Letter From a Congolese Journalist
Dear friends,
-I have been receiving hundreds of mails and phone calls asking me about the Congolese Crisis and what I think about the whole situation…
-Some of you asked me if my relations back in Congo were safe?
-I thank you all for your concerns…
1) You may notice that am rather silent about the ongoing Congo “war and crisis”
-My silence simply means that am sad, furious and tired of talking about this endless and useless Congolese crisis which keep killing us every day…
-Yes, I have lost quite a good number of friends and relations I knew and cherished to this endless and useless crisis…
2)If you could only read the reports from the International Human Rights Activists and Amnesty International on DR Congo …you will understand why I say the Congolese crisis is useless…it is rather an outside story and a created crisis to make business…
-Local Congolese people in the villages do not understand why this “endless war” has been going on and why they have to flee all the times…
-According to the Amnesty International reports, there has never been real war in Congo…all this crisis going on for years has just been an excuse to confuse the world and plunder the country’s mineral ressources…
-While pretending there is “war”…booming business, big deals and smuggling of minerals have been going on for years…The International Community seems to know about all this…
-Congolese innocent people will continue to be victims and suffer the consequences of this “fake war” for a long period of time…
-When will this “useless war” end?…maybe only when there will be no minerals and important ressources left in the country…?
-It is rather complex to understand, analyse this situation and to identify different players…
-Rebels only can’t afford this war…there may be many other secret players
behind this crisis who do not want to be identified…I don't want to give any comment beyond these points…
3)Just guess how humiliated I feel when I see all these Humanitarian aids and big lorries distributing energy biscuits to fellow Congolese men, women, children in the outskirts of Goma, Kiwandja, Rutsuru, Saki, Buhimba…and yet if you watch the background of the same areas on TV, it is all green and fertile land for farming…which means if given a chance and a good opportunity of peace, Congolese people can be able to grow all sorts of crops and nobody will need all these temporary foreign biscuits and water…
4)If you can, keep praying for peace in Congo …We started praying for peace in Congo as a family when I was 5 years old…and up to now nothing has ever improved or changed…the situation has been worsening instead…
Faustin Chongombe
posted by Blog Scholar @ 9:31 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
There is a saying..
'' Man prays, God laughs''
That said, the current situation in Kongo is a concern for anyone who has or not ties in Kongo.
We will keep praying and hoping that a lasting solution will overcome all the suffering of our brothers and sisters..
Kolo Masiya a pambola biso
A website calling for the U.N. in the Congo to immediately arrest Nkunda has been launched
The website encourages concerned people around the world to sign a petition to demand that MONUC immediately arrest Nkunda for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Nov 26, 2008 – A web site calling for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Congo (known by its French acronym MONUC) to immediately arrest Laurent Nkunda to face justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity, has been launched according to project coordinator, Amede Kyubwa.
The web site, http://www.arrestNKUNDAnow.org , provides information about war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by troups under Nkunda 's command since 2002 . The website is also launching a petition calling on concerned people around the world to demand that MONUC immediately arrest Nkunda for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The U.N.'s biggest peacekeeping mission will soon be over 20,000 in Congo "must ensure that those responsible for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian laws are brought to justice" said Mr. Kyubwa.
Nkunda is accused of multiple war crimes and crimes against humanity of which most cases are well documented by various human right organzations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. In September 2005, the Congolese government issued an arrest warrant for Nkunda, accusing him of numerous war crimes and crimes against human rights. Human Rights Watch, for example, which has been calling for his arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity since February 2006 has documented summary executions, torture and rape committed by soldiers under the command of Nkunda in Bukavu in 2004 and in Kisangani in 2002. Also armed groups loyal to warlord Nkunda have been repeatedly accused of using rape as a weapon of war and the recruitment of child soldiers, some as young as 12 after the abduction from their homes.
