Save the Refugees in the Eastern Congo

By Fr. Shay Cullen

A stronger, better-armed UN force is urgently needed to protect the hundreds of thousands of innocent women and children and youth in the Eastern Congo. Five millions have died over the past several years and the world hardly noticed. What we see happening is another replay of the Rwandan massacres in the making. If they are not killed by machetes, bullets and bombs, then they die of starvation and disease. In these recent weeks thousands of people caught in the crossfire are fleeing from one temporary refugee camp to another.

Charities have appealed for donations to ease the plight of refugees in and around Goma, the Capital of the Eastern Congo. This Christmas and always, our help is ought to be for these refugees. A few weeks ago, as the rebel force of Laurent Nkunda advanced on Goma, they felt vulnerable, desperate and neglected. There are 17,000 UN peace keepers in the Eastern Congo, the biggest in the world, yet there is no peace but only continual fighting by rival forces.

The situation is complex as the Congolese government troops and their allied militia called the Mai-Mai battle with the rebel group led by a Rwandan Tutsi leader General Laurent Nkunda. Fighting him also are the Hutu militia who fled Rwanda after the genocide was stopped by the returning force of Tutsi exiles. There are persistent reports that all groups are recruiting child soldiers.

Last 20 November, the government backed Mai-Mai militia opened fire on UN troops and they fired back, but no one was injured. Government troops have also clashed with the Mai-Mai militia who are supposedly their allies. These militia lack discipline and training so they turn to looting and killing civilians, just like the rebel fighters of Laurent Nkunda.

Government troops have set up their own lucrative mining business profiting from selling tin ore, diamonds and gold and other precious minerals that end up in the laptops and cell phones of consumers around the world. Those planning to buy a diamond ring or jewelry are ought to ask for a certificate that they are not “Blood Diamonds”.

Laurent Nkunda (supported by President Kagame of Rwanda) claims that his goal is to protect the thousands Rwandan Tutsis living in the Eastern Congo who fled there during the genocide unleashed against them by the Hutus in 1994. His enemies say he is aiming to seize power and the mineral wealth of the region. He is the key player in solving the conflict and a cease fire and peace talks have to be pursued with him abhorrently as that might be to many.

President Kagame is also playing a role as he sent troop across the border into the Eastern Congo a few weeks ago. A move, some say is in response to the arrest of Rose Kabuye by German authorities last November 2 on a French arrest warrant. Kabuye is his close associate, a former guerrilla fighter with Kagame. She is accused with nine others for allegedly shooting down the plane of President Juvenal Habyarimana piloted by a French crew, an incident that triggered the genocide. Kagame has been a hash critic of France because of its support for the Hutu-led government before the genocide and allegedly during it. There were 47 French military officers inserted as advisors in the Hutu army. Kagame blames the extremist Hutus who were against the power-sharing deal that was being worked out by Kagame and Habyarimana.

There is little evidence to support the charges according to lawyers familiar with the case. If Rose Kabuye is put on trial, it may be that President Kagame wants to expose the alleged role of France in not preventing the genocide. Whatever the outcome, the world community cannot allow more killing and massacres in the Eastern Congo. They turned away from the Rwandan genocide, but will they do it again? The French foreign minister after a visit said the UN force is in disarray and can’t protect the people. The French and Spanish commanders have resigned in frustration. “EU troops could be called on by the UN security council”, he said. How many times are we all to say “never again” to genocide, mass murder and a “catastrophic” situation.

Visit www.preda.org for more related articles.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
Contact Fr. Shay Cullen at the Preda Center, Upper Kalaklan, Olongapo City, Philippines.
e-mail: preda@info.com.ph
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
PREDA Information Office
PREDA Foundation, Inc.
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
www.preda.org