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DATE=2/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N - CONGO-KINSHASA RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259179
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  A special United Nations investigator 
condemns recent executions and the general 
deterioration of the human rights situation in 
Congo-Kinshasa.  Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports.
TEXT:  United Nations special human rights 
investigator, Roberto Garreton, expresses his 
shock and dismay at the execution of 19 soldiers 
in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.  The summary 
executions took place between January 28 and 
February 2.  The soldiers were accused of murder, 
armed robbery or kidnapping.  In a statement 
issued in Geneva, Mr. Garreton says the 
executions occurred only hours after the men were 
condemned by the military court.
United Nations human rights officer, Jose Dias, 
says that U-N investigator Garreton notes with 
alarm that 61 other people condemned to death 
also could be executed soon.
     /// FIRST DIAS FRENCH ACT FADES UNDER ///
Mr. Dias says human rights investigator Garreton 
is especially disturbed that these executions 
occurred only six weeks after the Congolese 
Minister of Human Rights had made assurances that 
all death penalties would be suspended.  Mr. 
Garreton says in his statement that the decision 
to declare a moratorium on executions was 
reaffirmed to him by the Minister on January 27th 
in New York.  This was the night before the first 
executions took place in Kinshasa.
On another issue, Mr. Garreton says in his 
statement that he is deeply disturbed by the 
worsening human rights situation in territories 
controlled by two rival rebel factions in East 
Congo.
U-N official Jose Dias says investigator Garreton 
is also concerned by reports that the Archbishop 
of Bukavu, Monseigneur Emmanuel Kataliko was 
arrested last Saturday as he arrived by plane in 
Goma.  
         ///2ND DIAS FRENCH ACT FADES UNDER ///
Mr. Dias says the Archbishop's arrest comes in 
the midst of a climate of growing repression 
against human rights activists in North and South 
Kivu. Mr. Dias says human rights investigator 
Garreton has received information that several 
activists have been harassed, arrested and 
subjected to cruel and degrading treatment during 
detention. Their crime, according to Mr. 
Garreton, was that of publicly denouncing human 
rights violations committed by the rebels. 
(Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/gm 
15-Feb-2000 12:40 PM EDT (15-Feb-2000 1740 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.