At Least 150 Killed in Massacre in Congo Town: Rights Group

[tekisui]

Source: The Raw Story

At least 150 civilians were massacred in a Democratic Republic of Congo town last month, Human Rights Watch said in a report Thursday which strongly criticised UN peacekeepers.

Most of those killed in the eastern town of Kiwanja on November 4-5 were "summarily executed" by rebel forces loyal to renegade general Laurent Nkunda, who is leading a new offensive against the army.

"Others died during combat between Nkunda's forces and the Mai-Mai militia, a local armed group that supports the Congolese government and often fights alongside the national army," the organisation said.

"Mai-Mai militia also deliberately killed people."

The report said the UN peacekeeping forces, known as MONUC, were just half a mile (0.8 kilometres) away when the killings were carried out in the town in Nord-Kivu province.

Days earlier, Nkunda's rebel group had taken control of Kiwanja and Rutshuru after defeating Congolese army soldiers in a battle, Human Rights Watch said.

"Due to the importance of these two towns as centers for humanitarian assistance, MONUC considered them a priority protection zone, yet the peacekeepers did not protect the towns from a rebel takeover or halt the destruction of displacement camps," it said.

"Nor did they stop the mass killing of civilians in Kiwanja where they had an important field base."

Human Rights Watch called it one of the worst killing sprees in the eastern Nord-Kivu province in the past two years.

more: http://rawstory.com/news/afp/At_least_150_killed_in_massacre_in__12112008.html

[tekisui]

1. Why wasn't this on the news 24/7, like the Mumbai attacks?

Is it because they didn't use AK-47s? Is it because it was not in an as developed nation? Is it because murder is only interesting to us if it can fit into a 'waronterra' narrative?

[rvablue]

2. Thanks tekisui for posting. I saw you posted earlier about Zimbabwe

and hopefully with this new administration more can be done for the poor people of Africa.....

Zimbabwe, DRC, Darfur, and on and on and on........

But short of getting into it with some kind of military force, I don't think any of it will change and I don't think Americans are up to it....the reasons for that are many, some suspect.

Anyway, thanks for reminding us of the suffering of the African people. We always chant "never again," but sadly that conviction for many Americans and Europeans doesn't involve Africa....

:cry: