UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
MONUC concerned over the massacre in Ihembe in South and the security of its staff elsewhere
Press Briefing of 1 June 2005
The UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) is sending a humanitarian mission to the localities of the region of Ihembe, in South Kivu, after a reported massacre of civilians there on May 23. The mission by MONUC humanitarian division will be assessing the needs of an estimated 6,000 displaced persons, MONUC?s Director of Public Information and Spokesman Kemal Saiki told a weekly press conference today.
The UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) is sending a humanitarian mission to the localities of the region of Ihembe, in South Kivu, after a reported massacre of civilians there on May 23. The mission by MONUC humanitarian division will be assessing the needs of an estimated 6,000 displaced persons, MONUC?s Director of Public Information and Spokesman Kemal Saiki told a weekly press conference today.
But 'the zone is difficult to access,' pointed out the military spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Thierry Provendier, recalling that 'a reconnaissance mission had already been dispatched to Ihembe as early as May 25.' 'It is particularly difficult to establish the exact death toll and determine the conditions in which this drama occurred,' he said. MONUC plans to send a 'new investigation mission to work on establishing clearly responsibilities in last week's massacre,' he added.
Mr Kemal Saiki also expressed MONUC concern about the security of its national and international personnel, after a local journalist of Radio Okapi in Lubumbashi had been attacked on Saturday evening, May 28. 'MONUC demands the opening of a credible, independent investigation permitting to find and bring to justice the authors of this attack' and 'reminds the Congolese authorities of their responsibilities regarding the security of the national and international staff of the UN Mission,' Mr. Kemal said. 'This attack follows a series of acts of intimidation and verbal threats directed at this journalist and other members of MONUC personnel in Lubumbashi,' he pointed out.
Turning to the agenda of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr William Swing, acting deputy spokesperson Rachel Eklou Assogbavi indicated that the head of MONUC went last week to South Africa where he held talks with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Sue Van Der Merwe.
'MONUC welcomes the announcement by the spokesman for the South African Government concerning the extension until March 2007 of the participation of South African troops in MONUC,' indicated Ms Eklou, recalling that 'South Africa is the African country with the most important contribution to the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.'
While in South Africa, Mr William Swing visited several chiefs of diplomatic mission accredited in that country. These included the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to whom MONUC chief 'presented his condolences for the deaths of 10 bleu helmets of this country during peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The High Commissioner of Bangladesh reiterated his country's commitment to United Nations peacekeeping in the world and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in particular,' Ms Eklou indicated.
The Special Representative also visited MONUC personnel in hospital in South Africa, the acting deputy spokesperson said.
Mr Kemal Saiki also expressed MONUC concern about the security of its national and international personnel, after a local journalist of Radio Okapi in Lubumbashi had been attacked on Saturday evening, May 28. 'MONUC demands the opening of a credible, independent investigation permitting to find and bring to justice the authors of this attack' and 'reminds the Congolese authorities of their responsibilities regarding the security of the national and international staff of the UN Mission,' Mr. Kemal said. 'This attack follows a series of acts of intimidation and verbal threats directed at this journalist and other members of MONUC personnel in Lubumbashi,' he pointed out.
Turning to the agenda of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr William Swing, acting deputy spokesperson Rachel Eklou Assogbavi indicated that the head of MONUC went last week to South Africa where he held talks with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Sue Van Der Merwe.
'MONUC welcomes the announcement by the spokesman for the South African Government concerning the extension until March 2007 of the participation of South African troops in MONUC,' indicated Ms Eklou, recalling that 'South Africa is the African country with the most important contribution to the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.'
While in South Africa, Mr William Swing visited several chiefs of diplomatic mission accredited in that country. These included the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to whom MONUC chief 'presented his condolences for the deaths of 10 bleu helmets of this country during peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The High Commissioner of Bangladesh reiterated his country's commitment to United Nations peacekeeping in the world and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in particular,' Ms Eklou indicated.
The Special Representative also visited MONUC personnel in hospital in South Africa, the acting deputy spokesperson said.
