Text:

Subject:

EMERGENCY IN KIVU AND THE CIVILIANS PAY THE PRICE Date:
Wed, 2 Dec 1998 18:32:12 퍭

"serv. informazioni Congosol" <congosol@skyol.it> To:
gruppi_1_2_3 <congosol@skyol.it>

EMERGENCY IN KIVU AND THE CIVILIANS PAY THE PRICE

According to our MISNA sources 2.500 people have already died in the last four months due to serious violations of Human Rights in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
An area, since the 2nd of August dominated by the
Rwandan-Ugandan-Congo-Banyamulenge rebel-invaders, where the local population is living a "nightmare".

This is what is reported daily and courageously by organisations of Congo's civil society, such as the Youth Associations of South Kivu and the families of the victims.

Following are some devastating examples of the present situation, keeping until last the "well-known" Kasika massacre (48 km south-west of Bukavu): Along the banks of the Rushime River - 326 bodies found; Luvungi - 138;
Bwegera (mass grave) - 547;
Mwenga - 4

While many young girls are raped and kidnappings are always more frequent, for example "in Bukavu, administrative centre of South Kivu, people are taken away during the night - reported reliable Congolese sources to MISNA (who requested to remain anonymous for security reasons) - and they are brought to Rwanda through Cyangugu. None of these people were ever seen again!"
So we must just assume that they are "desparecidos" that will never return to their loved ones.

"They killed my husband, my children and all my relatives. I am now alone" a refugee of Urega sadly reported (whose name and nationality will not be referred also for security reasons).

Kasika however remains "emblematic" in this context: The village was literally destroyed on the 24th of August and the massacre continued along the road to Kilungutwe.
Bodies everywhere, so many women raped and slaughtered, and defenceless children, viciously murdered.
The death toll went well above 800 (some reports actually spoke of 1096 victims) .

In Kilungutwe alone the dead were 127, including the small children, whose bodies were found in the toilets.

Prev | Next | Contents