MJPC: The Congolese Army Must assume Its Responsibility to Protect civilians.

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The MJPC deplores and condemns the irresponsibility of the Congolese army deployed on the territory of Uvira in Operation Kimia II and calls for the Congolese government to ensure that the soldiers responsible for atrocities being committed be brought to justice without further delay. The statement follows reports from Radio Okapi that elements of the Congolese army deployed in Kamanyola are committing atrocities against civilians.

According to Radio Okapi, "The FARDC soldiers accused belong to the 33rd Brigade. They are guilty, according to local civil society that bases its claims on reports from NGOs, looting, rapes and robberies in areas where they operate. These elements had been made two months ago in Kamanyola as part of the Operation KIMIA II. In less than fifteen days, according to the source, they would be used in serious human rights abuses against local populations. At the point that some villages were emptied of their inhabitants. Cases of Rutebe and Kamonyi near Katogota, whose residents have fled since a week already"

For the director of community affairs of MJPC, Makuba Sekombo, "instead of providing humanitarian assistance to more the than 56,000 newly displaced people in the territory of Uvira by the same elements of the Congolese army, who rape women and children, looting and burn houses, the Congolese Government has so far done nothing to help"

"It is totally unacceptable," said Mr. Sekombo who also evoked "the increasing numbers of families with children and elderly people in very precarious conditions which have been abandoned to themselves without any social or humanitarian aid"

The MJPC has also renewed its call on the Congolese government to take urgent steps to end human rights abuses in eastern Congo, hold perpetrators accountable and ensure reparation for the victims of sexual violence by helping them rebuild their lives. A petition in favor of this program can be signed here: http://www.gopetition.com.au/online/26180.html

MJPC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working to add a voice in promoting justice and peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo in particular in the east where thousands of innocent civilians, including children and women continued to suffer massive violations of human rights while the armed groups responsible for these crimes remain unpunished.

For more information on MJPC and its activities, visit http://www.mjpcongo.org. E-mail: info@mjpcongo.org or call Sekombo Makuba 1 408 806 3644.