UN Denied Congo Army Links With FDLR, Denounced Inner City Press, Now Silent on DRC Sanctions Report

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive Full Text

UNITED NATIONS, June 30 -- Does the UN, or at least its Department of Peacekeeping Operations under Herve Ladsous, seek to ascertain and tell the truth? Or rather to cover it up and vilify those who seek it?

  Earlier this year Inner City Press published documents from the MONUSCO mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo showing that the UN knew of links between its partners in the Congolese Army and the FDLR rebels, linked to the genocide in Rwanda.

  The UN's response was for MONUSCO to issue a press release that

“Kinshasa, 30 January 2013: Since yesterday, certain media outlets have been posting a document ascribed to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) which would confirm a cooperation between the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC)... MONUSCO condemns the production and dissemination of such false information that can only contribute to an escalation of regional tensions in general and perpetuate the violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

  In New York, the Office of the Spokesperson for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon repeated this line, while telling Inner City Press it would not even deny, much less confirm, “leaked” documents.

  Now the new UN Democratic Republic of the Congo sanctions report, which Inner City Press put exclusively online earlier yesterday, itself belatedly confirms a non-aggression agreement between the FARDC and FDLR, and the provision of weapons, ammunition and intelligence by the FARDC to the FDLR.

  Inner City Press has asked DPKO chief Herve Ladsous' four top spokespeople to comment on this -- and, incidentally, if they have a new position on their MONUSCO's above-quoted press release. They confirmed receipt more than 12 hours before this publication, but so far no substantive response.

  Ladsous in in Mali (where he is incorporating a UN listed child soldier recruiting country into DPKO's peackeeping mission MINUSMA to be so launched tomorrow). But Ladsous, ever since Inner City Press asked about his statements during the Rwanda genocide, has refused to answer Inner City Press' questions, video compilation here.

  On questions ranging from the 135 FARDC rapes in Minova through the kidnapping of UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, DPKO's introduction of cholera into Haitiand Ladsous and Ban accepting as an adviser of a Sri Lankan military figure depicted in the UN's own report as engaged in war crimes, Ladsous' strategy has been to provide answers to Inner City Press' questions to other, friendlier journalists.

  Now evidence has emerged that for at least one of these outlets, the flow goes the other way to, with the provision to the UN of information ostensibly only for the UNCA group that the UN should not have, here. This is being pursued by the new Free UN Coalition for Access, @FUNCA_info.

  Here are a few sample paragraphs from the new UN Group of Experts DRC sanctions report which Inner City Press exclusively put online yesterday:

the FARDC first abided by a tacit non-aggression agreement with the FDLR. However, the declining security situation in eastern DRC, culminating with the fall of Goma on 20 November 2013, enhanced the collaboration between some FARDC units and the FDLR in areas of close proximity with M23-controlled territory. The Group has documented local-level collaboration between the FARDC and the FDLR, and continues to investigate the extent to which the FARDC hierarchy may be involved in such collaboration. The Group sent a letter on 12 June 2013 to the Government of DRC asking for clarification about this support and is awaiting a reply.

107. The Group interviewed 10 FARDC soldiers in Tongo, in North Kivu, who reported that FARDC and FDLR regularly meet and exchange operational information. These same sources stated that FARDC soldiers supplied ammunition to the FDLR. Col. Faida Fidel Kamulete, the commander of FARDC 2nd battalion of 601st Regiment based at Tongo, denied such collaboration, but declared to the Group that FARDC and FDLR do not fight each other. FDLR officers and an FDLR collaborator told the Group that “Col.” Jean-Baptiste Gakwerere aka Esdras Kaleb, who commands the FDLR deployed in Tongo is in charge of the coordination between FDLR and FARDC officers in the area.

108. Four former FDLR soldiers from Tongo and Bambo confirmed to the Group that FARDC soldiers had transferred ammunition to FDLR, with the instruction that it had to be used against M23. In January 2013, two FDLR former soldiers witnessed separately meetings between FARDC and FDLR in the Tongo area, at which they exchanged operational information. One of the soldiers told the Group that he saw FARDC transfer ammunition to FDLR during one of these meetings, while the second saw an FARDC officer give boxes of submachine gun ammunition to the rebels. Between January and April 2013, a former FDLR soldier witnessed four distinct ammunition transfers by the FARDC based at Bambo to the FDLR, while in February, another former FDLR soldier saw FARDC hand over ammunition to the FDLR, also at Bambo.

