AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - “Faced with misinformation supplied by those who want war, we must let the moderates have their say” say Fides sources in Bukavu

Bukavu (Fides Service)- The situation of uncertainty remains in Bukavu main town in south Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, after rebel General Laurent Nkunda threatened to take back the city unless a commission is set up to investigate presumed crimes against Rwandan Tutsi Banyamulenge. Nkunda is one of the leaders of RCD-Goma (Congolese Union for Democracy) group which was to be integrated into the new unified Congolese army on the basis of peace agreements signed in 2003. In early June the general led part of the troops to take Bukavu, only to withdraw a few days later.
“This is once again the excuse of ethnic violence to justify himself” local sources in Bukavu told Fides. “Unfortunately the Banyamulenge were subjected to special taxes but this is a long way from genocide. Instead, Banyamulenge extremists are feeding ethnic violence in order to blow up the peace agreement”.
“There is so much misinformation, distorted reports, on these events” say Fides sources. “Why give so much space to extremists and so little to Banyamulenge who want national peace and unity?”. “No one talks about Banyamulenge moderates and they are the ones who denounce the falsity of the extremists ” our sources say.
“As we saw the conquest of Bukavu by extremists was prepared with lies spread some months earlier, actually on 2 March, with the publication of a report accusing local Catholic media of inciting people against the Banyamulenge, which was totally false” say Fides sources.
It is difficult but not impossible to bring the truth to the surface. “The truth are the 3.5 million dead in Congo since 1998” our sources say. “This war was imposed on the people who want peace. Moderate Banyamulenge recall with regret the times when they lived in peace with the other Congolese in Kivu”. (L.M.) Agenzia Fides 14/6/2004 righe 32 parole 380)