According to Mr. Kyubwa, NKunda continues to be involved in the committing of crimes in DRC, and in particular in the province of North Kivu, where again groups armed acting under his command are reportedly responsible for killing civilian systematically in the town of Kiwanja. The continuing horrific killing of civilians testifies that Human Rights Watch was absolutely reasonable in its warning then in 2006 and it’s today. “So long as Nkunda is at large, the civilian population remains at grave risk"
The website http://www.arrestNKUNDAnow.org encourages concerned people around the world to sign a petition to demand that MONUC immediately arrest Nkunda for war crimes and crimes against humanity. For more information please call the project coordinator in the United States , Amede Kyubwa at (916) 753 5717 or email: arrestkundanow@hotmail.com
MJPC: An Online Museum of the Victims of War in the D.R. Congo has been launched.
Sacramento, California. 12/12/2008. The new organization known as Mobilization of Justice and Peace in the D.R. Congo (MJPC) announced today the launch of phase one of its online museum of victims of the war in the D.R.Congo. According to the project coordinator of the MJPC, Amede Kyubwa, the online museum aims to expose this war, remaining virtually invisible to the outside world despite ongoing unacceptable barbarity, and aims to expose how innocent people in Congo continue to suffer massive human rights violations while armed groups responsible for these crimes go unpunished.
The online museum, available at http://www.yoursilenceoncongo.org , is currently developing its collections policy and plan to determine the scope of the collections. "The museum will make particular use of collected images/photos of the war victims and help prevent similar catastrophes in the future," said Mr. Kyubwa.
As part of denouncing the serious war crimes going unpunished in Congo, MJPC recently launched a petition to collect signatures demanding the United Nations Mission in Congo (MONUC) to immediately arrest the notorious war criminal Nkunda. Concerned citizens from around the world are signing the petition, including those from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the USA, Kenya, Rwanda, France, German, Denmark, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, Malawi, Burundi, Senegal, Nigeria, Spain, Japan, the UK, Venezuela, China, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Uganda. "There is no justification for MONUC, which has more than 17,000 troops in the DRC, to not take concrete actions to arrest Nkunda who is the subject of an international arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity since 2005," added Mr. Kyubwa.
The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains the deadliest conflict since World War II. More than 5 million people, mostly civilians, have died in the past decade, yet the war remains unknown. A particularly horrifying aspect of the conflict is the mass sexual violence being used as a weapon of war. Estimates are now at more than 1.3 million displaced people in North Kivu Province alone and there are more than 370,000 Congolese refugees who have sought safety in neighboring countries.
According to Mr. Kyubwa, the online museum is also designed to dignify victims by recognizing their suffering and raise public awareness regarding the importance of an urgent intervention in the eastern Congo to stop the ongoing impunity, sexual violence, crimes against humanity, and war crimes and to bring those responsible to justice without further delay.
About MJPC.
MJPC http://www.mjpcongo.org is a newly created organization seeking to add a voice in advocating for justice and peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To visit the online museum of victims of the war in the Congo please visit http://www.yoursilenceoncongo.org For information on signing the ongoing petition demanding the U.N. in Congo (MONUC) immediately arrest war criminal Nkunda, please visit http://www.gopetition.com/online/23604.html or our website. You may also call the project coordinator of MJPC, Amede Kyubwa at 916 753 5717.
Lancement d'un Musée en Ligne des victimes de la Guerre en R.D. CONGO
Sacramento, CALIFORNIE, le 12/12/2008. Le nouvel organisme appelé Mobilization pour la justice et la paix en RD Congo (MJPC) a annoncé aujourd'hui le lancement de la première phase de son musée en ligne des victimes de la guerre en RDC. Selon le coordinateur des projets de la MJPC, Amédé Kyubwa, le musée en ligne vise à dénoncer cette guerre qui reste pratiquement invisible au monde extérieur en dépit de la barbarie en cours inacceptable et exposer comment des personnes innocentes au Congo continuent de souffrir des violations massives des droits humains alors que les groupes armés responsables de ces crimes restent impunis.
