Brussels, 18/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 December, with the adoption of a resolution on the violence in Democratic Republic of Congo, the European Parliament in Strasbourg deplores in the strongest terms the continuing massacres, crimes against humanity and recruitment of child soldiers and acts of sexual violence against women and girls. It calls on all actors to step up the fight against impunity, and calls for an immediate end to the violence and human rights violations in DRC.
The Parliament welcomes the arrest by the German authorities of Ignace Murwanashyaka, FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) leader, and of Straton Musoni, his deputy. Their arrest is an important step in combating the problem of impunity. It underlines the need to take to justice the authors of human rights violations within the Congolese armed forces, underlining the crucial role that MONUC plays in this process. Parliament welcomes the zero tolerance policy promoted by President Kabila concerning sexual violence and other forms of abuse perpetrated by the armed forces, and encourages the government of the DRC to implement its new strategy against violence to girls and women as soon as possible and with MONUC assistance.
The Parliament also underlines the importance of receiving advice and support for defence reform from the EUSEC RD Congo mission as these are key elements for the implementation of the revised Congolese programme for reform of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC). It therefore invites the Congolese authorities to take reform forward, encourages the setting in place under Congolese control of a mechanism for the coordination of defence reform benefitting from appropriate EUSEC support. It recommends that barracks and military bases be built as a matter of urgency. The Parliament welcomes the progress that improved bilateral diplomatic relations between the DRC and Rwanda have made possible in the region. The DRC and Rwanda are invited to fully apply the Nairobi and Goma peace agreements, as well as the Ihusi agreement of 23 March 2009. Finally, the European Parliament remains concerned by the illegal trade in minerals and other natural resources carried out by the rebel groups to the east of the DRC. It calls on the Council and Commission to insist, during their talks with the governments of the DRC and neighbouring countries, on implementation of effective systems of traceability and proof of origin of natural resources, and to step up the fight against corruption.
The situation in the DRC, especially to the east of the territory, continues to give rise to concern, despite the agreement between DRC and Rwanda, confirmed Cecilia Malmström, speaking on behalf of the Council. The latter plans to remain very firm towards the Congo and above all calls for Kabila's “zero tolerance” on respect of human rights to become a reality.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Karel De Gucht entered into greater detail without seeking to conceal the difficulties. From among “all the bad solutions”, the international community has chosen the “least bad”, but was “unable to decide to send a protection force” to the DRC. MONUC is encountering difficulties but does not consider withdrawal or disengagement advisable, saying “a hasty departure would be disastrous” in the current circumstances. The commissioner considers it is necessary to tackle the root causes of the disastrous situation in this country: - the role of the FDLR, exploitation of national resources for military purposes, impunity in a vast “non)state zone”, violation of human rights, and sexual violence. He also believes there must be an end to the “criminal action” of the FDLR and its “economic and political connivance” with some member states. The Commission finally confirms its resolve to seek to help this country “where almost everything is to be redone” by cooperating with it for democracy and good governance and against sexual violence.
Filip Kaczmarek (EPP, Poland) bemoaned the fact that his optimism after the 2006 elections, that he had followed as an observer, had been premature. He sees money as one of the sources of Congo's misfortune. Natural resources are not used for the good of the population but to finance the purchase of weapons. British Labour member Michael Cashman exclaimed that there are 45,000 deaths per months, millions of displaced persons, and rapes on men, women and children, and that the time has now come to say “that's enough”. Several Belgian MEPs took part in the debate, including Louis Michel (ALDE), former Development Commissioner, who did not beat about the bush when he said: “Until the FDLR has been put out of action, the east of Congo will never find peace”. In his opinion, it was necessary from the outset to strengthen MONUC capability as it is cruelly lacking in means. It is also, he said, necessary to stop criticising MONUC as this “gives arguments to its detractors that would feel authorised to demonize it”. Mr Michel welcomes the UN decision to only support forces that respect human rights, and denounces the shortcomings in the legal sphere, which gives a “general feeling of impunity”. His compatriot, Isabelle Durant, speaking on behalf of the Greens/EFA, is in favour of reviewing MONUC's rules of engagement and believes that many problems could be settled if military were quartered to barracks. Liberal member Frédérique Ries expresses great indignation at the sexual violence perpetrated against Congolese women and girls, who are the “main vector for peace and development” in the country. FDLR representatives are in Germany, Sabine Lösing also says indignantly on behalf of the GUE/Nordic Left, and Gay Mitchell of Ireland points out that violence in Congo is “driven by greed but also by poverty, the branches of the same rotten tree of want”. (L.G./O.J./transl.jl)