Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Fides Service) - A Catholic priest in Ubundu, archdiocese of Kisangani in east Democratic Congo has called on militia groups to stop violence against civilians. “Stop causing this suffering to your brothers and sisters” Father Jean-Claude Basimbela, parish priest told leaders of militia groups in the area which rob and kill unarmed villagers.
“I say this because it is my duty to speak for helpless people terrorised by men in uniform” the priest told the local Catholic news agency DIA adding that the people are subjected to all sorts of violence: “torture and beating, extortion and death threats if they report these attacks to the authorities”.
Don Basimbela said that according to the country’s new Constitution, soon to be voted with a referendum, “formation military or paramilitary groups or private armies or giving military training to groups of young men are acts of “high treason”.
These crimes are being committed by militia leaders in the eastern part of Congo and they prolong the situation of instability which has lasted for years now. Militia groups foment hatred and conflict between villages hitherto living in peace..
The priest denounced “ferocious” rivalry fed, he said, by “invisible hands which want to make Ubundu in a place where civilians are despoiled”.
Rev Basimbela reminds the outlaw militia groups that the only legal armed force is the regular army “which has the mission to defend the integrity of the nation and in times of peace to promote economic, social and cultural development as well as protect citizens and citizens’ possessions”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/10/2005 righe 28 parole 292)