Le musée en ligne, disponible à http://www.yoursilenceonco.org est en train de développer sa politique des collections et un plan de déterminer l'étendue des collections. "Le musée fera usage d'images / photos recueillies des victimes de la guerre au Congo pour aider à prévenir de telles catastrophes dans l'avenir" a déclaré M. Kyubwa . Dans le cadre de la dénonciation de graves crimes de guerre de commis qui restent impunis au Congo, la MJPC a récemment lancé une pétition pour recueillir des signatures demandant à la Mission des Nations Unies au Congo (MONUC) d'arrêter immédiatement le tristement célèbre criminel de guerre Nkunda maintenant. Les citoyens concernés du monde entier sont en train d signer la pétition, y compris ceux de l'Australie, Belgique, Brésil, Canada, Etats-Unis, Kenya, Rwanda, France, Allemagne, le Danemark, Allemagne, Italie, Nouvelle-Zélande, Norvège, Philippines, Afrique du Sud, Malawi , Burundi, Sénégal, Nageria, Espagne, Japon, Espagne, Royaume,Venezuela, Chine, Zimbabwe, Tanzanie, Ouganda, ... «Il n'ya pas de justification pour la MONUC qui compte plus de 17.000 troupes en RDC de ne pas prendre des mesures concrètes pour tenter d'arrêter Nkunda qui fait l'objet d'un mandat d'arrêt international pour crimes de guerre et crimes contre l'humanité depuis 2005», a ajouté M. Kyubwa
Le conflit en République démocratique du Congo reste le conflit le plus meurtrier depuis la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Plus de 5 millions de personnes en majorité des civils ont trouvé la mort en cours de la dernière décennie, mais elle reste une guerre inconnue. Un aspect particulièrement horrible du conflit est la masse violence sexuelle utilisée comme arme de guerre. Les estimations sont maintenant que plus de 1,3 million de personnes sont déplacées dans la province du Nord Kivu et il ya plus de 370.000 réfugiés congolais qui ont cherché refuge dans les pays voisins. Selon M. Kyubwa, le musée en ligne est également conçu pour la dignité des victimes en reconnaissant leurs souffrances et de sensibiliser le public sur l'importance d'une intervention d'urgence à l'est du Congo pour mettre fin à l'impunité en cours, la violence sexuelle, les crimes contre l'humanité et crimes de guerre et de traduire les responsables en justice sans plus tarder
À propos de la MJPC.
MJPC (www.mjpcongo.org) est un organisme nouvellement créé visant à ajouter une voix dans la promotion de la justice et la paix en République démocratique du Congo. Pour visiter le musée en ligne des victimes de la guerre au Congo, visite s'il vous plaît. http://www.yoursilenceonco.org. Pour la pétition en cours exigeant MONUC d'arrêter immédiatement le criminel de guerre Nkunda visitez. http://www.gopetition.com/online/23604.html. Vous pouvez également appeler coordinateur de projets de la MJPC, Amédé Kyubwa au 916 753 5717
MJPC Also Strongly Condemns the Barbaric Massacres in the DRC
The Mobilization for Justice and Peace in the R.D. Congo (MJPC) has condemned in the strongest terms the series of massacres in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which, according to the BBC, have killed more than 400 people since Christmas Day and called that those responsible be brought to justice. These massacres, which have also caused more than 20,000 people to flee their homes have been committed by the Ugandan rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
"We wish to extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of victims, and we hope that the Government of Congo and MONUC will do everything in their power to capture the perpetrators and bring them to justice quickly," said Director of Community Affairs of MJPC Makuba Sekombo. He also criticized the government for not doing enough to control the borders. "The Congolese government has failed time and time again to fulfill its mandate to protect innocent civilians" he said "the governement must take stronger measures to fulfill its mandate to protect all Congolese citizens," he added. "The main goal of any government is to protect its citizens" said Sekombo
MJPC has always maintained the position that there will be no lasting peace without justice in Congo. The organization is currently conducting an online petition to collect signatures from concerned citizens around the world to demand that the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC) to immediately arrest the notorious war criminal Nkunda. The petition may be signed at http://www.gopetition.com/online/23604.html. For more information on the activities of the MJPC, visit www.mjpcongo.org, call 916 753 5717 or email info@mjpcongo.org.
