Kinshasa, 30 April 2009 - SRSG Alan Doss has written to Human Rights Watch and Oxfam this week noting MONUC's firm intention to continue its support for the Congolese Government's armed forces (FARDC) against FDLR rebels terrorising civilians in the eastern Kivu provinces.
Mr. Doss noted that while both non governmental organizations questioned the efforts of MONUC peacekeeping operations in press reports this week, neither of their public statements condemned the FDLR for the atrocities that have been a "signature" of rebel operations for many years.
"The Government of Congo and the United Nations Security Council are firm in their resolve to neutralize the FDLR and protect civilian populations and we will continue to support action against the FDLR and other armed groups, either in coordination with the FARDC or independently," he said.
"However, we cannot expect that the FDLR will simply give up. The group has a bloody history of reprisals against civilians. The FDLR preyed upon the population long before the onset of the current Government operations."
Letter to Oxfam
Letter to Human Rights Watch