DR of Congo:20,000 Flee Fighting in East in 'Critical Humanitarian State'

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

http://allafrica.com/stories/200407260909.html


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 UN News Service (New York)
July 26, 2004
Posted to the web July 26, 2004

Nearly 20,000 people are in a "critical humanitarian state" in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after fleeing renewed fighting between central government forces and dissident troops around Lake Kivu, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"We saw entire columns of people leaving the Kalehe zone," Jean-Marc Cordaro, head of OCHA's office in Bukavu at the southern end of the lake, said after leading an assessment mission to the area on Saturday together with staff from OCHA's office in Goma, at the northern end.

"Targeted killings have occurred," said Patrick Lavand'Homme, head of the Goma office, quoting eye witness accounts from the refugees. "Homes have been burned, sometimes with people inside."

Some 15,000 people have taken refuge along the banks of Lake Kivu, after fleeing the fighting between the DRC's armed forces (FARDC) and dissident leader Gen. Laurent Nkunda. Nearly 5,000 others fled to the High Plateaux region south-west of Minova following abuses by soldiers and armed groups in the Kalehe area.
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[struggle4progress]

1. International Probe Begins into Congo's Ethnic Violence

VOA News
28 Jul 2004, 14:34 UTC

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A U.N. spokeswoman said Tuesday the investigators will meet with members of Congolese government, civil society, and foreign organizations as part of the court's first probe into crimes in Ituri province.

The court's top prosecutor announced an investigation into possible financial ties between foreign businesses and fighters in Ituri.

The International Criminal Court has also said it will consider charges of crimes against humanity, genocide, rape and torture in the region.

Also Tuesday, the United Nations Security Council extended an arms embargo against armed groups in Ituri and North and South Kivu provinces which oppose Congo's post-war transitional government.
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http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=01043A4C-815C-4174-A2ECB41D810E5BA8


International Criminal Court arrives in DR Congo to start probe, UN says

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Last September, the Prosecutor spotlighted connections that between crimes being committed in DRC's Ituri province and businesses operating in Europe, Asia and North America. He pledged to determine the contribution, if any, that these businesses are making to the commission of crimes in the DRC.

"The investigation of the financial aspects of the atrocities allegedly committed in Ituri will be crucial to prevent future crimes and for the prosecution of crimes already committed," he said at the time, voicing hope that the exercise would "contribute to the ongoing peace process and ultimately yield stability for the DRC, fostering not just political stability but also healthy markets."

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11480&Cr=democratic&Cr1=congo


Security Council reaffirms arms embargo in new resolution on DR of Congo

27 July 2004 – The United Nations Security Council today renewed its arms embargo against irregular forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) until July of next year "in light of the failure by the parties to comply" with previous demands and it called for the re-establishment of an expert group to analyze any further violations.

In its resolution, approved unanimously after a closed meeting, the Council said that the embargo would be lifted if its demands were satisfied.
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It enjoined DRC's neighbours to provide "no direct or indirect assistance, especially military or financial assistance" to the movements and armed groups opposing the multi-party transitional government.
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The Council also re-affirmed its March 2004 resolution which "urges all States, and especially those in the region, to take the appropriate steps," such as judicial means, to end such illegal activities as exploiting DRC's natural resources.
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http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11482&Cr=democratic&Cr1=congo


NewsWire
28/07/2004
UN eyes big changes in Congo peacekeeping mission
Reuters

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The current mandate of the U.N. Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo expires on Saturday. To accommodate the review, the 15-nation council is expected to adopt a resolution this week extending the existing mandate for another two months, until Oct. 1, the diplomats said.

The U.N. mission is capped at 10,800 soldiers in Congo, where mutinous army units and vestiges of rebel forces have repeatedly attacked towns and civilians in recent months.

Thousands rioted in several Congolese cities in June after U.N. peacekeepers and government forces failed to protect residents of the key town of Bukavu from a renegade attack.

U.N. officials are considering adding up to 17,000 additional peacekeepers but say budget constraints and a worldwide shortage of peacekeepers mean that between 5,000 and 6,000 is more likely, diplomats said.
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http://www.monuc.org/news.aspx?newsID=3385

[dArKeR]

2. 300 000 flee clashes in DRC

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1564488,00.html