May 2000 Volume 12, Number 3 (A) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO EASTERN CONGO RAVAGED Killing Civilians and Silencing Protest I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 II. RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 To the Government of Rwanda and the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD):............................................................................. 4 To the Mai-Mai and Hutu armed groups operating in Eastern Congo: ............................................................................................................................ 5 To the United Nations:............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 To the International Community, including the United States, the European Union and its member states, and the OAU:.......................................................................................................................................... 5 III. INDISCRIMINATE ATTACKS AND EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS OF CIVILIANS.................................................................................................................................... 6 Attacks in North Kivu ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Kilambo, Masisi Territory.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Nyabiondo, Masisi Territory............................................................................................................................................................................................................9 Walikale Territory............................................................................................................................................................................................................................9 Attacks in South Kivu...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................11 Bunyakiri Territory, Northern Area..........................................................................................................................................................................................11 Bunyakiri Territory, Kalonge.......................................................................................................................................................................................................11 Shabunda Territory .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................12 Sexual Violence.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................13 Stealing .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15 RCD Official Explanation....................................................................................................................................................................................................................16 RCD Response to Attacks on Civilians by Armed Opposition Groups............................................................................................................................16 The Internally Displaced and Humanitarian Consequences of Attacks on Civilians................................................................................................16 IV. THE FAILURE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM................................................................................................................................................................................................17 Arbitrary Arrest, Illegal Detention and Torture...................................................................................................................................................................17 Lack of Due Process............................................................................................................................................................................................................................19 V. CIVIL SOCIETY UNDER ATTACK......................................................................................................................................................................................................................20 From Harassment to Open Attack.................................................................................................................................................................................................20 National Consultations in Kinshasa: AWorking with the Enemy@? ..................................................................................................................................21 Strikes in Bukavu and Goma, January-February 2000: An Excuse to Attack Civil Society...............................................................................22 Attacks on Human Rights Activists..............................................................................................................................................................................................23 APREDECI.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................24 Heritiers de la Justice...............................................................................................................................................................................................................24 Groupe Jeremie...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................25 Center pour l=Education, Animation et Defense des Droits de l=Homme..............................................................................................................25 COJESKI...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................25 Attacks on the Media..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................25 Radio Maendeleo..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................26 Attacks on Women=s Groups.............................................................................................................................................................................................................27 Attacks on Churches............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28 Accusations of Inciting Ethnic Hatred.......................................................................................................................................................................................30 RCD Accusations of Inciting Ethnic Hatred..............................................................................................................................................................................30 VI. THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................31 Southern African Development Community..................................................................................................................................................................................31 United Nations..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................31