DRC- Congo- Aid workers evacuated as Human-Rights-abusing- rebels advance further

(Social Justice South Africa; c.f. Reuters (Secular) 28/10/08)

Article By Marc Aupiais

As the nation's Tutsi rebels advance further towards a regional captial against the Government forces in the eastern DRC, the United Nations, is pulling out about 50 aid workers from various charitable organizations from a town close to rebel forces, which is an aim of recent aggressions. Attack helicopters of the UN mission in the DRC recently attacked rebels positions with strategic air power- however the rebels responded with anti-aircraft barrages.

The rebels continue to fight government forces despite a recent treaty. The leader of the group currently advancing is wanted for fraud, use of child soldiers, illegal mining and human rights violations, but has yet to be advanced on by the recognized DRC government. Since the DRC gained a constitution via referendum, and has also had an election, the dynamics of the moral high ground have been shifting. The United Nations firmly states that they will do all in their power not allow further encroachment on urban areas by the infamous Kivu rebels, and that they will defend the nearby town with force.

The town, that the Rebels now want to launch an offensive against, Rutshuru, is home to tens of thousands of internal refugees fleeing violence caused largely by the advancing rebels. Recent attacks on a nearby town sent about 20 000 refugees fleeing for life, towards the provincial capital- Goma.