Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bukavu (Fides Service)- Some days ago when Bukavu, the main town in south Kivu was taken by Tutsi Rwandan Banyamulenger rebels (resident in Congo for decades) for a brief period few, one of the places attacked was the Catholic Radio Maria Queen of Peace. The following dramatic report was sent to Fides by Radio Maria operators: “Bukavu’s diocesan Radio has been targeted by the Banyamulenge for some time. They accuse the Radio, Monsignor François Xavier Maroy, Vicar General and Mr Didace Kaningini of the Civil Society of instigating hatred and fomenting genocide. In a statement read under threat by Mandeleo Radio in Bukavu, the head of the «Banyamulenge» in Bukavu, a Mr Kadage, compared the « the diocesan radio, called Radio Maria Queen of Peace », to the infamous «Thousand Hills Radio» during the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
On 2 June, Mutebusi’s mutineer soldiers tried to enter the Catholic Radio station in avenue Mbaki. Eyewitnesses said the attack was made in the afternoon of 2 June. The town had been in chaos since the early morning with civilians fleeing in every direction.
On reaching Nyawera place a group of soldiers began to shoot at a portrait of Bishop Christophe Munzihirwa killed during the 1996 war. Later no less than 17 bullets were counted. Authentic witnesses to the Gospel are always a nuisance even when they are dead ….
The soldiers asked a small group of people where they could find Radio Maria. Not even ten minutes later shots were head coming from Mbaki avenue and all around the Bishop’s House. While some of the soldiers tried to break down the door, other smashed all the windows. Three shots were fired at the lock of the door which resisted miraculously. One of the bullets fell on the floor the others made a hole in the iron door and then fell to the floor, one in the Director’s office and the other five centimetres from the statue of Our Lady.
Personally I believe in miracles. If you see all the bullet holes around Bukavu Cathedral and along Mbaki avenue, you can see it was a miracle. Our Lady protected her Radio and her cathedral”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 18/6/2004, righe 34 parole 428)
