| CDA: lettre à Clinton |
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| Kambale
Katahwa |
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Chers compatriotes
Voici une lettre qui sera envoyee bientot a Bill Clinton. Si son contenu rencontre vos
preoccupations, vous pouvez ajouter votre nom a la liste des signataires en envoyant vos
noms a Jean kadima a l'adresse suivante : jskcc@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
La lettre vise a exprimer nos preoccupations concernant le massacre des hutu, la situation
au Kivu et la democratie dans notre pays.
merci d'avance.
Kambale
President Bill Clinton
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 2001(?)
Dear Mr. President:
We--Congolese nationals, members of the Congolese community in the diaspora, and Americans
of Congolese origin--independently and freely express our gratitude
for the United States' initiative regarding the massacre of Hutu refugees, the continued
violations of human rights, and the conflict in central Africa since Mr. Kabila came to
power. We reiterate our commitment to the rule of universal law and liberties despite the
misleading statements of various groups. Your administration was instrumental in deposing
the dictator Mr. Mobutu Sese Seko, so we remain assured that it will not be complicitous
in the building of yet another inhumane and brutal dictatorship.
It is a well known fact that Hutu refugees were killed during the eastern Zaire conflicts
of 1996-1997. When the United Nations made the above allegations placing the blame on Mr.
Kabila, the latter was given the opportunity to rebuke these accusations before and after
the United Nations' investigations or conduct his own. Mr. Kabila, however, not only chose
to ignore the world body, but also throttled the investigation by arresting members of the
team and humiliating overand over the United Nations.
This attitude would never have been tolerated in the case of Iran or Iraq.
Today the verdict is out. The United Nations has proven that there was genocide in the
Congo, Extra judicial executions, and other human rights abuses. Yet there appears to be
an indication that the United Nations is unlikely to pursue in a tribunal these findings.
Like Amnesty International, we call upon the United States to ensure that those who
perpetuated these acts do not go unpunished whether they are Congolese or not. The
Democratic Republic of the Congo must be made accountable less the international community
send a message that violence and Genocide is a minor offense in Africa. Does the United
States have double ethical standards?
The Great lake region problem is both complex and difficult to resolve. yet it should not
be done at the expense of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Congolese in
particular. If Mr. Kabila and his allies are not accountable for their deeds, how can the
current bloodshed in Kivu cease? Moreover, the Kivu problem must be dealt with in a way
not to compromise the sovereign integrity of the Country and the Congolese nation. The
Democratic Republic of the Congo has the right to determine and implement its own laws
irrespective of the needs of other nations. The Congo must assist its neighbors for
humanitarian reasons--which it has done, for no country has ever admitted two million
refugees in less than a week. It is our very hospitable nature that has endangered the
very sovereignty of the nation and damaged the ecological and social infrastructure of the
Country.
For thirty years the Congolese people suffered from poverty, social deprivation, and
political instability. Since April 24, 1990 when Mr. Mobutu officially legalized
mutipartyism, Congolese have died for democracy. During the present regime of Mr. Kabila
the Congolese people have been arrested and have continued to die for this ideal.
The interrogations of Mr. Bo-Boliko, the arrestations of Mrs. Ngoma and Olengakoyi, and
the relegation of Mr. Tshisekedi to his village witness to this oppression and the
Congolese desire to create a rule of law.
Although most Congolese are willing to participate in the reconstruction of the Country,
recent developments in the Congo signal Kabila's desire to establish a new dictatorship.
The banning of political parties, the corruption within his government, the arrestations
of journalists,the suppression of human rights groups, and the suppression of hardly
acquired freedoms of speech and association during the transition are clear indications
that the Congo is not moving in the direction of a democracy.
We hope, Mr. President, that the American response to these United Nations findings and
policies on the Congo will result in the betterment of the lives of the people of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and that the United states, the Champion of Democracy,
will make the Congo safe for democracy.
cc. UN General secretary, Kofi Anan
President UN Security Council
Members UN Security Council(All)
Kambale Katahwa |
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