UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
Monuc condemns the killing of a Human Rights Activist in Bukavu
MONUC 'strongly condemns the coward killing a human rights activist, Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi in Bukavu last Sunday; The activist was working for an NGO known as 'Héritiers de la justice,' MONUC Deputy Spokesman, Mr. Mamadou Bah told the news conference. 'MONUC extends its heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family and next-of-kin of late Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi. It appeals to the Congolese authorities to initiate swift and effective investigations, to bring to Justice those found guilt and punish them accordingly', Mr. Bah said.
Moreover, MONUC 'commend the Congolese population and the Independent Electoral Commission on the successful registration operations in Kinshasa,' the deputy spokesman said.
'MONUC underscores the substantial progress made by the identification and enrolment operations in the Eastern and Bas-Congo provinces,' he went on to say, before indicating, In this context, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for the DRC, Mr. William Swing is due to visit Ituri next Tuesday 9 August 2005. MONUC chief will visit Bunia, Aru and Kpandroma. Mr. Swing will also visit registration centres to encourage the population and to applaud the high interest they showed in the electoral process.'
The Deputy-spokesman also recalled, 'MONUC's Chief returned to Kinshasa yesterday, Tuesday 2 August 2005, after attending a meeting of the Contact Group held by DRC key partners over security reform in Cape Town, South Africa last Monday 1st August. The meeting ' which mainly focused on the DRC Armed Forces ' had to mobilise financial resources with a view to helping DRC Transition Government to accelerate the training and formation of the FARDC Integrated Brigades. Participants to the meeting realized the importance of addressing several urgent issues related to the training, equipment, logistic support, transport, accommodation and payment of wages to FARDC troops. At the end of the Cape meeting, participants agreed to hold another follow-up meeting in the course of next month ' September ' in the capital of another member country to the Contact Group,' Mr. Bah said.
With reference to the Deputy Special Representative's agenda, the Deputy Spokesman reported, 'Mr. Ross Mountain visited North Kivu ' Beni and Goma ' from Saturday 30 July to Monday 1st August. During his visit, the Deputy Head of MONUC visited two merging centres. He first visited the Nyaleke merging centre on 30 July, where a newly integrated brigade will shortly conclude its training session. Mr. Mountain seized the opportunity to inaugurate a health centre administering free care, set up by MONUC contingent from India in favour of families and next-of-skin of FARDC troops. He then visited another merging centre, Mushaki, on Sunday 31 July.'
MONUC deputy spokesman read out the communiqué published Friday, 29 July 2005 by the Security Council, which, trough its resolution 1616, had extended until 31 July 2006 the arms embargo imposed on all the armed groups operating in the Kivus and Ituri.
Referring to military activities, MONUC military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Hubert indicated that 'the situation in Ituri is calm and under control. This has allowed 23,363 electors to register. Meanwhile MONUC has set up five quick response elements in order to deal with any potential threat of a logistical or security nature.'
Regarding North Kivu, Lt-Col Hubert pointed out that 'last week's operations permitted to calm the situation. We have undertaken military actions in the Ishasha region, which consist in reinforcing the presence of our forces. The objective is to make it clear to the armed groups and the FARDC that MONUC will not tolerate that the civilian population be the victim of their fighting. Another zone control operation is taking place in the Virunga Park region, aiming to verify the presence of Rwandan soldiers. Far-reaching patrols are also being conducted in order to monitor the movement of the FDLR and Maï Maï.'
Concerning South Kivu, the military spokesman noted that 'the operation Thunder Storm II mobilises 1000 troops, along with the FARDC backed by helicopters and mechanised and riverine units. This operation is directed at the FDLR with an aim to destroy their camps. The operation Falcon Sweep II is also targeted at the FDLR. As for the riverine unit, it continues its patrols on Lake Kivu.'
Referring to the inquiry conducted into the violence associated with the 30 June 2005 demonstrations, the Special Investigations Coordinator within the Human Rights Division, Ms Sonia Bakar, indicated that: 'MONUC was able to confirm the death of two persons in Kinshasa. In Tshikapa, a MONUC team confirmed that at least six persons had been shot dead by a police officer. In Mbuji-Mayi, as a result of a special investigation conducted from 13 to 21 July into the events occurring in the course of June, MONUC confirmed a total of 96 cases of human rights violation, including 15 cases of summary execution all by bullet fire; 26 cases of attempted arbitrary execution, 25 of which by bullet fire and 1 by teargas fire; 14 cases of inhuman treatment, 35 cases of arbitrary arrest, 4 cases of forced disappearance and 2 cases of rape, all committed by police forces. MONUC's Mbuji-Mayi office intervened in most of the arrest cases, securing the release of all concerned except four persons whom the investigators had not found at the detention centers. At least 5 of the 7 dead were arbitrarily executed by close-rage gunfire,' explained the Special Investigations Coordinator, Ms Sonia Bakar.
