intervention of the International Community in the region, so that an end could be put on the crimes against humanity, war crimes and similar violations of international law taking place in the eastern part of the Congo. Heritiers de la Justice recommend also actions for the clearing the mines that are being laid in Kivu
Heritiers de la Justice
February 9, 2001 18pm
La RONDE du Kivu
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East du Congo: Quel carnage?
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