UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
MONUC pays tribute to two deceased peacekeepers
A last tribute was paid Wednesday, 31 March 2004, at MONUC headquarters to two of the Mission's peacekeepers: Uruguayan Corporal Anibal Dos Santos, killed in a road accident on 19 March 2004 at Uvira and a South African soldier, Mothapo Alpheus Seakalala, killed on 30 March 2004 by unidentified armed elements in Kavumu, 30 km North of Bukavu.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. William Lacy Swing, recalled that the number of MONUC peacekeepers fallen stands at 27, almost a third of these since his arrival nine months ago. « The Peacekeepers to whom we give honour and praise today, came from diverse backgrounds and corners of the globe and from different cultures just to say no to war and fulfil one common mission: the restoration of peace by means of weapons such as: negotiation, diplomacy and, in case of failure, every other necessary means to protect civilians», he said. Mr. Swing called on the civilian and military personnel to build courage, keep faith, hope even when the most cherished hopes have been dashed and to reinforce the esprit de corp. « This sad moment should be an opportunity to reflect on why we are in DRC and remember the 3 million Congolese who died in a conflict that displaced still millions more», said the head of MONUC, before extending his condolences to the bereaved families, governments and peoples of Uruguay and South Africa.
Earlier, MONUC Force Commander, General Samaila Iliya, commended the departed and their devotion in fulfilling their mission in the DRC. He expressed the hope to see the investigations into the death of the South African soldier succeed in order to bring the truth about « what really happened » to light.
The South African Ambassador, Mr. Sissa Ngombane, the Uruguayan Consul General, Mr. Swiel Edouard, the head of the Uruguayan contingent, Colonel Luis Lavista, the heads of South African and Uruguayan contingents also paid tribute to the departed.
Corporal Anibal Dos Santos joined MONUC, on 4 October 2003. He was a member of the Uruguayan contingent in Bukavu. Born on 22 November 1973, he was married and the father of 2 children.
Private Mothapo Alpheus Seakalala was a member of the South African contingent deployed in the administrative town of South Kivu; he joined MONUC on 7 November 2003. He died at the age of 38.
Earlier, MONUC Force Commander, General Samaila Iliya, commended the departed and their devotion in fulfilling their mission in the DRC. He expressed the hope to see the investigations into the death of the South African soldier succeed in order to bring the truth about « what really happened » to light.
The South African Ambassador, Mr. Sissa Ngombane, the Uruguayan Consul General, Mr. Swiel Edouard, the head of the Uruguayan contingent, Colonel Luis Lavista, the heads of South African and Uruguayan contingents also paid tribute to the departed.
Corporal Anibal Dos Santos joined MONUC, on 4 October 2003. He was a member of the Uruguayan contingent in Bukavu. Born on 22 November 1973, he was married and the father of 2 children.
Private Mothapo Alpheus Seakalala was a member of the South African contingent deployed in the administrative town of South Kivu; he joined MONUC on 7 November 2003. He died at the age of 38.