'MONUC underscores the substantial progress made by the identification and enrolment operations in the Eastern and Bas-Congo provinces,' he went on to say, before indicating, In this context, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for the DRC, Mr. William Swing is due to visit Ituri next Tuesday 9 August 2005. MONUC chief will visit Bunia, Aru and Kpandroma. Mr. Swing will also visit registration centres to encourage the population and to applaud the high interest they showed in the electoral process.'
The Deputy-spokesman also recalled, 'MONUC's Chief returned to Kinshasa yesterday, Tuesday 2 August 2005, after attending a meeting of the Contact Group held by DRC key partners over security reform in Cape Town, South Africa last Monday 1st August. The meeting ' which mainly focused on the DRC Armed Forces ' had to mobilise financial resources with a view to helping DRC Transition Government to accelerate the training and formation of the FARDC Integrated Brigades. Participants to the meeting realized the importance of addressing several urgent issues related to the training, equipment, logistic support, transport, accommodation and payment of wages to FARDC troops. At the end of the Cape meeting, participants agreed to hold another follow-up meeting in the course of next month ' September ' in the capital of another member country to the Contact Group,' Mr. Bah said.
With reference to the Deputy Special Representative's agenda, the Deputy Spokesman reported, 'Mr. Ross Mountain visited North Kivu ' Beni and Goma ' from Saturday 30 July to Monday 1st August. During his visit, the Deputy Head of MONUC visited two merging centres. He first visited the Nyaleke merging centre on 30 July, where a newly integrated brigade will shortly conclude its training session. Mr. Mountain seized the opportunity to inaugurate a health centre administering free care, set up by MONUC contingent from India in favour of families and next-of-skin of FARDC troops. He then visited another merging centre, Mushaki, on Sunday 31 July.'
MONUC deputy spokesman read out the communiqué published Friday, 29 July 2005 by the Security Council, which, trough its resolution 1616, had extended until 31 July 2006 the arms embargo imposed on all the armed groups operating in the Kivus and Ituri.
Referring to military activities, MONUC military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Hubert indicated that 'the situation in Ituri is calm and under control. This has allowed 23,363 electors to register. Meanwhile MONUC has set up five quick response elements in order to deal with any potential threat of a logistical or security nature.'
Regarding North Kivu, Lt-Col Hubert pointed out that 'last week's operations permitted to calm the situation. We have undertaken military actions in the Ishasha region, which consist in reinforcing the presence of our forces. The objective is to make it clear to the armed groups and the FARDC that MONUC will not tolerate that the civilian population be the victim of their fighting. Another zone control operation is taking place in the Virunga Park region, aiming to verify the presence of Rwandan soldiers. Far-reaching patrols are also being conducted in order to monitor the movement of the FDLR and Maï Maï.'
Concerning South Kivu, the military spokesman noted that 'the operation Thunder Storm II mobilises 1000 troops, along with the FARDC backed by helicopters and mechanised and riverine units. This operation is directed at the FDLR with an aim to destroy their camps. The operation Falcon Sweep II is also targeted at the FDLR. As for the riverine unit, it continues its patrols on Lake Kivu.'
Referring to the inquiry conducted into the violence associated with the 30 June 2005 demonstrations, the Special Investigations Coordinator within the Human Rights Division, Ms Sonia Bakar, indicated that: 'MONUC was able to confirm the death of two persons in Kinshasa. In Tshikapa, a MONUC team confirmed that at least six persons had been shot dead by a police officer. In Mbuji-Mayi, as a result of a special investigation conducted from 13 to 21 July into the events occurring in the course of June, MONUC confirmed a total of 96 cases of human rights violation, including 15 cases of summary execution all by bullet fire; 26 cases of attempted arbitrary execution, 25 of which by bullet fire and 1 by teargas fire; 14 cases of inhuman treatment, 35 cases of arbitrary arrest, 4 cases of forced disappearance and 2 cases of rape, all committed by police forces. MONUC's Mbuji-Mayi office intervened in most of the arrest cases, securing the release of all concerned except four persons whom the investigators had not found at the detention centers. At least 5 of the 7 dead were arbitrarily executed by close-rage gunfire,' explained the Special Investigations Coordinator, Ms Sonia Bakar.
