|
BEATEN: Rwabiita UGANDA'Sambassador to Belgium was recently roughed and beaten up by Congolese nationals in Brussels, reports Julius Mucunguzi. Sources said Deo Rwabiita was attacked on June 30, on his way to the DR Congo National Day celebrations, for "the looting of their country's resources and the ongoing insecurity." The sources said when Rwabiita arrived at the venue and identified himself as Uganda's ambassador, the charged boys said, "This is our time to pay you back," then pounced on him and started beating him. Foreign affairs permanent secretary ambassador Julius Onen on Monday said on phone, "The fracas took place but it was not planned by the Belgian or Congolese governments." Onen said the people who roughed up Rwabiita, who is also the permanent representative to the European Union, were "Congolese youth who had taken too much alcohol." Onen said Rwabiita's vehicle was smashed and windscreens shattered. Sources in Belgium said there was no Police to rescue Rwabiita and he yelled out for help in vain. "He was saved by some female good samaritans who pleaded with the rowdy youth to spare the ambassador," the sources said. Onen said the ministry was handling the issue and it had asked Rwabiita to write a "Demache," an official protest letter, to the Belgian foreign ministry. "According to the rules of diplomatic practice, the security of foreign envoys must be provided by the host country," Onen said. He said acting foreign affairs minister Maj. Tom Butime summoned the Belgium ambassador to Uganda to his office on Monday to discuss the matter. He gave no details. The Belgian ambassador in Uganda could not be reached for comment. Onen said a protest note had been delivered to the DRC embassy in Uganda. "We need to emphasise that while the host country is supposed to provide security to our envoys, the primary responsibility of security falls squarely on the ambassadors. We would like to advise them to be careful which places they go to and if they sense that they may be assaulted, they should weigh the options. Our ambassador in the DRC goes through such almost everyday," Onen added. Published on: Wednesday, 14th July, 2004 |
