Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - "The population of the town of Kiwanja, in Rutshuru territory (North Kivu Province, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC), has decided to take to the streets to express their anger and protest against the killings of civilians and acts of armed robbery perpetrated by the military and the Congolese police", says a report sent to Fides by "Peace Network for Congo", promoted by the missionaries working in the Country.
"People no longer believe in a pack of lies, according to which the atrocities are carried out by the DLFR (Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda, an armed group of Rwandese origin which for years has raged in the region) and other armed movements", claims the report. Based on the military uniforms worn by the attackers, eyewitnesses have identified the perpetrators of the killings as national army soldiers or members of the Congolese police. But official sources and the radio of the United Nations continue to attribute the killers to the DLFR, to the Mai-Mai or brigands and other acronyms.
"Therefore, there is a discrepancy between the statements of eyewitnesses and official statements of public authorities. The long-hidden truth came to light when people found out that the Congolese army and the police do nothing to protect civilians when they are called in case of danger, and that the killers are the Congolese military and national police themselves", states the document.
"The truth is that these armed groups, which make the eastern part of DRC ungovernable, are to serve as a timely excuse to demand autonomy for the region. According to the people, the enemy of the Congolese population is the same Eastern Congolese army, composed mainly of soldiers of the NCDP-National Congress defense of the People- (a guerrilla movement which after reaching an agreement with the central government integrated its men in the regular armed forces)" the document states.
Even the joint military operations between the Congolese army, the UN Mission in Congo and the Ugandan and Rwandese armed forces, are officially designed to hunt down armed groups operating in the region, according to the missionaries their aim is to increase instability and chases away the local population. North and South Kivu are rich in strategic minerals such as coltan and cassiterite, which are exported through illegal channels. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/08/2011)
