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NOVIB-supported NGOs of SOuth-Kivu under threats, and more atrocities in rural areas of Kivu
Tracts are circulating in the Uvira, the second big town of South Kivu, since last week. These tracts are said to have been produced by members of the militia known as Mai-mai. These pieces of papers, which are found almost in every corner of the town of Uvira, incriminate northern non-governmental organisation NOVIB, which provides funds to several local organisations, such as GEADES, SOCOODEFI, UGEAFI, GROUPE MILIMA, CADI, as well as a number of local churches.
The authors of the tracts in question want the incriminated organisations and their staff to put an end to the campaign of pacification and inter-ethnic pacific cohabitation, which has been on for while.
It is worth recalling that Uvira is under high tensions since April 30, 2001, when Mr. Bizima Karaha and Norbert Basengezi, Minster of interior and governor of the province of South Kivu respectively, held a political gathering of all the local administrative staff and members of various public services at the hall of the Cathedral of Uvira.
During this meeting, the Bembe tribe was portrayed as rebellious, and the Fizi area as the Head Quarter of the militia mai-mai. Accordingly, the two RCD's authorities declared that their rebel movement was determined to do all it takes to break the back borne of the resistance movement.
For the local people of Uvira, and for the population of Fizi in particular, such declarations were no more than a threat to the Bembe tribe, a war propaganda and an incitement to inter-ethnic hatred.
Civilian rural populations continue to pay with their lives for the ongoing Congo conflict.
Mr. MBENKALEBE and Ms. NYOTA, son of Mr. Rwegema and Daughter of Mr. Babunga respectively, were shot dead around their homes in Nkumba/Izege-Walungu on June 5, 2001 around 20 h, by armed men speaking Kinyarwanda. Both the victims were school children at the local school called Mulezi.
During this same incident, Mrs. M'MUTABESHA, spouse of Mr. Chisimbi, was severely wounded, and continue to receive treatment at the local hospital of Walungu. Several domestic belongings of the victims and other villagers were looted by the authors of these heinous crimes.
The area of Izege is surrounded by two military camps. In the North, there is the military camp of Mulume and that of Walungu in the south. Around 8 pm, the gunshots that caused the death of the two schools children and injured one woman were heard around all the Izege area, but the no intervention by the local police took place. Several other villages of the Izege area have been through the same type of situations without much of the intervention of the local police and armed force. This consistent inaction of the local police based in the Izege area make one wonder about the real identity of those who commit the numerous human rights violations that continue to characterise the lives of the local populations in the Izege area.
During the month of march for examplee Musakamba Kasi, Bashizi Deo, Kabi Zirimwabagabo, Kalingina, Paula Chihungu, Mushepe, Machumu, and Rudahindwa familes were visited by armed men who looted their homes. A total48 cows were also taken from the local peoples by the same invaders.
This type of actions have characterised the lives of the rural populations of south Kivu continue to be characterised by this type of acts. During the months of April and may, for example, Mr Chizera Babesha, Badarhi Babesha and Mrs. M'Banyesize, all residents of the small village of Mwendo and Kashugula in the Ibona area were arbitrarily arrested by soldiers based at Mugogo. The victims were arrested nightly and taken at the Mugogo detention centre. The victims were all told to pay 20 dollars US for their releases.
Following all these attacks on people living in most Kivu rural areas, the various massacres and other human rights violations that are taking place in various villages, many villagers have opted for leaving their villages and homes in search of a more secure environment. Many peoples from the Izege area continue to head towards Ibona, Bumbalali, Ikoma, Walungu and the town of Bukavu.
Heritiers de la Justice continue to stand by the local populations it works with and continues to call for an end to the crimes against humanity that are taking place in the Kivu region. It also continues to call for an international justice in the names of all the victims.
Heritiers de la Justice is also very concerned with the effects that the language of inter-ethnic hatred in use by the various factions of the Congolese conflict is likely to have on the already fragile and highly volatile situation in the South Kivu region. It accordingly calls on all the worrying factions to restraint themselves and preserve human lives.
Heritiers de la Justice
June 24, 2001
La Reporting on Kivu Villages
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