109. An FARDC officer and local leaders from Muja, 10 kilometers north west of Goma, also reported to the Group a pattern of collaboration between the FARDC and the FDLR. The FARDC has established positions at Muja and Rusayo to defend Goma against the M23. According to FDLR commanders, the FDLR North Kivu Sector CRAP unit under “Maj.” Alexis, usually based at the Nyamulagira volcano in the Virunga National Park, carries out regular operations in that area. The Group interviewed two former FDLR soldiers who surrendered from Muja, and both were aware of ammunition transfers from FARDC commanders. One of the former soldiers claimed to have witnessed the supply of boxes of submachine gun ammunition from FARDC soldiers to the FDLR.

As noted, questions have been put by Inner City Press to Ladsous four top spokespeople, including

This is a request on deadline for DPKO to state whether it or MONUSCO have provided any support to any of the following in the DRC:

FARDC 905th Regiment, under the command of Col. John Tchinyama, including filmed torture in Mambasa -- was the Ituri Brigade of MONUSCO there? What is the UN's response?

Col. Willy Bonane Habarugira acting commander of FARDC forces in the Safisha Operational Zone (Ituri) -- also, what is DPKO's / MONUSCO's understanding of his role in the looting of the UN in Bunia?

Col. Faida Fidel Kamulete, the commander of FARDC 2nd battalion of 601st Regiment based at Tongo (who is quoted that the “FARDC and FDLR do not fight each other” -- this is also a request, yes or no, if DPKO and MONUSCO still stand behind theJanuary 30, 2013 press release [above].

These questions are asked in light of DPKO's stated conditionality and human rights due diligence policies; on that, and separate from the above, this is a request to receive any and all DPKO response to the DRC Sanctions Committee report.

There are other questions, these are on deadline, now.

Watch this site.

  

Exclusive: UN Congo Sanctions Annex Shows DRC Army Raping, Torturing & Arming FDLR, Now What?

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, June 29 -- The UN's Congo sanctions annex which Inner City Press exclusively published late yesterday reflects the UN's unwillingness or inability to report honestly on itself or act according to its stated principles.

  The UN provides military support to the Congolese Army, but states that this is conditional on compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law. 

  When UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous chose to continue supporting the 41^st and 391^st Battalions after they were implicated in 135 rapes in Minova (and only two soldiers have been arrested), the policy was undercut to say the least.

  But the new report showed other Congolese Army units and commanders engaged in torture, rape and even attacks on the UN. (These last are given detailed treatment, down to the looting of a UN bar and the pulling of air conditioners out of the wall.)

The 812th FARDC regiment commanded by Col. Mudahunga committed mass rape, and targeted ethnic Hunde civilians, in Kitchanga earlier this year. But all the report says is that the 812^th was later re-deployed. Annex 61; Report at Paragraph 124.

  The FARDC 905th Regiment, under the command of Col. John Tchinyama, committed torture at Mambasa earlier this year. Annex 44. But the Group of Experts merely put the video in the UN's archive. 

  Col. Faida Fidel Kamulete, the commander of FARDC 2nd battalion of 601st Regiment based at Tongo, said the FARDC and FDLR do not fight each other. 

When Inner City Press published internal emails from the MONUSCO UN Mission on this topic, MONUSCO replied angrily via press release that it was false. Not that the Group says it too, will MONUSCO attack the Group of Experts?

MONUSCO has not responded to a request, in French no less, by the Free UN Coalition for Access, digging into the UN system's and particularly UN Peacekeeping's one-way social media, to clarify how many FARDC arrests there have been for the 135 rapes in Minova in late November. (This is confined to a paragraph, admitting only two arrests contrary to the "nine" figure given by MONUSCO's new force commander.)

