In
DRC,
Protesters
Shot in Goma,
UN Works With
Police in
Kinshasa
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, May
27 -- On the
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo
Inner City
Press on May 5
and May 6
asked the
spokesman for
UN Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon about
threats
against
opposition
candidates
Moise Katumbi.
The spokesman,
Stephane
Dujarric, said
the UN
Peacekeeping
mission
controlled by
USG Herve
Ladsous has no
mandate to
protect
candidates. Vine here.
On May 27,
after
protesters
were shot in
Goma, Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq, video here, UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: This is
about the
Democratic
Republic of
the
Congo.
You put out a
statement… in
the protest
yesterday, at
least in Goma,
the
authorities
used live fire
and
teargas.
A protester
was
killed.
Many were
injured.
I’m wondering
if you could
just describe
rather than
just a
reaction to
it, what did
MONUSCO [UN
Organization
Stabilization
Mission in the
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo] do
during…
pursuant to
its protection
of civilians
mandate during
the protest?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Okay.
Well,
yesterday the
Mission in the
Democratic
Republic of
the Congo,
MONUSCO,
reported the
demonstrations
took place in
a number of
cities with
reports
related to a
tense
situation in
certain
neighbourhoods
of Goma, North
Kivu. In
line with its
mandate,
MONUSCO did
mobilize to
assist.
In Kinshasa,
for example,
UN police
units have
worked closely
with the
Police
Nationale
Congolaise to
advise and
support
them.
MINUSCA will
continue to
closely
monitor the
situation
across the
country.
[Minusca?]
As you’re
aware, the
Secretary-General
issued a
statement on
this and has
stressed the
need for all
to act in
strict respect
of the
fundamental
freedoms and
rights
enshrined in
the
Constitution,
and he made
clear that all
parties must
exercise
restraint and
express their
views
peacefully and
that political
actors must
engage in a
constructive
and peaceful
political
dialogue.
On May 16,
after people
peacefully
protesting
against the
UN's failure
to protect
civilians in
Goma were
arrested,
Inner City
Press asked UN
deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq.
