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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DRC: MONUC head condemns killing of 11 civilians near Baraka

NAIROBI, 7 August 2003 (IRIN) - The head of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), William Swing, has condemned the killing of 11 Congolese civilians near the town of Baraka in southeastern South Kivu Province.

Speaking during a news conference in the capital, Kinshasa, on Wednesday, Swing, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the DRC and head of the UN Mission, known as MONUC, said he was "deeply saddened" to receive confirmation of the deaths of the Congolese who had been taken hostage in Kafulu, near Baraka.

MONUC said reports indicated that the individuals were killed on 24 July by fighters belonging to an alliance of the Forces pour la defense de la democratie (FDD), a rebel group from neighbouring Burundi; Rwandan former military (ex-FAR); and Congolese Mayi-Mayi militias in the area.

One of the victims, Evariste Maheshe Chisagala, was a hydraulic engineer employed by the UK NGO Tearfund, while the other 10 were employed by the Water Committee of Baraka.

Swing said that he "condemned these acts of violence on humanitarian and associated personnel" and called upon all parties "to take all measures necessary to ensure the safety and security of such personnel." He also called upon the competent authorities to investigate the attack, arrest the perpetrators and bring those responsible to justice.

Fighting in and around Baraka reportedly opposes the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) former rebel movement against a coalition of FDD; ex-FAR and Interahamwe (Rwandan Hutu militias), both held to be largely responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda; and Mayi-Mayi forces.

MONUC is facilitating talks aimed at ending the hostilities.

Theme(s): (IRIN) Conflict

[ENDS]

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