We, Congolese in the Diaspora have welcomed the decision of U.N. Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon who declared on Wednesday, 19th December 2012, that the United Nations now “has a certain broader political framework on the basis of which we can really resolve this ongoing tragic situation in the DRC as soon as possible.”
The United Nations force in Congo DRC (called MONUSCO – Mission des Nations Unies pour la Stabilisation du Congo), suffered a severe blow to its image after it chose not to intervene as the so-called ”M23 rebels” – a militia who U.N. experts and Congolese clearly testify are backed by neighboring Rwanda and Uganda- invaded and seized control of the eastern city of Goma in the DRC.
U.N. officials defended the force's approach as necessary to "avoid putting Goma's civilians at a higher risk" of a still ongoing genocide in the DRC with impunity. Furthermore Voices have been upraised, the world body have launched a strategic review of the United Nations Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to see how its mandate might be reinforced in order to “protect the civilians” in the DRC’s mineral war.
But we would like to recall that any changes to be taken to enhance the capacity of MONUSCO would be meaningless without a responsible Leadership in the Congolese government which must have an efficient political will and be capable to bring significant reform and improvements in the Congolese army. No solution could be efficient without an end of impunity in the DRC and in the region. The reinforcement of the MONUSCO will be useless and obsolete without an end of meddling by Rwanda and Uganda in the Congolese territory.
Therefore, we Congolese in the Diaspora are asking for the application of the UN- Charter, the United Nations to take strong measures and sanctions against both the government in Rwanda and in Uganda accordingly to the international Law. One may wonder how the Security Council of the United Nations can admit Rwanda as a non-permanent member within its institution after the publication of so many UN-Rapports that clearly show evident that Rwanda government’s officials are responsible of horrible war crimes and crimes against Humanity that can be considered as genocide in the DRC.
We, Congolese in the Diaspora would like to appeal again to the United Nations and to all Nations of the world by remembering them that broader political framework on the basis of which we can really resolve this ongoing tragic situation in the DRC as soon as possible should be strongly based on the respect of the sovereignty and of the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This country and its people still need justice and a legitimate national government that can guarantee peace and stability in the DRC as well as in the region. Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, like many other international political leaders, has described the situation in the Congo (DRC) as being of grave concern; everyone is agree with him, that’s the most tragic international armed conflict after the second world war that gained less consideration and international solidarity...
The time has come for the international community to rethink its approach to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as to the rights of the Congolese people and those of the central African region to end the policy of impunity and brutal greediness. The underlying local causes such as ideological and economic matters of the conflict that started in Rwanda before to embrace the DRC and the whole region must be addressed in an accurate manner without false propaganda and falsification of the history.
Mr. “Kabila” is personally not able to take any strong actions against Rwanda government in order to defend the Congolese and the integrity of their territory due to his common known destructive role in the DRC. “Kabila” as former Rwandan Patriotic Front officer will never strongly address his Rwandan supporter to stop the stabilization of the Congo because he is part of the destabilization regime. The Congolese in their large majority do not appreciate the behavior of Mr. “Kabila,” he should be deposed. The Executive is very weak at the moment; the current government in Kinshasa is the result of massive election frauds and violence. We strongly believe that additional “dialogue” between presidents Paul Kagame and “Kabila” will not have any substantial sense or significance, as all evidences show that both of them are strongly determined to destroy the DRC and its people through infernal proxy-war and systematic massacres of Congolese people with impunity.
In this context an additional “dialogue” between the war-lords and their proxy-militia under the mediation of Uganda government who is also strongly involved in the destabilization of the DRC is an insult to the victims of this horrible war. This diplomatic ballet will enable them continuing to try and achieve their aims through proxy means, which is causing enormous human suffering in the DRC, large-scale displacement of civilians and stunted economic growth in the DRC and the whole region. The country absolutely needs a new leadership to give impetus to the fight against corruption, humanitarian tragedy and against the demolition of the Congolese National Army in order to rebuild peace and stability in the DRC and in the region of central Africa. The U.S. government should help and support the Congolese people to achieve this goal accurately.
The Congolese people have come a long way from a big tragedy since more than a century and did not have any respite at all. Their pride that of being Congolese and part of the Humanity is a civic responsibility of hope in justice and security as well as in the divine spirituality; which bind them to their Ancestors, for eternity. They must be the accredited marry -go-around actors of their country. They want to begin right now, rebuilding security and dignity in their country by focusing on priority in this new alliance of peace, the true process of the restoration of State of law, security and the international Congo-partnership Renaissance in all that these words bring forth as utterance on this expectation.
We would like to thank all international institutions and nations of the world who are supporting the Congolese people in their struggle for peace, justice and dignity.
