Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides)- Several motives could be behind the assassination of Congolese human rights activist Floribert Chebeya, chairman of the NGO Voice for the Voiceless (VSV), who disappeared with his driver in the evening of 1 June in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), after leaving the offices of the inspector general of the National Congolese Police where he was supposed, according to VSV, to meet inspector-general John Numbi. Chebeya's body was found in the early hours of the morning on June 3 in the outskirts of Kinshasa, in his automobile, whereas the body of his driver has been officially declared missing (but it is feared he too was murdered).
“Chebeya intended to deposit an investigation and institute a civil action regarding repression led in 2007 by the national police against the political religious movement Bundu dia Kongo, in Bas Congo” says a report sent to Fides by Rete Pace per il Congo, a network promoted by missionaries working in the country.
“Regarding the east of the country- the report says- Chebeya had strongly criticised military operations conducted jointly with the Rwandan army against Rwandan Hutu rebels of the Rwandan Democratic Forces of Liberation FDLR in 2009, operations directly agreed between John Numbi and the present Rwandan minister of defence, James Kabarebe. In view of the country's 50 years of independence, to be celebrated 30 June, Chebeya was preparing an initiative to request an amnesty for 51 detainees awaiting execution after being found guilty of the assassination of Laurent Désiré Kabila, the father of the present day President Joseph Kabila”. VSV, the association of Floribert Chebeya, had asked the UN Security Council to open an investigation on the assassination of the Congolese Head of State, similar to the one instituted after the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri,
The cause of death has not been officially established. An autopsy has been carried out by a team of Dutch legal doctors and the final report of the findings is expected in 3 to 5 weeks time. In the meantime, National Police inspector general, John Numbi Banza Tambo has been dismissed because of his involvement in the inquiry on the death of the human rights activist. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/6/2010)