  Still, the Group of Experts takes its estimate of FDLR strength from MONUSCO, while leaving to an aside FARDC providing ammunition to the FDLR.

  Col. Willy Bonane Habarugira led the looting of the UN in Bunia, but nothing has been done. Annex 65, Report at Paragraph 138.

The report runs through child soldiers, including a MONUSCO travel document in the Annex -- but Ladsous' DPKO is on the verge, in two days, of putting a listed child soldier recruiter, Chad, into a UN Peacekeeping mission.

As noted, Ladsous in his previous incarnation as French deputy permanent representative at the UN during the Rwanda genocide argued for the escape of the genocidaires into Eastern Congo. When asked by Inner City Press about it, he started talking about “innuendo” and refusing to answer questions. Watch this site.

Footnote: The UN's and Ladsous' non-enforcement of human rights due diligence and conditionality policies were air brushed from Reuters gloss on the report -- not surprising, not only politically but also in light of recent evidence that Reuters gives the UN information the UN should not have, here: quid pro quo? And so it goes.

As Fails in DRC, Ladsous' DPKO Won't Say How Damaged Or What Militia Works With

By Matthew Russell Lee

 

UNITED NATIONS, November 23 -- Two days after UN Peacekeeping boss Herve Ladsous refused to answer Press questions whether troops under his command would even try to protect Bukavu, and for his response to protests against UN personnel there and in Bunia and Kisangani, Inner City Press put these and other questions to the UN in writing.

  As to the UN's Mission in the Congo, MONUSCO, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman at what would have been noon briefing time, if one had been held, to "Please describe any and all of MONUSCO's interaction with or support of elements of the Mai Mai or NYATURA so far this year."

  Already, after Inner City Press repeatedly asked, the UN belatedly admitted flying Congolese authorities to meet members of a Mayi Mayi militia, which the authorities described as recruiting the militia to fight the M23 mutineers.

  But after than three hours on November 23, it was Ladsous' spokesman Kieran Dwyer who purported to respond. But on this, all he said was "I am looking into this."

  Inner City Press also asked Ban's spokespeople to "please specify all damage or injury to UN system staff, facilities or property in the Democratic Republic of Congo since November 20, including but not limited to in Bukavu, Bunia, Goma, Kinshasa and Kisingani."

  More than three hours later, all Dwyer responded with was, "I am looking into this."

  How could the Department of Peacekeeping Operations purport to have no answer to this? Since November 20 and 21,  UN personnel have been attacked; several Congolese protesters have been shot dead, at least three in Kisangani, click here. In Bunia, at least six were killed, four of them students, click here (all in French, a la Ladsous).

  UN buildings have been set aflame, rocks thrown at cars, mortars reportedly fired at the MONUSCO base in Monigi. But past 5 pm in New York, no information at all was provided.

  Back on November 21, it was Kieran Dwyer who for Ladsous asked UN personnel to not give Inner City Press the microphone as its question "would MONUSCO protect Bukavu" was asked. Video here, at Minute 10:13, 13:25 and especially 11:50.

   Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's three spokespeople to "please state the Secretariat's position on its Department of Peacekeeping Operations' spokespeople directing staff of the UN Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit and UN Television / audio to hold the Security Council stakeout microphone away from Inner City Press, most recently by spokesman Kieran Dwyer on November 21." Video here, at Minute 10:13, 13:25 and especially 11:50.

  This question was paradoxically referred to Dwyer himself, and he did not purport to answer it or even claim "I am looking into it."

  Previously, Kieran Dwyer demanded that Inner City Press censor a mention of Ladsous from a quote given on the record by a Security Council ambassador.

  Among the November 23 noon requests to Ban's spokespeople by Inner City Press, there was another, entirely factual question about Herve Ladsous which was referred to Dwyer, but to which he did not even say "I am looking into this."

  Meanwhile, Ladsous' Department of Peacekeeping Operations is Tweeting short statements saying it is focused on protection children. How? We will have more on all this. Watch this site.

