UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
Lengabo massacre : 10 suspects arrested
MONUC Bunia ' 24 September 2004 - MONUC Office facilitated a judicial operation on Thursday 23 September, in Medu district, a village situated about thirty kilometres south west of Bunia, administrative town of the Ituri district. The operation was organised by the State Prosecutor to the High Court of Bunia, following the Lengabo massacre on Monday 21 September. The Lengabo survivors have indeed holds FRPI troops from Medu responsible for the massacre.
Approximately 300 residents of the Medu district appeared before the court. Some of them were heard by the Bunia court and MONUC. Searches conducted in the camp known as 'Jerusalem' held by the 'Front de Résistance Patriotique pour l'Ituri (FRPI) situated in Medu centre helped to seize documents indicating illegal taxations by this armed group. Uniforms, guns and ammunitions were also seized.
Among the interrogated, there were ten suspects, including two people under the age of 18 who were transferred to Bunia thereafter. (The State Prosecutor's office to the High Court of Bunia indicated that those under the age of 18 would be handed over to a judge dealing in cases involving minors who will specify their mode of custody. The legal situation of the other suspects will be determined at the end of supplementary investigations.
' Additional missions will be rapidly organised in order to put an end to impunity and to have the perpetrators of the crimes handed to the International courts to be punished once and for all' declared Dominique MacAdams, Head of MONUC Office in Ituri.
The Lengabo attack on Monday 20 September, at about 2:00 a.m., left fourteen people dead, 2 injured and 91 houses torched. A report on 21 September indicated that one more person died as a result of injuries suffered during the attack. The second person who was transferred by MONUC to the Doctor without borders' hospital in Bunia, is currently in a critical condition.
The operation that started at 11h30 ended at 17h45' 'local time' was carried out by the Congolese national police, with the support of MONUC Ituri-based Brigade.
Among the interrogated, there were ten suspects, including two people under the age of 18 who were transferred to Bunia thereafter. (The State Prosecutor's office to the High Court of Bunia indicated that those under the age of 18 would be handed over to a judge dealing in cases involving minors who will specify their mode of custody. The legal situation of the other suspects will be determined at the end of supplementary investigations.
' Additional missions will be rapidly organised in order to put an end to impunity and to have the perpetrators of the crimes handed to the International courts to be punished once and for all' declared Dominique MacAdams, Head of MONUC Office in Ituri.
The Lengabo attack on Monday 20 September, at about 2:00 a.m., left fourteen people dead, 2 injured and 91 houses torched. A report on 21 September indicated that one more person died as a result of injuries suffered during the attack. The second person who was transferred by MONUC to the Doctor without borders' hospital in Bunia, is currently in a critical condition.
The operation that started at 11h30 ended at 17h45' 'local time' was carried out by the Congolese national police, with the support of MONUC Ituri-based Brigade.
