Statement on the ongoing war in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo

By Dr. Ignace Murwanashyaka

The Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR),

-Noting that the Rwandan and Congolese armies have taken the decision to destroy them by force and that the implementation of that plan started on 20 January 2009 by the entry of thousands of Rwandan soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC);

-Considering that they have repeatedly made an offer to the Kigali regime to sit on a negotiation table with its opposition in order to find a peaceful solution to the political problem of Rwanda and that the latter has always rejected all offers of peaceful negotiation with its opposition and instead, it has privileged the way of arms;

-Recognizing that the use of weapons favoured by the Kigali regime has never brought peace, reconciliation, justice and sustainable development in the African Great Lakes region but it has brought death, suffering and poverty, and contributed to inflame ethnic hatred;

-Convinced that the dynamics of negotiation has contributed greatly to solving political problems in African countries such as in the DRC, Burundi, Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Chad, Angola, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, etc.;

-Convinced that the ongoing war in eastern DRC is unnecessary, unjust and groundless and is increasing the suffering of civilian populations particularly vulnerable groups;

-Noting with bitterness that the Congolese authorities have begun throughout the DRC a Rwandan Hutu hunt without making any distinction between members of the FDLR, the Rwandan refugees and the Congolese Hutu populations;

-Noting that the Rwandan Hutu refugees in DRC are hounded as criminals and handed over to the dictatorial Kigali regime and that this practice is not only unworthy but also constitutes a serious violation of human rights;

-Noting that the coalition RPA / FARDC is in the process of committing serious violations of human rights (torture, theft, rape, massacres, etc..), not only against the Rwandan Hutu refugee population but also against the Congolese people that the coalition accuse of sympathizing with the FDLR;

-Convinced that the disarmament of the FDLR is not really feasible at the time the suffering that the RPF-Inkotanyi imposed on the Rwandan people since its attack on 1 October 1990 grows day by day and year by year without discontinuity;

-Convinced that the current war waged by the coalition RPA/FARDC will never solve the Rwandan political problem but will increase the suffering of the people and stir up hatred in a region already devastated by hegemonic, unnecessary and endless wars;

-Convinced that it is an inalienable right of every human person to defend himself and defend his people if they are threatened in their human integrity;

-Concerned for the safety of the Rwandan refugee population in the DRC and the Congolese people of Kivu;

-Taking into account the seriousness of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC; - Convinced that the politics of exclusion pursued by Kigali and its sponsors against the FDLR in the process of seeking peace and security in the African Great Lakes region can never bring lasting peace and harmonious development;

-Determined to find a peaceful solution to the crisis of the African Great Lakes region;

1. Strongly condemn once again the new war imposed on people living in the eastern DRC;

2. Urge the Congolese and Rwandan authorities to immediately put an end to this unjust, unnecessary and senseless war;

3. Reiterate their belief that the political problem of Rwanda , which is the basis of the presence of the FDLR in the DRC and in several other countries, can not be solved by weapons but by a negotiated compromise;

4. Oppose dialogue to those who imposed the war as the only solution to the political problem of Rwanda and ask them to sit with them on a negotiation table;

5. Call upon the International Community to unequivocally condemn the ongoing war in eastern DRC as well as serious human rights violations committed against civilian populations;

6. Urge the International Community, especially the Security Council of the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union to take urgent and necessary measures for the protection of civilian populations, especially Rwandan refugees who are currently in areas of fighting in eastern DRC and who are left to themselves;

7. Urge the Congolese authorities to end immediately the hunt for Rwandan Hutu refugees on their territory and to respect the basic human rights as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

8. Request the Rwandan-Congolese armed coalition to put an immediate end to serious violations of human rights for which are responsible their troops in eastern DRC and to punish the perpetrators;

9. Invite the Congolese and Rwandan authorities to work closely with the FDLR to make peace and not to wage war in the African Great Lakes region;

10. Express their readiness for talks aimed at easing the suffering of civilians and to respect international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC;

11. Call upon the Congolese and Rwandan authorities to accept the establishment of a framework involving the Rwandan opposition, under the auspices of the International Community, aimed at finding a peaceful and definitive solution to the political problem of Rwanda;

12. Reiterate their commitments made in Rome on 31 March 2005 to focus on peaceful means in resolving the political problem of Rwanda .

Done in Germany on February 5, 2009

Note:
Dr. Ignace Murwanashyaka is President of the FDLR

Source:
Democracy and Human Rights Group