We would like to express our profound gratitude to the Governments of the United States of America, of Germany and of the United Kingdom as well as the EU for all of their new efforts in rebuilding stability and peace in the DRC. Let us begin an Area of Peace and stability in Central Africa. Let us come together to end impunity and this tragedy in the Congo now.
Yours most sincerely,
Jeanne-Marie Sindani,
Executive President, Union des Patriotes de la Diaspora Congolaise, UPDC e.V.
Fuertenfeldbruck, Federal Republic of Germany
www.updcongo.com/
Hon Cerinah Nebanda’s Death a Blow
I have not made any public comment about the mysterious, treacherous, tragic and outrageous death of Honourable Cerinah Nebanda for one reason. I was utterly devastated so much so that I wanted to first come to grips with the grim reality of her untimely death. Hon Nebanda is a person I first knew as a Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) activist at Makerere University where she was also a students’ leader in the Faculty of Social Sciences, a faculty I served as a students’ leader and which I remain attached to date. UYD is a youth wing of the Democratic Party (DP), so Nebanda was a DP member while at Makerere. Hon Nebanda was lively, full of life, frank, honest, upright and upfront, values that the Democratic Party cherishes.
I have a hunch that Nebanda stood on the NRM ticket not because she was an NRM supporter but because she knew the voting patterns of her constituency being an NRM stronghold. The DP President has always stated that DP is a spirit. Accordingly, the DP spirit of fighting for justice, human rights and embracing the truth remained in Hon Nebanda. No wonder in the words of Fred Opolot the government media centre Executive Director, “She was a young Member of Parliament, extremely vocal and was advocating for transparency in government. She stood for values of parliament and this is what all of us should aspire for, especially young people.”
So many theories as to what could have killed Hon Nebanda have been postulated. But what remains vividly clear is that virtually all the accusing fingers point to the executive arm of the government. The Police, before a toxicological study and/or any other tests were carried, said that the late Hon Nebanda could have died of drugs. President Museveni’s stern warning that whoever would point at the government as Hon Nebanda’s killer would be arrested is telling. The arrest of Dr Sylvester Onzivua, a pathologist who had been sanctioned by both Parliament and Hon Nebanda’s family to do an independent investigation in South Africa leaves a lot of question marks.
After pathologist Dr Sylvester Onzivua was arrested, Hon Nebanda’s mother almost broke down. She retorted, “Gavumenti enjagazza ki bamazze okutta omwana wange” meaning “what does the government want from me, they have already killed my child.”
I also watched the NBS Morning Breeze programme on December 19, 2012 where Mr Opolot the Government Media Centre Executive Director was hosted online. Mr Opolot exonerated the government and called for patience as the investigations are done. He said that the government had special interest in Nebanda’s case and thus it would be expedited.
I now turn to the First Lady, Mama Janet’s remarks about Hon Nebanda that “I don’t believe that the government of the Movement killed Nebanda. Surely, Nebanda was not the most critical.” To begin with, dictatorial regimes don’t necessarily kill the most acerbic critics for many of them have a high degree of immunity even from the international community. But I would also like anybody including Hon Janet Museveni to tell me whether there was anybody who was more critical internally than the late Hon Nebanda.
Many Ugandans have died mysteriously and these include DP’s Anthony Sekweyama, Dr Andrew Kayiira and Vincent Lugonvu, NRM’s Francis Ayume former attorney general and James Wapakhabulo, UPDF’s Brigadier General Noble Mayombo and Major General James Kazini, FDCs Joseph Musasizi Kifeefe and human rights activist Robinah Kiyingi, among others. All the four regions have lost people and we must come together and say enough is enough.
Let me also reproduce some of the remarks of the NRM MPs about the death of Hon Nebanda:
“I am ashamed to belong to this government. We must get the truth,” Hon Theodore Ssekikubo.
“Nebanda fought for transparency but the process of investigating her death hasn’t been transparent. And we are seeing that even in death she has resisted untransparent processes,” Hon Wilfred Niwagaba.
“I almost had a fight with my colleagues who when news came in of Nebanda’s death alleged that NRM had a hand in the murder. I now salute those colleagues.We must demand for the final truth,” Hon Hatwib Katooto.
“The cause of her death was suspect but the arrest at the airport has become more suspicious. Why didn’t they call all other parties before the arrest?” General Jim Muhwezi.
We must demand to have legally accepted independent criminal investigation agencies like it is in America. Meanwhile, I am waiting for the Uganda Human Rights Commission to pronounce itself on this grave matter where the right to life is deprived like one is a fly and why police arrests an independent pathologist sanctioned by parliament and the bereaved family. For God and my country.
By Vincent Nuwagaba
Human rights defender
vnuwagaba@gmail.com
