ONU
Nations Unies Maintien de la paix
6 mar
2009
Press Review
The massacre of Banyamulenge refugees in the Gatumba camp in Burundi is the major issue reported by the Congolese press today.
LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES says «the Friday 13 August 2004 event which occurred between 22 and midnight in the Gatumba Camp in Burundi where Banyamulenge took refuge (situated 4km from Uvira in the DRC), is indicative of human cruelty in the African great lakes region ». The paper further reports that the 'guns and knife' attack was carried out by « heavily armed troops» who killed refugees and torched their tents. « They attacked us with firearms and torched our tents: I saw people fleeing and several other dying», says a survivor to the MISNA press agency echoed by LA REFERENCE PLUS. LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES reports 200 people killed including breast-feeding women. L'AVENIR reports 180 dead to be buried today. « The Presidents of the ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States) demand an international investigation», says the same paper. The Presidents condemn the killing and demand an international investigative commission, highlights LA REFERENCE PLUS. The Government and CIAT (International Support Committee to the Transition) also demand an independent investigation, further titles L'OBSERVATEUR.
« There are signs and indications that explain the motivations for such a cruel act», notes LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES which titles: Gatumba massacre: what is the root cause' The paper establishes some correlation between the massacre and the recent declarations made by the Congolese Vice-President for Political, Defence and Security Affairs, Azarias Ruberwa, «of Tutsi origin» who demanded the change of MONUC mandate to enable him « to track down, to disarm and to repatriate Interahamwe Hutu combatants and ex-Rwandan armed troops (ex-FAR) by force in Burundi». « The Interahamwe, the ex-FAR and their Burundian allies did not certainly appreciate the procedure used by Ruberwa. They attacked the Gatumba camp the very day Ruberwa was visiting and conveyed a message of comfort to his country people», the paper highlights. The paper quotes some witnesses as indicating that the assailants did not attack the Congolese refugees of the Bafulero ethnic group a few meters away from the site of the massacres. « It is a targeted killing», says LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES.
Burundi accuses the Maï-Maï and closes its borders with DRC, announces LE PHARE. The Maï-Maï declared that they were not involved in the massacre, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES titles. The « intrepid warriors» committed «barbarous act on one of the three sites sheltering the Congolese refugees in Burundi», the paper adds, highlighting UNHCR's responsibility. «Major Ekofo, the accused Maï Maï chief, spent the fateful night of Friday with Colonel Namushevua, deputy to Patrick Masunzu, the chief of the Banyamulenge rebellion against RCD rebellion (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie). « The Maï-Maï mediation committee which releases this information, is of the view that the masterminds of the heinous crime are elsewhere», writes L'AVENIR, recalling that the massacre was claimed by Burundian rebels of the Forces Nationales de Libération (FNL). « Unfortunately some people tend to reject the claim. Then they may know the ins and outs' Yet the methods used are not peculiar to the Congolese», writes the paper, saying that DRC's destabilisation is well underway.
LA REFERENCE PLUS reports RCD's political statement accusing the FARDC (Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo). The movement's Secretary-General and 1st Vice-President refers to « two FARDC companies based in sectors 6 and 7 of Kiliba headed by Major Ekofo, deputy to colonel Nakabaka, commander of the Uvira brigade who encircled the camp, torched it and killed the refugees. The two companies joined an FNL company in the Burundian territory». According to RCD, the paper says, « the act of genocide was recently organised in the Walungu district during a secret meeting chaired by General Félix Mbuja Mabe, commander of 10th military district in Sud-Kivu ».
A massacre used to demonise Mbuja Mabe and the Maï-Maï, titles FORUM DES AS, which singles out « manipulation ». « Without any investigation, the very people who masterminded the barbarous act have immediately condemned the Maï-Maï of the 10th military district, headed by General Mbuja Mabe; the rumours were unfortunately echoed by western medias, without any verification of the said kirundi and lingala-speaking soldiers», the paper writes, estimating that this is « an easy accusation against the military troops from Kinshasa, under General Mbuja Mabe, who successfully hampered the Tutsi's plan in the region».
