Congo- Missionaries call for backlash against Kivu Rebels- say no ligitimacy in treating them equally with governemt

(Social Justice South Africa; C.f. Agenzia Fides 29/09/08)

Article by Marc Aupiais

Agenzia Fides reports that a group of Christian Missionaries (“Congo Peace Network”(Agenzia Fides 29/09/08)) are questioning UN policy of putting government and the Rebel group CNDP of Kivu on the same playing field.

They claim that a Rebel group known for their violent actions- cannot share the same position as a democratically elected government with a popular referendum's constitution. This comes as fighting intensifies.

The leader of the Kivu rebels, Nkunda, continues to be gifted by authorities, with - freedom of movement. This is despite his organization's human rights abuses being decried by secular humanitarian group Amnesty International. Nkunda enjoys protection from the Congo's government from these treaties, making irrelevant- having an arrest warrant pending- for many crimes including extortion. The Rebel group, which profits from illegal mining is also known for recent kidnappings, to further replenish stocks of child soldiers.

The Missionaries consider it dangerous to give such legitimacy to the Rebels, and desire for the UN to act against these. They say that peace treaties organized, have turned out to give a sort of amnesty to these aggressors, who are profiting from the situation.

Despite treaties, the fighting has continued, and the international community seems still to refuse to take sides.