Pillay alarmed by human rights situation in eastern DR Congo

27 January 2009



GENEVA -- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed deep consternation Tuesday about a continuous stream of gross human rights abuses committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as well as her concern that the current joint operation by Congolese and Rwandan government forces against FDLR rebels may endanger civilians.

“The violations committed by the LRA are grotesque,” said Pillay. “I’m also concerned that the joint military counter-operations, unless properly planned and executed, could lead to further human rights abuses being perpetrated against the civilian population who are, in effect, caught between the conflicting parties.”

The High Commissioner called on all participants in the various conflicts in the troubled eastern part of the DRC to respect human rights and international humanitarian law and called for accountability measures to be included in efforts by the international community to bring about a peaceful settlement of the crisis.

In December 2008, the Congolese, Ugandan and Sudanese armies launched joint operations targeting LRA bases in Orientale Province, in the far north-east of DRC. The military action followed the failure of LRA leader Joseph Kony to sign an agreement to end his rebellion against the Ugandan government.

Initial UN investigations suggest that the LRA retaliated by killing hundreds of civilians, whom they believed were aiding the government forces. The LRA is also accused of conducting large-scale kidnappings and rapes, as well as forced recruitment of minors. As a result, a major humanitarian crisis has developed in the region.

The High Commissioner also expressed concern over the situation in North Kivu province where thousands of Rwandan troops have deployed in recent days, in preparation for joint action with the Congolese army to disarm the Rwandan Hutu rebels of the FDLR, who have been responsible for committing massive human rights abuses against civilians over the past 14 years.

Pillay said that the protection of civilians should be the top priority as this operation is planned and carried out, recalling how similar actions in the past have resulted in widespread harm for civilians.

“I am particularly concerned by reports that the Congolese-Rwandan operation to flush out FDLR-rebels has already impacted negatively on the ability of MONUC peacekeepers, as well as various UN agencies and humanitarian organizations, to protect and assist the civilian population in some areas,” Pillay said.

Commenting on a third conflict that has caused chaos and bloodshed in the region, Pillay welcomed recent calls by MONUC and others for the reintegration of CNDP forces into the FARDC, as an important step towards securing peace in North and South Kivu. However, she said, it is imperative that this process should include accountability for massacres and other horrific abuses committed by the CNDP under the leadership of Laurent Nkunda and Bosco Ntaganda, pointing out that the former is suspected of crimes against humanity, and the latter has already been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Nkunda was taken into custody by the Rwandan authorities last week.

“Members of the CNDP are accused of authorizing or committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, along with the leaders of a number of other groups in eastern DRC,” said Pillay. “There should never be impunity for crimes of this gravity.”