HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS "DISTRESSED" OVER ARREST AND SEARCH OF MEMBER OF INVESTIGATIVE TEAM IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

HR/98/22/Rev.1
9 April 1998


Following is a statement issued this morning by Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:

I was distressed to learn that a United Nations human rights officer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had been arrested and put on a flight from Goma to Kinshasa on Tuesday 7 April. In Kinshasa, the officer, Mr Christopher Harland, was detained overnight at the airport and released in the afternoon of 8 April..

I am relieved that my colleague was released unharmed but remain deeply concerned that his luggage, containing sensitive documents from his work in the Goma area, was opened and searched. Mr Harland and other UN officials attempted to prevent the seizure of the luggage which was clearly a focus of the security officers' interest.

There is no excuse for this flagrant breach of a Government's obligations under the Convention on Privileges and Immunities governing treatment of United Nations staff members. The officer in involved was clearly identified and carried a United Nations laissez-passer. He had previously worked in the Rwanda Field Operation and was respected as an experienced and committed human rights officer.

The incident this week is the latest in a series which has frustrated the work of the Secretary-General's Investigative Team. This pattern of obstruction calls into question the promises made by the Kinshasa authorities to allow a proper investigation of allegations of grave violations of human rights committed over the past several years.

There should now be an assessment of the implications of this incident. Clearly, there are justifiable doubts as to the value of maintaining the investigative effort in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.