|
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2004 4:30 PM
Subject: [congokin-tribune] N OF THE KIVU REGION AND OTH( To
Kalonji)... Dear Kalonji: My understanding about the conflicts in Congo in the matters of Congolese tutsi, predated the pre-colonial era. I can assure you that those conflicts emanated from different kingdom trying to expand or subdue others. I do not have any document written to systematically kill tutsi in Congo since 1960. I am not sure if there is any, however, there are specific threats on radio and TV, news papers that appeared on different occasion in Congo, that suggest a great deal of animosity. For instance in 1963-5, Munongo from Katanga had declared tutsis in 'Congo Persona non ingrata at time, [I remember learning that someone actually I know of was married to a relative to Munogo (he used to work for Gecamines in Lubumbashi) whether that was the reason he did not like them, I am not really sure. By the coming to power by Mobutu the plan ended. It is interesting to point out that Mobutu used Banyamulenge in the South to fight against Mulelist. Later on they actually fought against the Late President kabila in 1987. You me remember the war of Moba in the mid eighties. They were fighting on government side to repel Kabila's attacks. Congolese Banyarwanda(Hutus and Tutsis) in Congo acknowledge whole heatedly that besides the violence in Congo 1960-1965, which was generalized in each Congolese provinces, plan to kill and exclude Tutsi in Congo was always initiated by the government of Kayibanda from Rwanda, inciting some hutus in Congo and trying to buy Congolese politicians for that purpose. I have to say that Rwanda has always been since the 1960 a bad omen for Congo. One need to recognize also, that animosity between some ethnic groups in the Kivu, such as Bavira, Bapfurero, Banyarwanda, Bashi, originates from the pre-colonial conflicts among different kingdom in the area. You would be interested to read about the war between the Kingdom of Rwanda and the Bashi, and Bahavu, in which you find actually many decedent of Tutsi-hutus in those ethnic groups. that is why I was telling a friend Mpararo that he is my nephew because his name sounds very close to kinyarwanda, although that does not mean necessarily he is of rwandese origin. This in my view, has been unfortunately used in our modern times to further differences among those ethnic groups by politicians. No one can ignore about the influence of Rwanda from 1994-up, but you have to remember that, 1,500,000 rwandeses hutus, came to eastern Congo and cleansed it of its tutsi populations except in south Kivu among Banyamulenge. It has been just recently that Congolese Tutsis, have been coming back to masisi and Rutshuru after 10 years in refugees camps in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda. I had the opportunity of going to African in 2000, the conditions they have been living in (I have videos, I can make copies to you if you want) are despicable. I also know those conditions are similar to those of many Congolese's who were internally displaced. I must add that, the second time an official of the government of Congo tried to get rid of tutsi was withYerodia Ndombasi along with the late President kabila, they came close to requesting other Congolese to get rid of Tutsi in the various message on TV and Radio. Those two times, are the only times, I think it came clear that Tutsi were on the verge of extermination. The issue of citizenship, is another crucial problem that comes along with violence unfortunately. I still think that this is due to the lack of Leadership. I remember meeting with Mwenze Kongolo along with other Congolese tutsis in Washington DC and asking him how can a government sponsor this kind of behavior( 1998), he promised us that the new government of the President Kabila Jr, was going to protect everyone. I still believe that this can be achieved. Let me tell you as I said before, the only way we can save Congo, is to support this transitional government. Secondly, we have to set a neutral commission to investigate those who one way or the other were involved in civilians massacres and punish them accordingly since the war started in 1996. On the side of Congolese tutsi, I remember telling my brother Kasongo that when we will go to war to protect congo, how many Congolese are going to come and help us! That was before Masunzu faugth Kigali. Yet, many people on this forum still say, tutsi never condemned rwanda, Banyamulenge are not congolese, etc... I remember writing a very harsh criticism about the situation in Congo and Rwanda's involvement and the consequences towards Congolese tutsi. I am appalled and surprised that everyone has forgotten that and say no one ever challenged Rwanda. I can honestly tell you, that the conflict between Mutebusi, Nabiola, Mabe and Nkunda came as a lack of goodwill on both sides. On one hand, Mbunza mabe is the one who was targeting tutsis in 1996 in the Kivus under Mobutu after the 1.5 millions hutus refugees were cleansing eastern Congo of its Tutsi inhabitants. Why would the central government decide to bring him instead of someone else? I do not know what happened with Patient Mwendanga, commandant kasongo etc... all of this should have been negotiated in Kinshasa. I guess people in Kinshasa are fighting for their own interests and survival. NB: Silvain Mbuki, is from Katanga, not from Kivu, he may have lived in Kivu but he is not a Munyarwanda. Secondly, the logistics of the FARDC are in the direct hands of kabila. For example, what happened to the 350 troops of the former FAR(forces armes Rwandese) in Bandundu? where are those who were supposed to be disarmed and reintegrated to Rwanda? Many banyarwandas say that in Bukavu, atrocities were committed by those same interahamwe integrated in the Congolese army! If that is so, this is a serious problem that the government needs to address as quickly as it can. Take care Ben In a message dated 6/19/2004 8:53:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Subj:Re: [congokin-tribune] PLAN OF THE KIVU REGION AND OTH( To Kalonji)...
Liens Yahoo! Groupes
|
