On Dec 24. while everybody else was preparing to celebrate Christmas, the Congolese Military along with local militia led by elements of Rwandan Special Forces attacked unarmed Congolese hutu populations and Rwandan refugees, leaving scores dead including women and children. These attacks were indiscriminate and brutal and they went on for several days, and they are still continuing in some areas.
As we have always reminded peoples, more than 5 years ago, the UN released a report that documents the death of more than three hundred thousand hutu refugees at the hands of the same forces 15 years earlier; the same forces that are still mercilessly killing innocent civilians, in what the UN mapping report clearly calls genocide still to be confirmed by a competent court.
It is also clear that both the Congolese and Rwandese military are directly involved in these crimes and the International community has turned a blind eye as if these civilians who are being massacred do not count. We call upon MONUSCO to protect these innocent civilians and do everything in its power to bring those responsible to justice. It will be shameful if 10 years from now the UN has to produce another pointless report detailing massacres that are taking place today while the world stands by and lets it happen.
Louise MUKASINE
Duterimbere-media
