Pope Francis appeals for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo

by Congo | Dec 27, 2016 | Congo Today

Question 7

Benoît Kambere Lusumba / Emergence & Echoes of the Great Lakes Region: I would like to come back to our colleague’s question just now. It was said here last week that there has been an increase in the strength of MONUSCO forces, including the police, to monitor, to ensure that human rights are respected.

We also know that the MONUSCO police provide support to the Congolese National Police. How can the Congolese National Police continue to use lethal weapons?

Earlier, we talked about nineteen dead, as if it were random. Already a dead man is one too many. What is MONUSCO doing to stop these deaths?

And to Mr. Jose Maria Aranaz, it would seem that he was at the home of Mr. Franck Diongo when he was arrested. What actually happened, and what caused Mr. Franck Diongo to be arrested?

Director of the Joint United Nations Office for Human Rights [Jose maria Aranaz]: I really agree with you, a dead man, is one death too many. And it is a constant plea to the authorities to eradicate the presence of armaments of war, lethal weapons in the management of demonstrations and public order, and we will continue to advocate.

This is very important, because we have checked the numbers that I mentioned before, but we are also allocating the responsibilities. Who is responsible for these killings?

As I said, among the perpetrators of the violations of human rights that were mentioned, was the PNC of course. But, it has even been applauded that the PNC was improving much in the deployment of non-lethal material for the management of the demonstrations.

We said that in July, we said that in October and we said that in November.

For the dead of the day yesterday, we are conducting investigations. But it was also mentioned among the perpetrators of human rights violations, not only the PNC, but also the Republican Guard, the Military Police, and also with regard to arbitrary arrests, the ANR and the PNC also A responsibility.

But all this will be part of the report that we will share with the authorities. It is believed that the new government will provide an opportunity to begin a new dialogue in the way of human rights. It will be a very good opportunity for the new government to demonstrate its genuine commitment to human rights and to bring those responsible for human rights violations to justice.

This is a request that has been submitted to the authorities for a long time. There must be an end to the culture of impunity for violations of human rights by state agents. We must introduce a genuine political will to have zero tolerance for human rights violations, especially at the higher level.

MONUSCO [Félix Prosper Basse] spokesman: I would simply like to say that we have indeed been given a mandate through Resolution 2277 given to us by the Security Council to carry out the training of police officers National so as to enable them to carry out what is called, in a very general way, the maintenance and restoration of order.

In the course of our various press conferences here, I think that we have shared with you all the different trainings that have been given to the agents of the Congolese National Police. I still come to read it when I read it .

So it is to say that certain modules linked to the democratic management of the crowds, but also modules relating to respect for human rights, are repeatedly given to the Congolese defense and security forces.

So we have always advocated the non-use of lethal weapons. Because the maintenance of order, crowd control is not done with lethal weapons. And I think very well that in the first elections

Here a lot of equipment, a lot of training, a lot of training has been given to the Congolese defense and security forces for the non-use of lethal weapons.
Obviously, there is also a fundamental issue. We are not at the side of the Congolese National Police when they are deployed in the city of Kinshasa.

So I think this question should be put directly to the Congolese National Police by saying, but why are you using lethal weapons? Instead of telling MONUSCO why are Congolese policemen using lethal weapons?

So that’s what I can answer. And that is why, as my colleague Jose Maria Aranaz has said, we continue, we continue our efforts by denouncing, documenting and telling everyone that those who have had to make use of Lethal weapons, in any case which have killed Congolese, will have to answer them sooner or later in the appropriate jurisdictions.

Congo
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