Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un5bosco071009.html
UNITED NATIONS, July 10 -- While the UN Mission in the Congo continues collaborating with Congolese Army units accused for war crimes, on July 10 both MONUC chief Alan Doss and UN Security Council diplomats bragged about recent moves against impunity.
Testifying to the Council, Doss said that "We have pressed for the removal of notorious commanders within the FARDC, including those on the list you presented to the government during your visit to the DRC."
Inquiries from Inner City Press find that Doss' Deputy Ross Mountain first presented the list to the Congolese defense ministry more than a year ago, in March 2008. After nothing was done, when the Security Council Ambassadors visited Kinshasa in May 2009, they presented the list to President Kabila, who said, I'll do what I can.
The list of five includes: Brig.-Gen. Jerome Kakwavu Bukande, accused of the rape of a 14-year old girl in Ituri, but in March 2008 stationed in Kinshasa. Major Pitchner, accused of rape (no other details.). Lt-Col. Bebimobuli Engandela, a dissident Mai-Mai officer accused of several rapes between 2004 and 2006 and, in March 2008, being held in detention for insurrection.
Colonel Mosala, accused of rape of a 14-year old girl with violence in May 2005. Colonel Safari (sic) accused of the rape of a 28-year old woman in May 2006 and persuading three other soldiers to rape her too.
It is significant that the Congolese Army did nothing about these individuals from March 2008 forward. The UN, including Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, vehemently claim to take the issue seriously and to demand action by government's like Kabila's.
Now Doss on July 10 told the Council that "I am pleased to report that President Kabila had given instructions for their immediate removal from command position, while the Defense Minister has instructed the military prosecutor to initiate legal procedures against them."
Following the July 10 Security Council meeting, diplomats told Inner City Press that the above was referred to obliquely in the press statement that resulted from the meeting, "welcom[ing] recent steps taken by the Congolese authorities" but "undert[aking] to continue to monitor progress." Any monitoring should involve progress reports on the location and legal proceedings against the above-name five.
On July 10, Inner City Press asked Doss about former MONUC Major General Patrick Cammaert's statement June 24 to the Press that Jean-Bosco Ntaganda, indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, is prancing around Goma, eating in the most expensive restaurant, and listed as deputy coordinator of Operation Kimia II, which NGOs say should be canceled due to failure to protect civilians.
Doss replied that while he eats at that restaurant, he has not seen Bosco. Regarding the FARDC notes about Bosco being a deputy coordinator in Kimia II, Doss said it was just a summary, but that he has obtained a written statement that Bosco is not involved. Video here, from Minute 33:19.
NGOs on the ground in the Kivus beg to differ. Some question whether the above-named five, even if now suspend, won't just be five more Boscos, dining lakeside in Goma and running free. Watch this site.
