On
Walikale
Rapes in DRC, Only Mayele in Jail, MONUSCO Shrink After Vote?
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
May 18 -- Despite vows of accountability for the rapes in Walikale in
the Democratic
Republic of Congo last year, Inner City
Press was told on Wednesday on the margins of the Security Council's
meeting on the DRC that the only person still in jail for the rapes
is Lt-Col Mayele of the Mai Mai Cheka.
“Witnesses are
being intimidated and the judge is wavering,” a well placed source
told Inner City Press. Mayele, in Goma, has information about other
perpetrators, but nothing has been done.
The other
perpetrators,
including the elusive Serafim, are said to be identified by name in
the forthcoming UN Human Rights Council report on the Walikale rapes.
On
the more
positive side, sources told Inner City Press, Margot Wallstrom and
her UN office on Sexual Violence and Conflict briefed the Security
Council's committee on DRC Sanctions.
Outside
the
Security Council's debate, top UN Peacekeeper Alain Le Roy told the
Press that there is no move to reduce UN presence in the Congo “until
the election.” After that it is possible.
Roger Meece previously at stakeout, action on
Walikale not shown
France,
the
Security Council President for May, organized a day long session on
the DRC held at the International Peace Institute but made “on
background” under the Chatham House rules imposed by IPI.
At the
session, the rapes in Walikale and elsewhere in North Kivu were
ridiculed and dismissed by an official who, under IPI's rules, is
given anonymity. Watch this site.
Footnotes: UN envoy Roger Meece
didn't speak to the press, instead leaving the Security Council session
with the DRC delegation. Meanwhile Chad's Permanent Representative to
the UN told Inner City Press "it looks like they don't want to leave."
* * *
As
Congo
Arrests
American for Gold Trade, UN's Meece Knows
Little, No LRA
By
Matthew
Russell
Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
February
7 -- Last week in Eastern Congo, four foreigners
were arrested for illegal gold trading and exploitation. Two
Nigerians, an American and a French national were taken from their
plane at the airport in North Kivu capital Goma, province governor
Julien Paluku said.
On
February 7
Inner City Press asked Roger Meece, the head of the UN Mission in the
Congo MONUSCO, about the arrests and MONUSCO's role. He said the
Congolese acted on a situation “at best irregular, that's the most
charitable description.”
Inner
City
Press
asked him if the US (or France or Nigeria) had communicated with
Kinshasa or the UN about their nationals being arrested. “I can't
speak for the countries involved,” said Meece, previously the US
Ambassador to the Congo. Nor has the US said anything about the
arrest, or about the US-registered plane, which flew from Nigeria.
After
Inner
City
Press asked, Meece said that it is possible the Bosco Ntaganda is
involved -- the same Ntaganda who has bragged of working with the UN
after being indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal
Court.
The UN in
Sudan
transported ICC indictee Ahmed Haroun in an UNMIS plane, saying that
it was necessary in order to try to calm tensions. The UN in Congo,
MONUSCO, could make the same argument about Bosco Ntaganda.
The
Brazilian
president of the Security Council for February read out a press
statement in which the Council took issue with the promotion of men
implicated in human rights abuses.
Inner City
Press asked if the
Lord's Resistance Army had even been discussed. Yes, under security,
the Brazilian Ambassador answered. Still, given that the long Council
press statement did not even mention the LRA, it seems it was an
afterthought, even to the US delegation. Watch this site.
Footnote: Inner City
Press also asked Meece if MONUSCO will respond to the call to provide
more protection in Virunga national park, where rangers are being
killed. Meece gave a long answer whcih did not make it clear if any
additional protection will be provided, or even attempted. Meanwhile a "new
rebel
group" has become to protect the part -- some dub it "guerrillas
for gorillas."
, 