« The Maï-Maï are not making any war against Rwanda, nor Burundi, nor yet the Tutsi populations known as the Banyamulenge. The Maï-Maï have never attacked a single neighbouring country since the aggression war broke out», writes LA REFERENCE PLUS, which publishes a declaration issued by the Maï-Maï. The Maï-Maï condemns Ruberwa, says the paper on its front page. « Any observer of the Congolese political scene would note that whenever Vice-president Ruberwa travels to the East, a major incident takes place in Kivu », the paper says, quoting, among other things, the assassination attempt against General Nabiolwa (ex-commander of the 10th military district), «all the Mutebutsi 's saga», the attempt of taking Government delegation hostage by the military troops of the 8th military region in Goma, etc. « Strange coincidence: those events take place when the Vice-president Ruberwa is in the East», L'AVENIR also says. FORUM DES AS goes on to say that despite the presence of Azarias Ruberwa the East last May, « Nkundabatware and Mutebutsi did not refrain from committing massacres in Bukavu ». The paper therefore wonders, « Why Rwandans and Banyamulenge only wait until Vice-President Ruberwa visits the East to radicalise their claims' Does it mean that they are scorning his leadership or that he has lost control of his party's grassroots' ».
LE PALMARES refers to « dishonourable squabbles in the presidential circle» alluding to Nkunda's affairs and titles: Azarias Ruberwa responds to Joseph Kabila. The paper recalls that the Vice-president « proposed that (the dissident Laurent Nkunda) be pressured to leave the country and go abroad to further his studies in a military academy». It also echoes the Congolese President's reaction through his spokesman last 13 August: « Joseph Kabila is opposed that anyone indulges on negotiations with Nkunda or Mutebutsi on behalf of the country». The paper also recalls the 18 June meeting, which decided « that serious disciplinary measures must be taken against anyone perpetrating massacres, rapes, lootings and other exactions on the population in Bukavu and elsewhere». The paper says that Mr. Ruberwa has condemned in the strongest terms the procedure used by the Congolese President « to disowned him». He thinks that he « could have (') gathered all the members of the presidential circle » and accuses President Kabila « of having clearly violated the Constitution and the All-inclusive Agreement», the paper says. Kabila-Ruberwa: a disturbing cacophony deplores LE PHARE on its front page, fearing more «stormy discussions within the presidential circle».
Théodore Ngoy arrested, also titles the same paper, which mention's the pastor's kidnapping, a lawyer and leader of an NGO known as « Christ for Justice ». LE PALMARES says that he was arrested « following his opinions about nationality and the draft law relating to nationality discussed by the Parliament».
« There are signs and indications that explain the motivations for such a cruel act», notes LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES which titles: Gatumba massacre: what is the root cause' The paper establishes some correlation between the massacre and the recent declarations made by the Congolese Vice-President for Political, Defence and Security Affairs, Azarias Ruberwa, «of Tutsi origin» who demanded the change of MONUC mandate to enable him « to track down, to disarm and to repatriate Interahamwe Hutu combatants and ex-Rwandan armed troops (ex-FAR) by force in Burundi». « The Interahamwe, the ex-FAR and their Burundian allies did not certainly appreciate the procedure used by Ruberwa. They attacked the Gatumba camp the very day Ruberwa was visiting and conveyed a message of comfort to his country people», the paper highlights. The paper quotes some witnesses as indicating that the assailants did not attack the Congolese refugees of the Bafulero ethnic group a few meters away from the site of the massacres. « It is a targeted killing», says LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES.
Burundi accuses the Maï-Maï and closes its borders with DRC, announces LE PHARE. The Maï-Maï declared that they were not involved in the massacre, LA TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES titles. The « intrepid warriors» committed «barbarous act on one of the three sites sheltering the Congolese refugees in Burundi», the paper adds, highlighting UNHCR's responsibility. «Major Ekofo, the accused Maï Maï chief, spent the fateful night of Friday with Colonel Namushevua, deputy to Patrick Masunzu, the chief of the Banyamulenge rebellion against RCD rebellion (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie). « The Maï-Maï mediation committee which releases this information, is of the view that the masterminds of the heinous crime are elsewhere», writes L'AVENIR, recalling that the massacre was claimed by Burundian rebels of the Forces Nationales de Libération (FNL). « Unfortunately some people tend to reject the claim. Then they may know the ins and outs' Yet the methods used are not peculiar to the Congolese», writes the paper, saying that DRC's destabilisation is well underway.
