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OPJDR IS A NON-PROFIT AND APOLITICAL ORGANIZATION. ITS MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RWANDA AND IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA

Document 34/16 (08.04.97)

Source: Pan African News Agency (PANA) Date: 08 Apr 1997

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UN Accuses Zairean Rebels Of Rights Violations

Segun Adeyemi PANA Correspondent

NEW YORK (PANA) – The UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Zaire, Robert Garreton, Tuesday called for an investigation of what he termed gross human rights violations by Zairean rebels, who are fighting to end President Mobutu Sese Seko's more than three decades rule.

In a report of preliminary inquiry into allegations of massacres of Hutu refugees in eastern Zaire, now virtually under rebel control, he recommended the establishment of a UN commission to carry out the investigation.

He also suggested that the UN secretary-general should facilitate the work of the commission by providing it with necessary technical and financial support, including forensic experts, anthropologists and ballistic experts. It is indisputable that the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (Zaire) is far from fulfilling its commitments to respect human rights, Garreton said in the report, submitted to the current session of the commission on human rights in Geneva.

The special rapporteur carried out his investigations from March 25-29, following allegations of massacres of Hutu refugees in the regions of northern and southern Kivu by the rebels, who have been fighting zairean government forces since October.

The investigations included interviews with representatives of humanitarian agencies, human rights activists, doctors and eyewitnesses and visits to several mass graves.

Garreton cited several instances of mass murders, including the killing of 300 persons invited by the rebels to a meeting in Bukombo, the murder of 600 refugees at the Kashusha camp in Burhale and the killing of 207 people at a church in Chanzu.

He also quoted villagers in Kibumba as saying that they buried more than 1,500 bodies found in the village, and a report by Zairean Deputy Prime Minister Kamanda wa Kamanda that 3,000 persons were killed at a camp in Mugunga.

Other human rights violations by the rebels, cited in the report, include the torturing of detainees, violations of freedom of expression, violation of the right to property and the enlistment of children in its force. The rapporteur believes that the events described in this preliminary report cannot go unpunished. What is described here is still going on, with complete impunity, Garreton said.

As everyone knows, the best way to prevent violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law is to investigate the events, to try those responsible and to impose appropriate punishments, he added.

He said that the rebels, led by Laurent Kabila, justified the incidents by saying that they happened in war, and claimed that the allegations were merely a smear campaign against them.

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