ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT

ISSUE/EDITION Nr 397 - 01/10/2000

CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS

WAR

«When I despair, I remember that throughout history
the voice of truth and love has always triumphed.
In this world there are tyrants and assassins and for a time they appear to be invincible.
But, in the final analysis, they always fall. Never forget that». (Mahatma Gandhi)

 Short historical summary

Masisi is not far from Rwanda, and it’s been going through hell ever since the outbreak of civil war in  Rwanda on 1 October 1990. The nightmare began when Hutus and Tutsis from that area had separate meetings and decided to «do their bit» by supporting one or other side fighting in Rwanda. Many young Hutus left Masisi, Rutshuru and Goma to sign up with the Rwandan government army; similarly, young Tutsis from the same area left for Rwanda to fight on behalf of the rebel Rwanda Patriotic Front (FPR) which was fighting the Rwandan government forces. Contributions to support the causes were organised by the two ethnic groups both within Zaire (now Congo RDC) and elsewhere.

What was happening brought on a kind of hysteria among the local traditional chiefs, because people were fast becoming extremely unhappy with those sections of the population originating from Rwanda. These were refusing to have anything to do with the local traditional authority and were even doing the same on a national level. Also, it seemed hardly likely that the young soldiers trained in Rwanda were going to agree to their parents in Zaire continuing to obey laws they objected to, and to follow chiefs who were frequently illiterate and whom they considered to be carrying on in a unjust manner. And the chiefs themselves said: «Look, we’re being pressurised into giving financial support to Rwanda’s on-going war, so why should we have to pay taxes to the Zairian Government at the same time». Academics and politicians of Rwandan origin living in Kinshasa, quickly called for a campaign of civil disobedience in the Masisi and Walikale areas. This call, plus everything which followed, caused the outbreak of war in the Walikale area on 20 March 1993 — a war which brought the Hunde, Nyanga and Tembo populations into conflict with the people of Rwandan origin.

Then came the assassination of Rwanda’s President Habyarimana Juvénal on 6 April 1994. This murder triggered-off the massacre of many people within Rwanda; likewise the strategic retreat of the Hutu population from Rwanda to Zaire. The refugees from Rwanda set up so-called «refugee camps» in Zaire — in the administrative areas of Goma, Rutshuru and Masisi, adjoining their own country.

Both the Congolese government and the international community were fully aware that many of these «refugees» were armed and were living in sensitive areas. Among these refugees are people classified as «unwanted» in Rwanda because of the part they had played in the 1994 massacres mentioned above. Included are the Interahamwe (militia of former President Habyarimana), the Presidential Guard (GP) of the same president, likewise members of the former Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR). Many of these people established themselves by force in the Rutshuru area where they engaged in all kinds of violent acts. The Belgian journalist, Colette Braekman, had already condemned their wrongdoings in 1996, but nobody took her seriously (1). So what’s the position today?

A population taken hostage

The local population in Masisi now finds itself persecuted  from two sides: There’s the soldiers from the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) positioned in Masisi under the pretext of rooting out the Interahamwe and other «ne’er-do-wells» described as «negative elements»; then there’s the Interahamwe, the GP and the former FAR. These two groups, (mostly Hutus and Tutsis) are armed to the teeth. The impression is, they’ve divided Masisi up between themselves. There’s never been any report of any major attack between RCD soldiers (commanded by Rwandan officers) and the Interahamwe. This observation was confirmed in April by the then Commissioner for Masisi.

But, since the resumption of the so-called war of liberation on 2 August 1998, there’s been no let-up in the massacres of the civilian population Sometimes it’s the Interahamwe who kill the people whom they accuse of being hand-in-glove with the Tutsis (RCD armed forces); sometimes its the RCD military who kill the same civilian population, accusing them of being Mayi-Mayi or of collaborating with the Interahamwe. The attacks consist in killing with automatic arms or wounding, torturing, raping women and girls before killing them, burning houses, kidnapping young people whom they enrol in their militia.

Caught between two fires, with both those groups responsible for the atrocities having come from Rwanda with the complicity of some corrupt Congolese, the local population are leaving the villages and fleeing towards the major centres such as Masisi-Centre, Kitshanga, Sake and Goma. In the centres, where a trickle of humanitarian aid arrives (when it does arrive), the new arrivals fall prey to all kinds of illnesses, and most of the children and old people die.

