Military

DATE=04/18/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-288860

BYLINE=KATY SALMON

DATELINE=NAIROBI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT=

INTRO: While the warring parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been holding peace talks in

Sun City, South Africa, there has been an upsurge in fighting in eastern Congo. Katy Salmon reports the

United Nations is coming under pressure to intervene.

TEXT: Rwanda and its Congolese ally, the Rally for Congolese Democracy, are fighting to quell a

rebellion by one of the R-C-D's former commanders, Patrick Masunzu, in eastern Congo.

Suleiman Baldo, of Human Rights Watch, says thousands of civilians have been displaced by the conflict.

Mr. Masunzu is a Banyamulenge Tutsi, an ethnic minority in eastern Congo. One of the main reasons

Rwanda says it invaded Congo was to protect the Banyamulenge.

As a result, the Banyamulenge have, until now, been Rwanda's and the R-C-D's main allies.

Mr. Baldo says the Banyamulenge are now turning against Rwanda and the R-C-D because their forces

are so unpopular with other Congolese in the area.

///BALDO ACT NUMBER ONE///

The Banyamulenge want to live apparently in peace with their neighbors. And they see that if they are

identified with the rebellion and with the Rwandan presence, this would be an element of rejection and

hostility vis a vis their community from neighbouring communities. There is a strong sense of rejection of

Rwandan presence in eastern Congo and rejection of the Congolese Rally for Democracy, the rebel front

which fronts for their military intervention in Congo.

///END ACT///

While the Inter-Congolese dialogue has been going on in Sun City, Mr. Baldo says some 4-thousand

Rwandan and R-C-D troops have been fighting to displace the Banyamulenge from the highlands of

South Kivu.

Mr Baldo says the United Nations peace-keeping force in Congo, known as Monuc, should move into this

area because thousands of civilians' lives are at risk.

///BALDO ACT NUMBER TWO///

The United Nations and the international community have to show some resolve in addressing the crisis

in Congo. There have been so many Security Council resolutions regarding the situation which were

ignored by Rwanda and by Uganda. And therefore, Monuc should be proactive, should go to places where

people are being killed or are dying as a result of forced displacement and report on this and point to

responsibilities. Without that, the international community would just be looking the other way while eastern

Congo is turning into a constant killing field for the population.

///END ACT///

Mr. Baldo believes that the R-C-D would collapse if Rwanda withdrew its military backing. He describes

Rwanda as an "obstructive force," dictating R-C-D's negotiating position at the Sun City talks.

The U-N said Wednesday it is worried about the military build-up in eastern Congo and expects an

upsurge in fighting. However, U-N forces have not been able to visit the area. (Signed)

NEB/KS/SAB