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NEWS ON CONGO 045: President Kabila on the situation [Posted: 03.05.02] NOTE: On websites with information on the DR Congo and for some contact addresses, see endnote last in this posting. INTRO NOTE: Here follows an interview which President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo gave in Kinshasa recently to a reporter of the Belgian newspaper Le Soir, Ms Colette Braeckman. It was published yesterday 02.05.2002 at the web address http://www.lesoir.be/articles/A_026D8A.asp. Trans- lation from the French is by me. Briefly on events in recent years up until now: In the DR Congo, then called "Zaire", an uprising against the Mobutu dictatorship which had oppressed and fleeced the people in favour of imperialism since 35 years back, started in late 1996 and was victorious on 17.05.1997, when the pre- sent state, the Democratic Republic of Congo, was founded. The liberation struggle was led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who also became the first president of the DRC. The DR Congo from the start set itself the goal of freeing the country from imperialist exploitation and building up an actually democratic form of government in it, thereby also setting up an example for all of Africa and for simi- larly exploited countries elsewhere. Because of this, the US and other imperialists instigated a war of aggression against that country on 02.08.1998 by three neighbouring states, a war which so far, directly or indirectly, has cost the lives of over 3,000,000 people and which still continues. One-half of the DR Congo today is under foreign occupation. The people in the whole country continues to suffer enormously. It very much needs the support of the people in all other countries. After the foul murder of L-D Kabila on 16.01.2001, his son, Joseph Kabila, was installed as president; a government led by J. Kabila has continued the struggle against the aggres- sion since then. From 25.02.2002 on, a conference was held in Sun City, South Africa, in which attempts by the imperialists to gain control over the whole of the DR Congo by so-called "peaceful" means were confronted by the strivings of the Congolese people and the country's lawful government to retain the independence of the DRC. A "peace plan", meaning in practice utter capitulation for the Congolese people, was proposed by the South African president Mbeki on 11.04 but was not accepted by the government of the DRC, which instead on 17.04 ended the "inter-Congolese dia- logue" at Sun City by coming to a peace agreement, supported also by the Mai-Mai movement in the occupied east, with one of those Congolese groups which had been acting as invaders' pup- pets in the war, the "MLC", closely connected with Uganda. The "MLC" leader J-P Bemba accepted the offer of premiership in an interim government, intended to prepare for parliamenta- ry elections, while the puppet of Rwanda (and the Congolese force most closely of all connected with the US imperialists), the "RCD/Goma", though offered posts too, refused to partici- pate and violently attacked this agreement, backed in this by the main international imperialist mass media. The concluding of this agreement was a considerable concession by the lawful government of the DR Congo, but, as argued by me in "NOC 044" (20.04.02), probably a necessary one under the circumstances, and one which rather importantly split those forces which had been invading the country. Unification of the national territory of the DR Congo was agreed on between the government, controlling some 40% of it, and the "MLC", holding 30%, while the Rwandan army, still re- fusing to withdraw, together with its puppet continues to hold the remaining 30% of that territory under occupation. End of intro note *Congo Une, exclusive interview with President Joseph Kabila* "THE ARMED RWANDANS SHOULD LEAVE THE CONGO" Even if the agreement reached at Sun City is still a partial one and has not yet been joined by the Goma rebels ["rebels", as far as the DR Congo is concerned, since August 1998 is the Imperialistese term for aggressors' puppets - RM], one turn has been taken: the inter-Congolese dialogue in its formal phase is being considered as having ended. An occasion to ask the president of the Congo what are his views on this. INTERVIEW Colette Braeckman, our special reporter in Kinshasa The "patriotic pact" concluded between President Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba, who will become his Prime Minister, has been signed by 80% of the delegates in South Africa. It seems to be supported by a large majority of the opinion, and a delegation of ambassadors representing the member countries of the UN Security Council are starting, from Kinshasa, a tour which will take them on to Kisangani, to Angola, to Rwanda, to Uganda, to Zimbabwe. [Note: The DR Congo was invaded, in August 1998, by Rwanda, Uganda and also by Burundi, at the instiga- tion of the US and other imperialists. It was im- mediately given military support by Angola, Zimbawbe and Namibia, which helped prevent the aggressors, some of whose troops were airlifted into western DR Congo too, from conquering the capital, Kinshasa, at a critical juncture in 1998, and later helped fighting them to a standstill. - RM] Jean-Marc Levitte, ambassador of France to the UN, who leads the delegation, has stated that he is "encouraged by the con- sensus obtained at Sun City", which he caracterizes as "a re- markable advance, on the basis of which one can proceed to start the transition". - Mr President, what has been your message to the ambassadors of the UN Security Council member countries who have arrived to inform themselves about the perspectives for peace in the region? I