Kinshasa, 11 March 2009 - MONUC hails the work of the Military Justice in the investigation of allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and terrorism, which led to the judgment of Kyungu Mutanga, alias Gédéon. Without prejudicing the results of the appeals by defense and the Government, MONUC also hails the Military Tribunal who has confirmed that the state can be held responsible for the payment of reparations to victims, when it contributed, by action or inaction, to the commission of a crime.

"This lawsuit represents a positive development in the fight against impunity," said Mr. Alan Doss, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC.

"The efforts of the Military Justice authorities and the ministries for Defense and Justice in recent years to improve the performance of military justice are starting to bear fruit," said Alan Doss who affirmed that "MONUC remains committed to support the DRC authorities to reinforce the independence and the capacity of civil justice and military justice".

MONUC also launches an appeal to the Government to maintain the moratorium on the application of capital punishment. Capital punishment is contrary to the spirit and law of many international legal agreements, several of which were ratified by the DRC.