UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
MONUC's Chief urges Ituri armed Groups to join the Peace Process
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. William Lacy Swing, urged the representatives of the Ituri active armed groups to actively and unequivocally join the Ituri pacification process.
In a speech delivered Monday on the occasion of the armed groups' meeting initiated by the transitional Government, the head of MONUC expressed hope that the meeting and consultations with the transitional government would be a decisive and final step in the Ituri pacification process that began a year ago. « This meeting is undoubtedly the last chance for the Ituri protagonists to confirm their commitment to definitely pull this Ituri region out of the abyss in which it has been for over five years», said Mr. Swing. He urged the representatives of the armed groups to bear in mind, during the meeting, « the state of despair, insecurity and misery in which the five million inhabitants of Ituri live, that is, ten per cent of the DRC population ».
It is the right time for them to put an end to the Ituri tragedy, to firmly commit themselves to the only responsible, courageous and national solution, which is an active participation in the Disarmament and Community Reintegration plan for Ituri, initiated by the Transitional Government and actively supported by the International Community, the Special Representative said. The immediate objective of the plan about to be executed, he explained, is to « end the fighting and suffering of the population, by proposing to the armed groups a dignified way out and a possibility of reintegrating the Congolese community by concretely working for the implementation of the reunification process and national reconciliation». This plan represents the end of the suffering of the populations and offers the armed groups a satisfactory future in a civilian life or the army.
Mr. Swing echoed the serious concerns expressed by the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General regarding the massacres and continued killings a year after the Transition and the Ituri Pacification Commission (CPI) have been put in place. « This is the very reason that led the UN Security Council to give MONUC, in conjunction with the DRC government, the authority of chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, authorizing it to use ''all necessary means'', including force to end the dreadful fighting and suffering of the Ituri population », he said. He stressed the favourable context for the return of stability and lawfulness in Ituri, referring to the Luanda Agreement between the DRC and Uganda Governments; the important episode of the ICC; the putting in place of the transitional process at the national level; the enhancement of the International Community's involvement through « Artémis » operation and the deployment of the Ituri Brigade.
The Special Representative urged the representatives of the armed groups not to waste this ultimate occasion offered to them by the Congolese Government. « I also urge you to join the ongoing national Transitional process so as to find your place in it and play an active role as full citizens of a reunified Congolese nation», concluded the Special Representative.
The Ituri conflict left 50,000 dead, at least 500,000 displaced, and caused massive destructions of houses, public premises and infrastructures. The DRC as a whole suffered huge economic losses as well, through illegally collected customs taxes on arms purchases at the country's burden.
It is the right time for them to put an end to the Ituri tragedy, to firmly commit themselves to the only responsible, courageous and national solution, which is an active participation in the Disarmament and Community Reintegration plan for Ituri, initiated by the Transitional Government and actively supported by the International Community, the Special Representative said. The immediate objective of the plan about to be executed, he explained, is to « end the fighting and suffering of the population, by proposing to the armed groups a dignified way out and a possibility of reintegrating the Congolese community by concretely working for the implementation of the reunification process and national reconciliation». This plan represents the end of the suffering of the populations and offers the armed groups a satisfactory future in a civilian life or the army.
Mr. Swing echoed the serious concerns expressed by the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General regarding the massacres and continued killings a year after the Transition and the Ituri Pacification Commission (CPI) have been put in place. « This is the very reason that led the UN Security Council to give MONUC, in conjunction with the DRC government, the authority of chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, authorizing it to use ''all necessary means'', including force to end the dreadful fighting and suffering of the Ituri population », he said. He stressed the favourable context for the return of stability and lawfulness in Ituri, referring to the Luanda Agreement between the DRC and Uganda Governments; the important episode of the ICC; the putting in place of the transitional process at the national level; the enhancement of the International Community's involvement through « Artémis » operation and the deployment of the Ituri Brigade.
The Special Representative urged the representatives of the armed groups not to waste this ultimate occasion offered to them by the Congolese Government. « I also urge you to join the ongoing national Transitional process so as to find your place in it and play an active role as full citizens of a reunified Congolese nation», concluded the Special Representative.
The Ituri conflict left 50,000 dead, at least 500,000 displaced, and caused massive destructions of houses, public premises and infrastructures. The DRC as a whole suffered huge economic losses as well, through illegally collected customs taxes on arms purchases at the country's burden.