have told them that we would like to work together with our nine neighbours; we are at peace with six of them and wish to be so too with the other three, who have engaged in an aggres- sion against us. When the question of security for Rwanda has come up, I have replied that the Rwandan armed groups, both the APR (Rwandan Patriotic Army) and the others (the NDLR: the former Rwandan military and militias guilty of genocide) must leave our territory. It is not we who have chosen to make them come here. - Do you have the means to make them leave? It is the MONUC (The Mission of the United Nations for the Congo) that has been entrusted with surveying this situation, to seek out such Rwandan combatants as are on our teritory... Its latest report estimates their total numbers at 12,000. We on our part have no need for those people here. Since back in August 2001 on, the government has pledged to undertake everything so that the MONUC may indentify these Rwandan combatants, and disarm them. Besides, the destruction of their weapons has already started. - Is it true that Rwandans, Hutus and Tutsis, members of the opposition, are planning to come to Kinshasa in order to help identify people guilty of genocide who are in the Congo, so that they may be handed over to international courts of law? - That is correct. We have no problems with this. We also have invited the Arusha international Tribunal to place observers in the Congo so that it may be able to take charge of such cases in which persons responsable for the genocide of 1994 are present in our country. - How has the Security Council delegation viewed that partial agreement which envisages the nomination of Jean-Pierre Bemba as Prime Minister? The reaction has been positive, first of all because it is a question of an agreement between Congolese, and because the goal of the meeting at Sun City was to reconcile the different sides with each other. Since this met with an impasse, I am asking myself why the RCD-Goma behaved as it did: they stalled at all proposals made to them, as if their real aim was to cause the dialogue to fail. To them, the president, the go- vernment did not exist; they had to clean the table, restart at zero. In the Congo, however, there are institutions, there is a president, a country, a nation... I have always thought that if the Congolese were allowed to decide on things among themselves, they would find a solution in the end. But if in- terference by the Rwandans, the Ugandans, the South Africans is permitted, things will become more complicated. With Jean- Pierre Bemba, we were able to come to an understanding on a nationalist, patriotic basis, one that takes into considera- tion the paramount interests of the nation. - While your father spent his life combating Mobutuism, you on your part are opening the door for its return... What I have done is opening the door for reconciliation. Yes, we combated Mobutu, but those who are returning above all are Congolese, and they will respect the law, like everybody else, respect the agreement. - According to the agreement, you are relinquishing much power to your Prime Minister, who will be Jean-Pierre Bemba. Some people even think that you have conceded too much... We have established a semi-presidential regime, agreed on for power-sharing, but the Constitution on which the technicians will work will still have to draw up the rules for many things; in a month from now, all this should be finalized. I have already met with Jean-Pierre Bemba, we often talk by telephone, his delegation already is here, we are expecting him in Kinshasa. - Do you hold that a new phase of the Lusaka agreement [of 1999, envisaging "inter-Congolese dialogue" and also the re- treat of all foreign troops - RM] has been entered into, that a new leaf has been turned? There were two sides to that agreement, a military one and a political one. At the political level, the inter-Congolese dialogue has taken place, thanks to the mediator and within the framework of the Lusaka agreement, and this today has ended. It remains today to make it complete, and the door is still open for the RCD-Goma, which is still controlling 30% of the territory. We must find an agreement with them, since they are Congolese. It still remains for them to be able to express themselves freely and finally to join the camp of the fatherland... Perhaps we must negotiate directly with Rwanda ... The reason why we went to Sun Sity was our desire to re- unify the country, bring back peace to the Congo and finally proceed to holding elections. - Considering your agreement with Bemba, some people are questioning your will to go to elections. For us, the perspective of elections is fundamental. Besides, those who will prepare the Constitution will set up a time plan for the establishing of institutions of transition, and prepare for elections, which could take place within a period of two years. - Will you be a candidate in these elections? Should I be one? What do you think of it? I am putting this question to everybody, and nobody can answer me. What I would like, that is to be able to go to the eastern part of my country, to meet again my grandfather in Kabambare in the Ma- niéma province. For me the main thing is to bring the country to elections. If I had to make an assessment today of develop- ments since January 2001, I would say that that there has been some progress: the dialogue has taken place, the military front has remained quiet, there have been disengagements by all the foreign forces, with the exception of those of Rwanda, which on the contrary are reinforcing their positions and are now combating the Banyamulenge (Tutsis in the South Kivu pro- vince) whom they supposedly came in to protect! You know, everybody