LA REFERENCE PLUS reports RCD's political statement accusing the FARDC (Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo). The movement's Secretary-General and 1st Vice-President refers to « two FARDC companies based in sectors 6 and 7 of Kiliba headed by Major Ekofo, deputy to colonel Nakabaka, commander of the Uvira brigade who encircled the camp, torched it and killed the refugees. The two companies joined an FNL company in the Burundian territory». According to RCD, the paper says, « the act of genocide was recently organised in the Walungu district during a secret meeting chaired by General Félix Mbuja Mabe, commander of 10th military district in Sud-Kivu ».
A massacre used to demonise Mbuja Mabe and the Maï-Maï, titles FORUM DES AS, which singles out « manipulation ». « Without any investigation, the very people who masterminded the barbarous act have immediately condemned the Maï-Maï of the 10th military district, headed by General Mbuja Mabe; the rumours were unfortunately echoed by western medias, without any verification of the said kirundi and lingala-speaking soldiers», the paper writes, estimating that this is « an easy accusation against the military troops from Kinshasa, under General Mbuja Mabe, who successfully hampered the Tutsi's plan in the region».
« The Maï-Maï are not making any war against Rwanda, nor Burundi, nor yet the Tutsi populations known as the Banyamulenge. The Maï-Maï have never attacked a single neighbouring country since the aggression war broke out», writes LA REFERENCE PLUS, which publishes a declaration issued by the Maï-Maï. The Maï-Maï condemns Ruberwa, says the paper on its front page. « Any observer of the Congolese political scene would note that whenever Vice-president Ruberwa travels to the East, a major incident takes place in Kivu », the paper says, quoting, among other things, the assassination attempt against General Nabiolwa (ex-commander of the 10th military district), «all the Mutebutsi 's saga», the attempt of taking Government delegation hostage by the military troops of the 8th military region in Goma, etc. « Strange coincidence: those events take place when the Vice-president Ruberwa is in the East», L'AVENIR also says. FORUM DES AS goes on to say that despite the presence of Azarias Ruberwa the East last May, « Nkundabatware and Mutebutsi did not refrain from committing massacres in Bukavu ». The paper therefore wonders, « Why Rwandans and Banyamulenge only wait until Vice-President Ruberwa visits the East to radicalise their claims' Does it mean that they are scorning his leadership or that he has lost control of his party's grassroots' ».
LE PALMARES refers to « dishonourable squabbles in the presidential circle» alluding to Nkunda's affairs and titles: Azarias Ruberwa responds to Joseph Kabila. The paper recalls that the Vice-president « proposed that (the dissident Laurent Nkunda) be pressured to leave the country and go abroad to further his studies in a military academy». It also echoes the Congolese President's reaction through his spokesman last 13 August: « Joseph Kabila is opposed that anyone indulges on negotiations with Nkunda or Mutebutsi on behalf of the country». The paper also recalls the 18 June meeting, which decided « that serious disciplinary measures must be taken against anyone perpetrating massacres, rapes, lootings and other exactions on the population in Bukavu and elsewhere». The paper says that Mr. Ruberwa has condemned in the strongest terms the procedure used by the Congolese President « to disowned him». He thinks that he « could have (') gathered all the members of the presidential circle » and accuses President Kabila « of having clearly violated the Constitution and the All-inclusive Agreement», the paper says. Kabila-Ruberwa: a disturbing cacophony deplores LE PHARE on its front page, fearing more «stormy discussions within the presidential circle».
Théodore Ngoy arrested, also titles the same paper, which mention's the pastor's kidnapping, a lawyer and leader of an NGO known as « Christ for Justice ». LE PALMARES says that he was arrested « following his opinions about nationality and the draft law relating to nationality discussed by the Parliament».
