UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
MONUC strongly reacts to Rwanda's threat to attack FDLR in DRC
The head of MONUC Public Information, Ms. Patricia Tome, told the news conference on Wednesday that Rwanda disclosed to MONUC last night its intention to attack the ?Democratic Forces of the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)? inside the DRC territory.
Addressing the Mission's weekly news conference, Ms. Tome referred to the statement as a ''serious threat against the DRC Transition's process, not to say a dangerous escalation for the whole region''. She recalled the ongoing diplomatic activities, alluding to the current UN Security Council visit to the region, the reinforcement of MONUC mandate and the forthcoming deployment of an additional brigade to North Kivu to secure the zone and ''prevent spoilers, whether in DRC or elsewhere, to undermine the transition and the region's pacification''.
Ms. Tomé further recalled that the Heads of States of the region have just signed a statement in Dar es-Salaam, Tanzania, vowing to ensure peace, security and development in the Great Lakes region. '' These declarations are not to remain a dead letter'', she said.
Earlier, MONUC Spokesman, Mamadou Bah, briefed the press on the UN Security Council's mission to Central Africa. Led by the French Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mr. Jean-Marc de la Sablière, the delegation is proceeding with its mission in the region, he indicated, adding it was in Bukavu yesterday and is due to arrive in Burundi today and travel to Uganda tomorrow. He recalled that in Kinshasa, the Security Council expressed their solidarity with the Congolese people and pledged to continue supporting the transition process. The Security Council Mission insisted on the need to accelerate the process due to lead to the elections on the set dates. In Bukavu, the Security Council expressed sympathy with the population affected by the last June events. They also called for the reconciliation of all the Congolese people, Mr. Bah said.
The Spokesman further updated the press on the Disarmament and Community Reintegration (DCR) programme in Ituri, indicating that as of 23 November 2004, 691 ex-combatants have adhered to DCR process and 3567 weapons including ammunitions were collected. Mr. Bah however indicated that the programme unfortunately was hampered by armed militias, notably the Nizi-based Congolese Patriots (UPC-L) led by Thomas Lubanga who attacked Monuc troops several times. ''MONUC condemns, in strongest terms, the attacks aimed at MONUC, more particularly from UPC-L militias which it terms as a gross violation of the Act of Engagement signed on 14 May in Kinshasa by Thomas Lubanga personally'', the Spokesman said, denouncing the fact that the militias systematically use civilians as human shields; they hide in houses or house roofs whilst attacking. MONUC recalls that the use of human beings as human shields is a war crime.
Also attending the news conference was MONUC army chief of staff, Colonel Patrick Colas des Francs who explained how the additional 5900 troops would be deployed. He highlighted that MONUC presence would noticeably be reinforced in Kivus with the deployment of one Indian and one Pakistani brigades comprised each of 3 battalions. Colonel Des Francs further announced the creation of a rapid intervention brigade as a task force to swiftly handle erupting crisis with adequate means. The brigades will be equipped with combat helicopters, surveillance helicopters, and mobile gendarme station. Colonel Des Francs said the deployment would be achieved by late February 2005. The new deployment would mainly increase MONUC presence along the most sensitive borders, ensure surveillance as well as motorised and non-motorised patrols, back disarmament programmes of Congolese and Foreign armed groups etc.
Updating on the DRC mining situation, as a prelude to the World Summit on the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, the Head of the Coordination Centre for Anti-mines Struggle, Marcel Quirion, announced that the Democratic Republic of Congo has made important achievements with respect to the implementation of the Treaty. He rejoices that the treaty is taken into consideration at the highest level of the State, notably the Head of State, Joseph Kabila, and his Vice-presidents. The presidential circle is determined to implement the Treaty, he said. In this respect, Mr. Quirion said, the DRC has submitted the official list of mined sites to the international community as well as the list of military victims of mine accidents. The DRC is finalising its declaration about mines stocks, he said.
The UN expert considers that the world summit due to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, will be a good opportunity for the DRC to submit its national plan of action in the fight against antipersonnel mines.
Ms. Tomé further recalled that the Heads of States of the region have just signed a statement in Dar es-Salaam, Tanzania, vowing to ensure peace, security and development in the Great Lakes region. '' These declarations are not to remain a dead letter'', she said.
Earlier, MONUC Spokesman, Mamadou Bah, briefed the press on the UN Security Council's mission to Central Africa. Led by the French Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mr. Jean-Marc de la Sablière, the delegation is proceeding with its mission in the region, he indicated, adding it was in Bukavu yesterday and is due to arrive in Burundi today and travel to Uganda tomorrow. He recalled that in Kinshasa, the Security Council expressed their solidarity with the Congolese people and pledged to continue supporting the transition process. The Security Council Mission insisted on the need to accelerate the process due to lead to the elections on the set dates. In Bukavu, the Security Council expressed sympathy with the population affected by the last June events. They also called for the reconciliation of all the Congolese people, Mr. Bah said.
The Spokesman further updated the press on the Disarmament and Community Reintegration (DCR) programme in Ituri, indicating that as of 23 November 2004, 691 ex-combatants have adhered to DCR process and 3567 weapons including ammunitions were collected. Mr. Bah however indicated that the programme unfortunately was hampered by armed militias, notably the Nizi-based Congolese Patriots (UPC-L) led by Thomas Lubanga who attacked Monuc troops several times. ''MONUC condemns, in strongest terms, the attacks aimed at MONUC, more particularly from UPC-L militias which it terms as a gross violation of the Act of Engagement signed on 14 May in Kinshasa by Thomas Lubanga personally'', the Spokesman said, denouncing the fact that the militias systematically use civilians as human shields; they hide in houses or house roofs whilst attacking. MONUC recalls that the use of human beings as human shields is a war crime.
Also attending the news conference was MONUC army chief of staff, Colonel Patrick Colas des Francs who explained how the additional 5900 troops would be deployed. He highlighted that MONUC presence would noticeably be reinforced in Kivus with the deployment of one Indian and one Pakistani brigades comprised each of 3 battalions. Colonel Des Francs further announced the creation of a rapid intervention brigade as a task force to swiftly handle erupting crisis with adequate means. The brigades will be equipped with combat helicopters, surveillance helicopters, and mobile gendarme station. Colonel Des Francs said the deployment would be achieved by late February 2005. The new deployment would mainly increase MONUC presence along the most sensitive borders, ensure surveillance as well as motorised and non-motorised patrols, back disarmament programmes of Congolese and Foreign armed groups etc.
Updating on the DRC mining situation, as a prelude to the World Summit on the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, the Head of the Coordination Centre for Anti-mines Struggle, Marcel Quirion, announced that the Democratic Republic of Congo has made important achievements with respect to the implementation of the Treaty. He rejoices that the treaty is taken into consideration at the highest level of the State, notably the Head of State, Joseph Kabila, and his Vice-presidents. The presidential circle is determined to implement the Treaty, he said. In this respect, Mr. Quirion said, the DRC has submitted the official list of mined sites to the international community as well as the list of military victims of mine accidents. The DRC is finalising its declaration about mines stocks, he said.
The UN expert considers that the world summit due to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, will be a good opportunity for the DRC to submit its national plan of action in the fight against antipersonnel mines.