The displaced are forced to live in inhuman conditions, sometimes having to sleep in the open air or in cramped living quarters, where to eat once every two days is considered a luxury. There’s no thought given to providing schools for the children who arrive exhausted in the reception centres (in so far as one can describe these as reception centres). The national and international organisations seem to lend tacit approval to the «ethnic cleansing» of Masisi’s civilian population. Everything is carried out as if a «Hutsiland» is already being established on this fertile Masisi plateau with the blessing of the local authorities. Also, when the displaced arrive in Goma, the RCD authorities ask them politely to go back to their villages so they can be helped there. Have you ever heard the like! Return back to the jaws of the lion they’ve just fled from! It’s in this context that some people are already talking about «that other forgotten genocide» planned by the RCD and its allies.

All the warring parties say there’s nothing untoward happening. «All we’re doing is to defend the people». But let’s look at the facts — it’s the Congolese people who are picking up the tabs — they’re the victims of repeated  massacres (organised mostly from foreign countries); they’re  having to live through a catastrophic economic situation; it’s their young people who are missing out on everything connected with growing-up (many are being used as child soldiers and offered as sacrifice to the gods of war). In other words, the civilian population, especially in the areas occupied by the RCD, is being held hostage!

And what’s the international community doing about this situation? Nothing! If an European or an American is taken hostage in any part of the world, the United Nations and the international community mobilise the Media, the world of finance and the military to get them freed. But what’s happening in Congo RDC is simply being ignored. Both Rwanda and Uganda have been occupying whole areas of our national territory for a long time, at the same time saying that Congo’s civil war is a matter for the Congolese themselves to sort out. Faced with the facts that Congo’s national territory has been invaded from outside, one would have thought the international community would have muscled in against the aggressors. But, nothing doing! There’s been no reaction. On the contrary, this same international community seems to be supporting the aggressors. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and a number of western countries are falling over themselves to supply Uganda and Rwanda with financial and other help.

Conclusion

We must condemn what’s happening in Masisi and Walikale. We are convinced that it’s not the entire Hutu or Tutsi ethnic groups who are responsible for the massacres and for forcing the local population to flee. It’s a handful of individuals. One thing is clear: the peasant population of North Kivu want to live in peace as in the past, and to get on with the business of making a living from their farms and animal husbandry (2). After all, Hunde, Nyanga, Tembo and Tutsis all have to live together in the same area.

Ask the local people how they sort out their differences and they’ll tell you: «Look. We’ve got our own way of sorting out problems. We sit down together at our meeting place and talk things through. We don’t start fighting one another». So, let’s encourage this kind of local initiative which is in line with our traditions, and let’s discourage political speeches which incite division and hatred among people.

Globalisation is very much the «in word» at the moment, but it’s regrettable to note that we Africans are very much on the periphery of the processus. Europe, which used to a mixture of self-centred nations is fast becoming one nation. Companies are amalgamating. North and South Korea are looking for ways to heal the divisions separating their two countries. But what’s happening within our Congo which is supposed to be one nation? People are taken up with hating each other, with grabbing territory, with slowly but surely creating what could become an East Congo and a West Congo, in other words, building Congo’s version of a «Berlin Wall».

Africa has suffered enough from colonialism, slavery,  destruction of its culture, systematic exploitation and looting of its riches, genocide, etc. It’s high time we Africans come to realise that what goes for the West is not necessarily in our own interests. Let’s face it: Western countries are frequently concerned with their own interests, even if it means that millions of Africans must die in the process (3). Food for thought! 
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(1) Re: Hutu refugees invade rich Masisi: «A “Hutuland” in the north of Bukavu». (Le Soir, 8 March 1996). – (2) «InterCongolese Dialogue 2: bringing intercommunal peace in North Kivu». (Regards Croisés, April 2000). – (3) Read the article, «Genocide» in Billet d’Afrique et d’ailleurs — a monthly newsletter published by Survie, July-August 2000, pages 6-7. And don’t forget the saying: «America doesn’t give nothing for free».

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