Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bukavu (Agenzia Fides)- “Our democracy is still young and fragile, but rich in opportunities for growth. Do not discourage us if we make mistakes, rather, at critical moments help us ” says Fr Justin Nkunzi, head of Bukavu diocesan Justice and Peace Commission in Kivu in the east of Congo.
“In 2006 after 40 years we had presidential and legislative elections” Fr Nkunzi continued. “People are certain there will be a change, a new epoch has started. However there are three difficulties to overcome” the priest told Fides. “First of all the people are impatient with democracy, they think difficulties must be solved immediately. I tell them this takes time, we were under a dictatorship for 40 years and we are a new democracy making its first steps, but everything cannot be obtained immediately. The second difficulty is formation of cadres. The new MPs and administrators have never had these charges and they must learn their job. The third difficulty is to put aside the old mentality that problems are solved by the state, the administrators. People must roll up their sleeves and work with the administrators to help the country progress”.
The head of Justice and Peace Commission Bukavu said formation is the key to solving this problem. “Formation is the key for a stable democracy in our country. If people are ignorant and illiterate they can be easily persuaded to take up arms, Awareness of one's history and rights helps people realise that arms only destroy a country. We have an opportunity to help Congo progress thanks to the Constitutional Charter which created a federal state. We are waiting for a law to implement federalism so provincial and local elections can be held in June 2008. The creation of local representatives in a country are vast as ours, will bring the people closer to the institutions and involve them in the process of decision-making ”.
Insecurity in east Congo is caused by the presence of rebels led by former general Laurent Nkunda. The army has launched a vast offensive against Nkunda in north Kivu (see Fides 3/12/2007). “ Nkunda is not only a Congolese problem. He has people who finance him” says Fr Nkunzi. “However although there are foreign responsibilities, the first responsible for this fratricidal violence are the Congolese. In Congo we have 400 tribes and if each tribe had taken up arms to claim their rights, the country would have exploded long ago. This did not happen because there is a strong national sentiment ”.
Peace demands justice. Rev Nkunzi recalls “in Congo prisons are full of people accused of minor crimes. What we need is an alternative to prison”. This is why Justice and Peace Bukavu archdiocese formed councils of elders in every parish to settle disputes and clashes. This system works and is used also by non Christians. We settle questions of 'stolen poultry' but also dispute during the war when people took advantage of the confusion to loot in the neighbours homes”.
“This form of justice is important, but for those who helped to unleash war in Congo there must be international justice” Rev Nkunzi concludes. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 11//12/2007 righe 45 parole 635)
