Rome (Fides Service) - A heartfelt appeal for immediate intervention to stop the endless humanitarian tragedy in the Democratic Republic of Congo addressed to heads of governments and other political leaders by the Superior General of the Dehonian missionaries, Priests of the Sacred Heart, reached Fides Service this morning, October 24. In recent months the number of acts of bloody violence in Congo has escalated. Various armed groups in total impunity loot, torture and kill civilians. The missionaries present strive to alleviate the suffering of the people but the time has come for the international Community, too often distracted by superficial discussion and factious antagonism, to realise what is happening and to intervene immediately. Fides Service gives below an English translation of the message which was in Italian and leaving to others the task of bringing the perpetrators before the law, we entrust to the Lord the peoples of the Great Lakes and we pray that those responsible for the destiny of so many helpless people will show themselves worthy of their task. Here is the appeal:

Appeal from the General House of the Dehonian Fathers

As missionaries in Congo, we share the painful plight of these poor people, abused by troops of many different nationalities and condemned to exile, hunger and poverty. We are deeply concerned not only for the situation of our missionaries and those of other Congregations, who have chosen to stay in Congo to proclaim the Gospel of love and reconciliation in Christ and who are truly a sign of hope for these peoples, but for the millions of people who have a right to life, peace, respect for their dignity and the hope for a future worthy of children of God and respected citizens. We ask for communications with missionaries and missions to be restored and for immediate aid (food and medicine) to overcome this serious emergency.
Main events:
Despite some signals of hope from the Great Lakes area, the situation in many parts of D. Congo is still serious, indeed tragic. Armed rebel groups of Congo itself, inspired or sustained by troops of occupying countries plunder and kill helpless civilians in total impunity. The international community appears to have forgotten this part of the globe from which no daily news reports or photographs ever reach the world media.
Here we give a brief outline of the violence perpetrated, put together with scarce information available
1. On August 6 2002, Bahema warriors, backed by Ugandan troops, took the town of Bunia; about 100 civilians were killed; troops loyal to Nyamwisi ("president" of this region of Congo) were put to flight. The governor's house was bombed and the governor fled to GETI (near Mont Hoyo). Nyamwisi's men withdrew to KOMANDA, about 80 km west of BUNIA, while in GETI the governor was given shelter by the Bangiti (fighting against the Bahema and the Bagheghere).
2. On 11 August 2002, the Governor, with over 1,000 Bangiti warriors - some say 1500-2000 - advanced on KOMANDA. It is reported that the governor and Nyamwisi's soldiers tried to prevent fighting between the Bangiti and the Bahema in KOMANDA.
3. On 12 August 2002, the governor went to BENI (south Congo). In KOMANDA the Bangiti started a man-hunt for Bahema and Bagheghere brutally murdering them with choppers and lances. Acts of atrocious cruelty, savagery and cannibalism were seen. Heads were fixed on poles, bodies dumped in ditches, or drawn and heart and liver eaten, whole families were closed in huts and burnt alive, hundreds of Bahema and Bagheghere perished. At the end of all this there was the usual sacking and looting regardless of tribal origin. There followed a first exodus: thousands began to move in the direction of BENI and MAMBASA.
4. On 16 August, when the sacking and looting was completed the Bangiti returned to their lands. Nyamwisi soldiers moved from KOMANDA to BUNIA, perhaps hoping to take back the town or more likely to steal herds kept by the Bahema at IRUMU. When news of this attack reached the Bahema in Bunia, backed by Ugandan armoured cars, they launched a counter attack and advanced to KOMANDA. Once in KOMANDA they and the Ugandans attacked everyone they found (the few courageous ones who remained) considering them accomplices of the Bangiti. This triggered a second exodus: civilians and soldiers took the road for Beni and Mambasa. The behaviour of Nyamwisi's troops was deplorable and the journey, arduous enough in itself, became a calvary for thousands of mothers and children: the troops robbed them of the little they managed to salvage. Eyewitnesses say about 15.000 displaced persons went south (Eringheti, Oicha, Beni.) and more than 2.000 went towards Mambasa.
5. On 24 August 2002, in Mambasa more than 1,000 people were offered shelter by the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonian Fathers).
6. On 8 September 2002 troops loyal to Roger Lumbala, president of Isiro (Wamba), move to take Mambasa.
7. On 15 September 2002, R. Lumbala's troops are at 70 km from Mambasa; displaced persons are now 2600.
8. On 2 October 2002 R. Lumbala's troops are at 25 km from Mambasa.
9. Il 12 October 2002, Mambasa is taken by R. Lumbala's troops. Homes, schools, missions are sacked, women are taken prisoner, the cruelty shown by the soldiers was even worse than in the tragic events of 1964.
10. The war front is between Mambasa and Beni and this means that our mission can no longer receive from Butembo food supplies vital for the refugees. The only path open is by air ( at 5 km from Mambasa there is an airfield still usable) but how can the mission deal with the situation alone?
This is not the first time in recent months that events like these at Mambasa happen in Congo. Similar violence took place at Kivu, Isiro, Wamba Munghere, etc. We are deeply saddened by the fact that the international community is not informed of these events, and even more grieved insensitivity of world powers which, aware of events, do nothing to find a solution.
Profoundly distressed by these reports and feeling, as Religious Missionary Congregations, the cause of Africa our own, we call on those who are able, to act, to intervene in this serious situation, to help the civilian population of Congo unjustly subject to atrocities of all kinds.
We demand:
- immediate intervention, food, medicines, specialised personnel, by the International Red Cross to Mambasa;
- international guarantees to apply peace agreements signed recently, restoring in Congo legitimate authority and right to life, peace and development worthy of human beings;
- mobilisation and orientation of humanitarian activity of MONUC, already present in some main towns but often unable to function even in cases of extreme emergency;
- tackle the problem of thousands of internally displaced persons living in insecurity, without assistance, and help them to return home and live a worthy life.
- Free women taken as slaves and put order in the armed forces.
It is our duty to defend the fundamental rights of all men and all women. Aware that the events reported in our appeal may be judged hardly important enough to merit publication, but prompted by our consciences and a spirit of solidarity, we appeal to you to act in the name of justice and to take action swiftly because every hour that passes means life or death for many innocent people.
Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Saverian Missionaries
Comboni Missionaries
Consolata Missionaries
Missionaries of Africa (Fides Service 24/10/2002)