UN Buildings Burned, Congolese Killed, After Ladsous Refuses Questions

By Matthew Russell Lee

 

UNITED NATIONS, November 22 -- Amid mounting protests against the UN Mission in the Congo, from Bukavu to Bunia to Kinangani, Herve Ladsous the man in charge of UN Peacekeeping and the Mission refused to answer any questions about the protests, or the Mission's plans in Bukavu, in front of the Security Council on Wednesday.

  Now UN personnel have been attacked and UN buildings burned down; several Congolese protesters have been shot dead, at least three in Kisangani, click here (in French, a la Ladsous).

 In Bunia, at least six were killed, four of them students, click here.

  It has been noted that neither Ladsous' "MONUSCO or the Congolese Army fired shots to stop M23 from taking over Goma," and then Sake. But now those protesting the inaction are being shot and killed.

  On Wednesday, Inner City Press repeatedly and clearly asked Ladsous, "What about the protests in Bunia and Bukavu" and Kinsangani and "Would MONUSCO protest Bukavu?"  Video here, at Minute 10:13, 13:25 and especially 11:50.

   But Ladsous refused to answer, and his spokesman Kieran Dwyer ordered the UN Television boom microphone to be given for "une question en Francais" that did not concern the criticism of Ladsous and his Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

  Ladsous' refusal to answer particular media's questions is not only abnormal and distasteful -- it is, several UN sources say, irresponsible.

  Ladsous' failure to even try to explain or speak of the protests, when asked, stands in contrast to the way the vast majority of organizations, private or public, would deal with such threats to their personnel.

  But, as one UN source put it, "Ladsous has put his personal peeve over everything else, even the people he is supposed to be protecting."

  The rest of the UN system under Secretary General Ban Ki-moon blithely carries on, with the UN for top Humanitarian official Valerie Amos and the refugee agency UNHCR sending out messages for example calling on "all parties" to "meet their obligations" in Eastern Congo.

   Many say that MONUSCO did not meet its obligations in Goma and now Sake -- where a militia of dubious human rights compliance is now the one fighting the M23 mutineers -- and that Ladsous did not meet his obligations not only to Congolese but to those he was put in charge of serving. And what will happen next? Watch this site.

Herve "Stonewall" Ladsous Won't Say If UN Would Defend Bukavu, Was Rejected to Head DPKO

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 21 -- After UN Peacekeeping did nothing as the M23 mutineers it calls so brutal took over first Goma, then Sake, and prospectively Bukavu, it seems certain that Herve Ladsous the chief of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations would be asked and have to answer, "Would the UN defend Bukavu?"

  But when Ladsous came out to the Security Council stakeout early Wednesday afternoon, he refused to answer the question. 

  His spokesman Kieran Dwyer, who has previously tried at Ladsous' behest to order censorship, this time called repeatedly for the UN microphone to be given to a French reporter. Video here, at Minute 11:50.

   No one else asked Ladsous the question, which is most directly his responsibility because of protests and threats against the people under his control who are in Bukavu, as in Bunia and Kisangani. 

   So Inner City Press asked the question, and each time Ladsous looked the other way. Video here, at Minute 10:13, 13:25 and especially 11:50.

   Afterward several Security Council diplomats shook that heads, one calling Ladsous' performance "unacceptable." But this is the UN -- France OWNS UN Peacekeeping, having appointed the last four chiefs in a row.

   The problem this time is that the selected and vetted Frenchman Jerome Bonnafront was, due to bragging in India, nixed at the last moment, as exclusively reported by Inner City Press. And so Ladsous was put in without review, and has tried to erase this history ever since.

  But there's more.

   Inner City Press has been told by a well placed source in the Secretariat at the time that Herve Ladsous was previously REJECTED for the post that Ban Ki-moon ended up letting him have, since it was "France's decision."

    All of this could have been addressed and answered early in Ladsous' tenure. But Ladsous immediately refused to answer any questions, including about his time as France's Deputy Permanent Representative during the Rwanda genocide in 1994, supporting the genocidaire government.

   Now, emboldened by other anti-press freedom moves in the UN, Ladsous has adopted a policy of not taking questions from questioners whose coverage he doesn't like. As one wag put it, it's a small taste of North Korea in Ban Ki-moon's UN. How is it acceptable? Watch this site.