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Statement by Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman
Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights
Committee on International Relations
for Hearing on:
"Suffering and Despair: Human Rights and Humanitarian
Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo"
10:15 a.m., Thursday, May 17, 2001, 2172 Rayburn
Rape. Torture. Massacres. Violence. Destruction. This is the grim reality faced by the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for almost three years -- a reality of despair and suffering witnessed first hand by Father Jean-Bosco Bahala, one of our speakers today.
As the tragedy continues to unfold, one theme permeates the discussions – inattention – that is, a war fought largely out of the world’s sight.
There have been other crises in the African continent in recent years. However, many observers quickly respond that the astonishing fact about the situation in the Congo is how long the conditions have been allowed to persist by the international community.
It is thus our hope that this hearing will help ensure that the 2.5 million reported dead by the International Rescue Committee’s survey, and all the other innocent victims unaccounted for, do not go unnoticed.
Through the session we are holding today, we hope to contribute to the efforts denouncing the violence and the violations of human rights and humanitarian law by the parties involved in the war; to join the calls for those responsible for the heinous crimes against the civilian Congolese population to be held accountable for their actions.
The imminent concern is to help bring an end to the violence, in the hope that it will bring an end to the suffering and thereby allow the humanitarian assistance to reach the innocent victims.
As Refugees International has pointed out, there are "tremendous obstacles to mounting an effective relief effort." In addition to the rebels, foreign armies, and other troops mounting continuing offensives against each other and campaigns of terror against civilians, Refugees International explains that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a massive country whose eastern provinces are far from the capitol, where most of the donor agencies have their offices.
There is little infrastructure to facilitate travel or communication. They add that the humanitarian crisis is largely one of displacement; that security concerns and poor infrastructure limit access to the displaced.
Thus, it follows that an end to the war would begin to reverse the cycle described by the World Food Programme and detailed in the IRC’s recent report-- a cycle which has 1 out of every 8 households experiencing a violent death since the start of the war, with 40% of them women and children. A cycle which has 8% or more of the population dying each year.
It also follows that an end to the war would bring an end to the use of child soldiers who are routinely forced into service and recruited in the eastern Congo by the RCD- Goma and other parties to the conflict.
Some of our witnesses today will provide details on the continuation of this abhorrent practice.
Local and international outcry has led to a shift in forced recruitment from larger towns to less visible rural areas. The armies have released some token youngsters to create a facade of adherence to public indignation. However, international observers affirm that none of the warring parties have refrained from recruiting child soldiers.
How do we help bring about an end to the violence? Should it be a regional effort? UN peacekeepers? If UN peacekeepers, how much would be enough? How would the costs of such a UN effort be paid?
Can there be an end to the war given the widespread exploitation of the country’s mineral riches by the warring parties? Can there be a genuine multilateral effort given that many donors and developed countries are facilitators or accomplices to the looting and, in turn, to the prolongation of the war?
Will an end to the violence bring long-term stability to this country? Will it lead to respect for human rights? An independent civil society? Once the immediate needs are addressed, what next?
We cannot focus exclusively on short-term concerns. We must look deeper and find an approach that will assist and support the Congolese people in laying the foundation for a future of peace – an approach that will help them achieve a stable, fully democratic and prosperous Congo.
This is particularly pertinent in light of the selection of Joseph Kabila to succeed his assassinated father. The new president has not only pledged to press ahead with the implementation of the 1999 Lusaka agreement, but has promised change within the country.
What needs to take place to achieve the goals of democratization, respect for human rights, and an independent civil society? How can the U.S. assist this process? Is the European Union approval of a grant of $110 million dollars over two years in development aid for territory under the control of the new government a wise approach?
What about the attacks on journalists in March; the murders of six Red Cross staff members in April; and the detention or disappearance of, at least, 200 political prisoners and others in government-controlled territory -- all during the first 100 days of the new Kabila administration?
Our witnesses today will assist us in answering these and other questions.
In summary, I would like to reiterate the need to elevate the profile of this conflict and the resulting humanitarian crisis; to find more effective ways to help the innocent civilians who are suffering and dying at never before seen rates; to find approaches that will address both the immediate and long-term concerns.
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
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
Links on the Congo
(MONUC:
UN in Congo)
Observatoire de l'Afrique
New Congo Net
