UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
MONUC reiterates its determination to have all the DRC armed groups disarmed and to secure civilians
MONUC will proceed with military operations until 'all the armed groups hand over their weapons and join the reintegration process,' the Mission's military spokesman, lieutenant-colonel Thierry Provendier told the weekly press conference on Wednesday 8 June.
MONUC 'understands and shares the grief of the Congolese people who are victims of exactions from combatants fighting an already lost battle' and assures that 'instead of spectacular actions, it has opted for a thorough work, notably a gradual reinforcement in the Kivus,' the military spokesman explained, responding to criticism against MONUC for not being in the Nindja Grouping where civilians were attacked by armed groups, in particular at Ihembe on 23 May.
Lieutenant-Colonel Provendier recalled that a MONUC military mission travelled to this locality on 25 May, and that a civilian mission on 27 May that initiated investigations on human rights violation started. In spite of the terrain challenges, MONUC 'has proceeded with its zone control operations, in collaboration with the FARDC,' he further said. 'MONUC operations are seriously hampering armed groups,' he pointed out, citing the example of the attack in Rakpa in Ituri district where militiamen attacked a MONUC civilian mission escorted by a Nepalese platoon. The mission was aimed at gathering evidence on kidnapping and rape allegations in that region where irredentist militia members of the ex-Front Nationaliste et Intégrationniste (FNI) are still operating.
The Military spokesman further said, 'the platoon came under sustained firing by over a hundred militiamen. The large number of ammunition used is indicative of a fierce battle' that ultimately took the life of a peacekeeper.
The Head of Public Information and MONUC spokesman, Mr. Kemal Saiki told the press that the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and chief of staff of the land forces of the national army extended their condolences to the commander of the Nepalese Battalion of Ituri Brigade in Mahagi on Sunday 5 June.
The acting deputy spokesperson, Ms Eklou Assogbavi told the press that the Africa director of the Department of peacekeeping operations, Mr Dimitry Titov, is visiting the DRC 'in order to evaluate what support his department can bring to MONUC in regard to elections.'
Along with the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr Titov met separately with the Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Vice-President of the Republic for Financial Issues and the Vice-President for Political, Defence and Security Issues.
Mr Titov next travelled to Kisangani and Bunia in Oriental Province, said Ms Eklou Assogbavi, indicating that in Kisangani 'the vice governor of Oriental Province had expressed his concerns about the security of the province and the Ituri district in particular and [that] he appreciates the international community's efforts that facilitated the arrest of the main leaders of Ituri armed groups.'
On the Disarmament and Community Reintegration programme for Ituri armed groups, Ms Eklou reported that the latest figures dated June 7 showed that a total of 14,325 ex-combatants had disarmed and registered.
Turning to the situation of human rights, Ms Sonia Bacar, MONUC head of special investigations unit, said the Mission was concerned over the surge in robbery, threats and other forms of violence attributed to troops of the Groupement Special pour la Securité du Président (GSSP, Special Presidential Security Unit) in several towns across the country 'without any disciplinary or judicial action being taken against them.'
Ms Bacar also noted that seven human rights activists were released 'after MONUC's intervention and pressure from international and local NGOs.' They had been arrested and tortured by National Intelligence Agency officials in Lubumbashi, Katanga province.
MONUC is concerned about the obstacles facing its teams of investigators as 'police and prison administration officials' in Kinshasa refuse to give them access to prisoners, Ms Bacar indicated.
Lieutenant-Colonel Provendier recalled that a MONUC military mission travelled to this locality on 25 May, and that a civilian mission on 27 May that initiated investigations on human rights violation started. In spite of the terrain challenges, MONUC 'has proceeded with its zone control operations, in collaboration with the FARDC,' he further said. 'MONUC operations are seriously hampering armed groups,' he pointed out, citing the example of the attack in Rakpa in Ituri district where militiamen attacked a MONUC civilian mission escorted by a Nepalese platoon. The mission was aimed at gathering evidence on kidnapping and rape allegations in that region where irredentist militia members of the ex-Front Nationaliste et Intégrationniste (FNI) are still operating.
The Military spokesman further said, 'the platoon came under sustained firing by over a hundred militiamen. The large number of ammunition used is indicative of a fierce battle' that ultimately took the life of a peacekeeper.
The Head of Public Information and MONUC spokesman, Mr. Kemal Saiki told the press that the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and chief of staff of the land forces of the national army extended their condolences to the commander of the Nepalese Battalion of Ituri Brigade in Mahagi on Sunday 5 June.
The acting deputy spokesperson, Ms Eklou Assogbavi told the press that the Africa director of the Department of peacekeeping operations, Mr Dimitry Titov, is visiting the DRC 'in order to evaluate what support his department can bring to MONUC in regard to elections.'
Along with the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr Titov met separately with the Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Vice-President of the Republic for Financial Issues and the Vice-President for Political, Defence and Security Issues.
Mr Titov next travelled to Kisangani and Bunia in Oriental Province, said Ms Eklou Assogbavi, indicating that in Kisangani 'the vice governor of Oriental Province had expressed his concerns about the security of the province and the Ituri district in particular and [that] he appreciates the international community's efforts that facilitated the arrest of the main leaders of Ituri armed groups.'
On the Disarmament and Community Reintegration programme for Ituri armed groups, Ms Eklou reported that the latest figures dated June 7 showed that a total of 14,325 ex-combatants had disarmed and registered.
Turning to the situation of human rights, Ms Sonia Bacar, MONUC head of special investigations unit, said the Mission was concerned over the surge in robbery, threats and other forms of violence attributed to troops of the Groupement Special pour la Securité du Président (GSSP, Special Presidential Security Unit) in several towns across the country 'without any disciplinary or judicial action being taken against them.'
Ms Bacar also noted that seven human rights activists were released 'after MONUC's intervention and pressure from international and local NGOs.' They had been arrested and tortured by National Intelligence Agency officials in Lubumbashi, Katanga province.
MONUC is concerned about the obstacles facing its teams of investigators as 'police and prison administration officials' in Kinshasa refuse to give them access to prisoners, Ms Bacar indicated.