MJPC questions ICC waiting to issue an arrest warrant against Nkunda.
The Mobilization for Justice and Peace in the D.R. Congo (MJPC) today called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against laurent Nkunda accused of multiple war crimes and crimes against humanity which are well documented by various human right organzations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Laurent Nkunda, former leader of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) armed group, was arrested on 22 January and is detained at an undisclosed location in Rwanda.
How long would it take for the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo to decide whether or not to issue an arrest warrant against Nkunda? echoed Makuba Sekombo, Director of Community Affairs of MJPC. The ICC Prosecutor has been investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since since 2004, but the ICC reportdely opened an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in the DRC since 1 July 2002.
Nkunda has been repeatedly implicated in numerous serious war crimes and crimes against humanity since 2002. In September 2005, the Congolese government issued an arrest warrant for Nkunda, accusing him of numerous war crimes and crimes against human rights. Human Rights Watch, for example, which has been calling for his arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity since February 2006 and has documented summary executions, torture and rape committed by soldiers under the command of Nkunda in Bukavu in 2004 and in Kisangani in 2002. Also armed groups loyal to warlord Nkunda have been repeatedly accused of using rape as a weapon of war and the recruitment of child soldiers, some as young as 12 after the abduction from their homes. In November 2008, the UN mission in the country (MONUC), Humn Rights Watch many other organizations accused Nkunda of war crimes in November 2008; an estimated 150 people were killed innoncently in the town of Kiwanja by the troups loyal to Nkunda.
The MJPC deplores the refusal by the Government of Rwanda to hand over Nkunda for trial. “How shocking that Rwanda which has been receiving assistance from the International community to arrest genocide suspects and hand them over to the ICTR or to Rwanda would not allow for the extradition of a war criminal accused of massacring civilians, sexual violence, abduction of civilians, including children forcibly recruited as fighters and then used to attack civilian communities” said Mr. Sekombo.
“While Nkunda is not the only one who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, the ICC arrest warrant would mark a major step in promoting accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in DRC, added Sekombo. As part of its campaign to combat impunity in DRC, MJPC launched an online petition in November 2008 whic can be signed at http://www.gopetition.com/online/23604.html calling for immediate arrest of Nkunda. So far more than 1365 people from over 50 countries have signed the petition.
Press Release Distribution By PressReleasePoint
Press Contact:
Makuba Sekombo
The online petit MJPC
Kinshasaa, D.R. Congo
1 408 806 3644
info@mjpcongo.org
http://www.mjpcongo.org
MJPC to MONUC and Kabila: Enforce the ICC Arrest Warrant Against Ntaganda
MJPC calls upon the Congelese Government and MONUC to act decisively to enforce the outstanding arrest warrant against Bosco Ntaganda.
The Mobilization for Justice and Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MJPC) today called on the Congolese Government and the UN's peacekeeping force in DR Congo, which is known as MONUC to act decisively to enforce the outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Bosco Ntaganda.
Shocked and outraged by recent report by BBC that an indicted ICC war criminal is playing a leading role in the UN mission in the DR Congo, the MJPC is strongly urging the UN Security Council and the entire international community to put pressure on the Congolese Government and MONUC to enforce the ICC outstanding arrest warrant against Ntaganda as soon as possible. "While it seems absurd that the 17,000 UN troops in Congo have not yet taken steps to enforce the ICC arrest warrant against Ntagada, it is alarming and even horrifying that they are engaged incoordinating military operations with someone accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity of inconceivable magnitude", said Amede Kyubwa, Executive Director of MJPC.
"Unlike other countries where there are ongoing investigations on cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the ICC has the power to enforce its arrest warrants in the Democratic Republic of Congo because of the 17,000 peacekeeping soldiers of the UN in the country, but so far these troops have not yet made attempts to arrest Ntaganda despite knowing his whereabouts and coordinating military operations with him. Warrant issued by the ICC must be respected and enforced by MONUC and Government of Congo" added Mr Kyubwa.
