DATE=9/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGO / REBELS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266572
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=GBADOLITE, CONGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Rebels in northern Congo are advancing toward
a strategic river town controlled by troops loyal to
President Laurent Kabila. V-O-A's Scott Stearns
reports, the war continues despite a declared cease-
fire.
TEXT: Congolese rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba says
his men are moving toward the town of Imese on the
Ubangi River, about 250 kilometers downstream from the
Central African Republic capital, Bangui.
Imese was captured by President Kabila's troops at the
start of an offensive in July. Mr. Bemba says it is
his right to retake the town, because government
forces attacked after President Kabila agreed to a
peace plan.
Rebels have been regaining ground along the river over
the last month. They are moving up captured
ammunition and heavy guns, staging their drive on
Imese from the village of Dongo, which they took last
week.
Controlling Imese would put Mr. Bemba's forces closer
to the river city of Mbandaka, the last big target
upstream from the capital, Kinshasa.
They've already opened a front to the northeast of
Mbandaka, from the rebel-held town of Basankusu.
Mr. Bemba would not say if he intends to attack
Mbandaka, but he did say that because the government
is using the airstrip there to bomb his territory, he
believes it would be a defensive action on his part if
he chooses to fight for Mbandaka.
There is not supposed to be any fighting in Congo, as
all the parties have agreed to a cease-fire. But that
cease-fire has never been respected.
Most observers believe Mr. Bemba is within his rights
to reclaim Imese, but would be overstepping the accord
if he were to attack Mbandaka.
Mr. Bemba says he wants to know if President Kabila is
still part of the accord, or if, in his words, the
president has decided to sign the plan's death
certificate.
/// 1ST BEMBA ACT ///
I want the person who is Kabila to take the
opportunity to sign the certificate of death --
if he has the courage to sign it -- to tell us,
"OK, me, I kill it."
/// END ACT ///
If President Kabila is still with [behind] the peace
plan, Mr. Bemba says, it is time to move toward
national dialogue. If the president is not, Mr. Bemba
says, there will be more fighting.
This accord, he says, is the last chance for peace.
/// 2nd BEMBA ACT ///
What do you expect me to say, "OK, now I'm going
to work with you"? I say, no. You know, I'm
not sharing the same ideology as Kabila. That
is another politic, and the war is not a
politic.
/// END ACT ///
President Kabila says Mr. Bemba is not leading a
rebellion, but is instead a puppet for a foreign
invasion staged by Uganda. Mr. Bemba admits Uganda is
his biggest ally, providing training and material
support. But he says there are no Ugandan troops in
the front lines. His soldiers, he says, are all
Congolese.
The United Nations is preparing to send more than
five-thousand peacekeepers to Congo. But there is
concern that continued fighting will leave those
troops with little peace to keep, in a huge country
with few good roads, three rebel groups and at least
seven foreign armies. (Signed)
NEB/SS/WTW/KBK
15-Sep-2000 14:11 PM EDT (15-Sep-2000 1811 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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