is tired of the war, except, obviously, those who are utilizing it for pillaging our riches, coltan, diamonds...In any case, it is not because we are tired that we are letting the Rwandans continue their occupation of our country. The people of the Kivu, of Maniéma, wish to be re- unified as soon as possible, and even for me, to wait for another year is too much. I want peace to return to the Congo in 2002, I want the reunification to be effective. Speaking of assessment of developments, it is impossible for me to be happy with them, since the situation for the people remains miserable, in particular in the occupied territories. The unification of the country will be a challenge too: we must pay officials, put things into order, administrate, re- establish trade. - You have made many concessions at the level of the economy. Have you been compensated for them? My father used to say that one must above all rely on one's own forces... Since May 2001, at the cost of much effort, we have attained a certain marco-economic stability and I think that in the coming month of June, we shall see the results of it, aid will start arriving. We also are going to restart pro- duction. The horizon is beginning to look brighter, I am much more optimistic. - Are you still a Kabilist? Or to express it differently, what will you keep of the heritage of your father, of his political thinking? I say again, my priority, that is the reunification of the country, and then elections. As to political parties, there are already 184 of them, but what would be necessary to do is really to make the political thinking of my father a permanent thing...Perhaps I could do this some day, if I leave the army. You know, the revolution is part of my life; this is something which I cannot throw away. What counts for me, that is to put an end to the humiliation of my divided country. The Congo must get strong again. - After the future national army has been constituted, will you share command of it? The command of an army is never shared, or else there is cer- tain chaos, collapse of the state. The Head of State is the supreme commander of the armed forces. The fusioning of the armies, the demobilisation of the oldest and the very youngest will be points discussed at a technical level. We have 6,000 child soldiers in our ranks, which must be renewed. I would like to conclude by saying that the international community too must keep its promises to us: Kisangani must be demilita- rized; the pillaging of our resources must stop. The resolu- tions of the United Nations must be upheld, by us but also by others... One day, all the dead of this country will demand vindication. _______________________________________________________________ "NEWS ON CONGO" postings bring statements by the Congo National Association in Sweden and the DR Congo Committee in Sweden and also reproduce information and analysis from other sources. Postings are sent to: - some 30 Usenet newsgroups, on politics and/or on Africa - some 5 international discussion mailing lists - some 400 private, media or governmental e-mail addresses [This endnote is being updated continually, in order to show readers where at the time they can best get information. Last update of this note: 20.04.2002.] Some websites with information in English and/or in French on the DR Congo: Official site of the DR Congo: http://www.rd-congo.com/ Site of the DR Congo's Permanent Mission at the UN: http://www.un.int/drcongo/ (With much information, i.a. continually updated news in French and English; NB new address this year) Kinshasa newspaper l'Avenir: http://www.groupelavenir.com The Mai-Mai movement, fighting the aggressors in the east: http://www.congo-mai-mai.net Mjumbe wa Kivu, a site on the occupied Kivu province, with i.a. a forum to which the Mai-Mai movement and also the resistance movement les Forces Républicaines Féderalistes have contributed: www.kivu.net Great Lakes Press: http://pages.infinit.net/glp/index.htm Congo 2000: www.congo2000.com Digitalcongo.net: http://www.digitalcongo.net Two Belgium-based sites support the struggle of the DR Congo: www.lai-aib.org/index_fr.htm and www.ptb.be/Solidaire.htm Two other Belgium-based sites: ATMA: www.atma.net and Congon- line: www.congonline.com (the last only for subscribers). An English-language website managed by Richard Alcorn, USA, with i.a. much material from August 1998 on from us supporters of the DR Congo in Sweden: www.crocker.com/~acacia/congo.html (This site has no more recent material; last updated Nov 1998) AllAfrica.com: http://allafrica.com/congo_kinshasa/ (Replaces an earlier site, Africanews) Marekinc: http://www.marekinc.com (Managed by Ed Marek, formerly of the US Air Force. Often ap- parently well-informed and, of late, containing considerable criticism of the official US position on the aggression. Its informations should be treated with great caution anyway, ex- perience shows.) "Rebel" aggressor puppets, a site based in South Africa: www.congo.co.za Three discussion sites of interest: www.egroups.com/list/congokin_opinions (Belgium-based. E-group discussions are in French and English. For participation, contact <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or <congokin_ [EMAIL PROTECTED]>.) www.egroups.com/list/cdf (Congo Defence Fund) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CONGOTRIBUNE/ (Founded 09.11.2001) Some contact addresses: Congo National Association Box 5343 SE - 102 45 Stockholm Sweden Tel: +46 - 8 - 471 96 26 (chairman) +46 - 8 - 84 57 18 (facility) Fax: +46 - 8 - 751 26 06 DR Congo Committee (Chairman: Bony Ndjov-a-Shamalo) c/o Rolf Martens Nobelvaegen 38U4 SE - 214 33 Malmoe Sweden Tel: +46 - 40 - 12 48 32 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
