By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, December 23 -- In the wake of hundreds of rapes in Eastern Congo, the UN knows the identity of major perpetrator Lt-Col Serafim of the FDLR but he has not been arrested, Inner City Press was told on the margin of UN budget negotiations on December 23.
After the rapes in Walikale, UN Peacekeeping deputy Atul Khare and a staffer from the UN Office on Sexual Violence and Conflict traveled to the area. Witnesses told them of two leaders of the rapes: Lt-Col Mayele of the Mai Mai Cheka, and Serafim.
While after “discussions with Cheka” Mayele was turned over and arrested, Serafim is still at large. Inner City Press is told that Mayele, once arrested, named Serafim as a co-conspirator. But he has not been arrested.
Meanwhile in the UN Budget committee, Margot Wallstrom's office on Sexual Violence and Conflict has won a commitment for the nine posts they sought and not the seven recommended by the ACABQ. The European Union opposed the two extra posts, at least on paper.
In terms of resources, Margot Wallstrom told Inner City Press that MONUSCO has gotten new communications equipment to distribute to villagers to sound the alarm, but is concerned that it is too expensive and might be stolen.
Inner City Press asked Susana Malcorra of the UN Department of Field Support for the status of the deployment of the equipment. She answered that satellite phones are too expensive and that radio are being tried. Watch this site.
