AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - “CONGOLESE GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST TAKES STEPS TO STOP WAR WHICH HAS ALREADY TAKEN A DEATH TOLL OF THREE MILLION ”

Tuesday, 11 November 2003

Kinshasa (Fides Service) - The Catholic Church in Democratic Congo continues to lift its voice in defence of peace and the victims of war. In a message issued at the end of a plenary assembly 2 - 8 November 2003 in Kinshasa, the Superiors Major of Institutes of Consecrated Life e and Apostolic Life in Congo made a solemn commitment to “work everywhere and always to promote reconciliation with God and neighbour to bring peace to the peoples of the Great Lakes region and Central Africa and the whole of Africa”.
In the message the African Religious accuse Congo’s leaders of silence and inactivity and many forms of incitement to ethnic hatred among the people. The Religious also recall international responsibilities for promoting violence in Congo, also in the light of numerous reports by the United Nations and Human Rights Organisation denouncing robbing of Congo’s resources, massacres and war crimes rape, murder, profanation of places of worship, destruction of hospitals, schools, amidst the indifference of the international community which has said nothing about 3 million lives lost.
In a statement issued on 7 November, the Kisangani branch of Pax Christi said fighting has resumed in the north eastern region of Ituri. “Those responsible for the crimes perpetrated in this part of the country must be arrested and taken to court, beginning with the leaders of the movements which use tribal militia against the civil population ”.
Pax Christi calls on the Congo government and the international community to assume their responsibilities to put an end to the war being waged by tribal militia in the region. “The Congo government sustained by an international force must guarantee security in Ituri ”, where the situation has worsened after attacks on the UN Mission in Congo at Bunia, main city of the region.
A United Nations;’ spokesman said rival Hema and Lendu militia were responsible for the assault on the MONUC mission.
MONUC is taking measures to curb the violence with road blocks and weapons searching missions. During one of these operations Claude Aboli, leader of one of the ten or more rebel groups was killed. Aboli is leader of PUSIC, Party for Unity Solidarity and Integrity in Congo.
The United Nations Organisation says it has completed the initial deployment of 4.500 MONUC troops in Bunia, and other large towns in the region. (L.M.) (Fides Service 11/11/2003 lines 38 words 477)


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