Ntaganda is accused of several war crimes and crimes against humanity including: the massacres of 150 people in the town of Kiwanja in 2008 in his duties as military chief of staff of the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), torturing and killing of hundreds of civilians of Lendu and Ngiti ethnicity between August 2002 and March 2003 when he was chief of military operations of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), slaughtering of at least 800 civilians on ethnic grounds at Mongbwalu, including the first priest killed in the Ituri conflict, Abbe Boniface Bwanalonga, killing of a Kenyan UN peacekeeper in January 2004 and kidnapping a Moroccan peacekeeper later that year, and recruiting child soldiers in the eastern region of Ituri. The MJPC is strongly urging the Congolese Government and MONUC to execute the arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Ntaganda.
As part of its global campaign against impunity in Congo, the MJPC has set up an online petition which can be signed at http://www.gopetition.com.au/online/24459.html asking concerned citizens around the world to demand the UN in Congo Mission known as MONUC and the Congolese Government to act decisively to enforce the ICC outstanding arrest warrants against Ntaganda.
About MJPC
MJPC is a nonprofit organization working to add a voice in advocating for justice and peace in the DRC particulary in the east of DRC where thousands innocent civilian including children and women continue to suffer massive human rights violations while armed groups responsible for these crimes go unpunished
For more information about the MJPC and its activities, visit http://www.mjpcongo.org. or call Amede Kyubwa @ 916 753 5717 or e-mail: info@mjpcongo.org . The online petition calling on the Congolese Government and MONUC to act decisively in enforcing the outstanding ICC arrest warrant against Bosco Ntaganda can be signed at http://www.gopetition.com/online/23604.html
MJPC Joined HRW in Calling to Hold the Congolese Army Accountable for War Crimes
"Failing to hold accountable soldiers who commit war crimes and crimes against humunity will result in conitnued sexual violence against girls and women in the DR Congo" says MJPC
Sacramento, California, June 12, 2009 (PressReleasePoint) -- The Mobilization for Justice and Peace in the DR Congo (MJPC) called for a full inquiry into new allegations of continuing rape and sexual violence committed by the Congolese Army after a recent report by Human Rights Watch revealed shocking new evidence. The report documents how the Congolese Army (FARDC) has been committing serious human rights abuses that amount to war crimes in East Congo and calls on the UN Security Council to demand the Congolese Government to immediatly investigate and hold accountable soldiers responsible for war crimes.
The MJPC is gravely concerned at continuing reports of sexual violence in eastern Congo. Makuba Sekombo, MJPC's Community Affairs Director, stresses "paramount importance of sending a clear message to all armed groups in the region – and to the victims of sexual violence in the DR Congo – that rape and other forms of sexual violence are unacceptable and will not be tolerated regardless of the circumstances". "Congolese army officers are not above international criminal law", and "Congo has clear international law obligations to do something effective to protect girls and women from sexual violence" added Sekombo.
Rather than receiving appropriate medical and psychosocial care, women and child survivors of rape and sexual violence in eastern Congo continue to face rejection and stigma while the perpetrators of the crime go unpunished. The MJPC has launched an online petition calling on the Congolese Government to put urgently in place a comprehensive program of compensation for the victims of sexual violence which will encourage victims of sexual violence in Eastern Congo to report perpetrators to police and to express their needs for access to medical treatment, psychological services and other social resources. The petition can be signed at http://www.gopetition.com.au/online/26180.html . "While no amount of money can reverse or address the impact of sexual violence on victims, the MJPC maintains that in this way, society at large, through the government, can acknowledge the humiliation suffered, shock and pain experienced by victims and provide the resources to help victims rebuild their lives.
About MJPC
MJPC is a non-profit organization working to add a voice in advocating for justice and peace in the DRC particulary in the east of DRC where thousands innocent civilian including children and women continue to suffer massive human rights violations while armed groups responsible for these crimes go unpunished.
Makuba Sekombo
MJPC, Community Affairs Director
1408-8063-644
info@mjpcongo.org
www.mjpcongo.org
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