UN
United Nations Peacekeeping
3 Mar
2009
UPC held accountable for the attacks on the Ituri Brigade
MONUC troops have come under several armed attacks these recent days in Ituri. On Wednesday, 21 January 2004, at about 19 hours, militiamen opened fire on the UN Pakistani peacekeepers in Nizi, 28 km North of Bunia. UN helicopters and peacekeepers in Ituri were also attacked at Drodro and Iga-Barrière, on 19 and 20 January 2004, by UPC (Union des Patriotes Congolais) armed elements who claimed having acted on the orders of UPC Army Chief of Staff, Commander Bosco Ntaganda, appointed on 8 December 2003 by UPC leader, Thomas Lubanga.
Witnesses and complainants have accused Commander Bosco Ntaganda of committing gross human rights abuses. He is charged, among other things, with the summary executions of two people in Bunia in March 2003, kidnappings, rapes, barbaric acts on civilian populations, daily extortion of people?s money and items in Ituri, illegal deduction of taxes and other offenses. Moreover, MONUC and the Ituri Interim Institutions found several underground detention cells created by UPC in several areas, notably Miala and Mabanga for the purposes of torturing innocent civilians.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC, William Lacy Swing summoned UPC leader Wednesday to apprise him of MONUC indignation at the numerous attacks perpetrated by UPC troops against UN troops in Ituri. Mr. Swing also described as «very serious and unacceptable» the acts of violence and the written death threats against MONUC staff members organized by Commander Ntaganda. He considers that the attacks are aimed at the International Community, the populations and the DRC peace process.
Mr. Swing asked Mr. Lubanga to dissociate himself from his army chief of staff who has been pointed by witnesses and the 22 militiamen arrested by MONUC as the person who ordered the firing on the Iga-Barrière. Mr. Swing asked UPC leader to make an official declaration clearly condemning the acts of violence against MONUC and to dissolve any other illegal institutions besides the Interim Special Assembly (ASII in French acronym) recognized by the International Community and the Transitional Government as the unique legitimate institution put in place in Ituri.
On Saturday, 17 January 2004, the Special Representative had summoned FNI (Front des Nationalistes et Intégrationnistes) leader, Floribert Ndjabu Ngabu, following the attack on MONUC helicopter in Kasenyi, on 16 January 2004 to condemn the incident. The FNI leader condemned the attack on Radio Okapi and pledged to do whatever necessary so that such incidents will not happen again in future. He declared himself ready to collaborate with MONUC to restore peace in the territory under his control.
In spite of the provocations, MONUC shall continue protecting civilian populations, securing territories as well as conducting search and condone operations in Ituri. In this context, it will shortly deploy in several other areas in Ituri including Mahagi and Aru with a view to facilitating the extension of Government administration to the trouble spots in Ituri.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the DRC, William Lacy Swing summoned UPC leader Wednesday to apprise him of MONUC indignation at the numerous attacks perpetrated by UPC troops against UN troops in Ituri. Mr. Swing also described as «very serious and unacceptable» the acts of violence and the written death threats against MONUC staff members organized by Commander Ntaganda. He considers that the attacks are aimed at the International Community, the populations and the DRC peace process.
Mr. Swing asked Mr. Lubanga to dissociate himself from his army chief of staff who has been pointed by witnesses and the 22 militiamen arrested by MONUC as the person who ordered the firing on the Iga-Barrière. Mr. Swing asked UPC leader to make an official declaration clearly condemning the acts of violence against MONUC and to dissolve any other illegal institutions besides the Interim Special Assembly (ASII in French acronym) recognized by the International Community and the Transitional Government as the unique legitimate institution put in place in Ituri.
On Saturday, 17 January 2004, the Special Representative had summoned FNI (Front des Nationalistes et Intégrationnistes) leader, Floribert Ndjabu Ngabu, following the attack on MONUC helicopter in Kasenyi, on 16 January 2004 to condemn the incident. The FNI leader condemned the attack on Radio Okapi and pledged to do whatever necessary so that such incidents will not happen again in future. He declared himself ready to collaborate with MONUC to restore peace in the territory under his control.
In spite of the provocations, MONUC shall continue protecting civilian populations, securing territories as well as conducting search and condone operations in Ituri. In this context, it will shortly deploy in several other areas in Ituri including Mahagi and Aru with a view to facilitating the extension of Government administration to the trouble spots in Ituri.
