UN Security Council condemns ‘any and all outside support’ to M23 armed group in eastern DR Congo

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43339&Cr=democratic&Cr1=congo#.UIKSTsVLWSp UN Security Council condemns 'any and all outside support' to M23 armed group in eastern DR Congo Amb. Gert Rosenthal of Guatemala presides over the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe 0  Print 19 octobre 2012 – The United Nations Security Council today reiterated its condemnation of and demand for an end to all external support being provided to armed groups – in particular the group known as the March 23 Movement (M23) – which have been destabilizing the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over recent months. "In this regard, the Security Council expresses deep concern at reports indicating that such support continues to be provided to the M23 by neighbouring countries. The Security Council demands that any and all outside support to the M23 as well as other armed groups cease immediately," Ambassador Gert Rosenthal of Guatemala, which holds the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of October, said in a presidential statement. "The Security Council calls upon all countries in the region to condemn the M23, as well as other armed groups, and to cooperate actively with the Congolese authorities in disarming and demobilizing the M23 as well as other armed groups and dismantling the M23 parallel administration," the statement added. The DRC's eastern provinces of North and South Kivu have witnessed increased fighting over recent months between Government troops and the M23, which is composed of soldiers from the DRC's national army who mutinied in April. In addition to the violence leading to an alarming humanitarian situation, marked by rape, murder and pillaging, the fighting has displaced more than 300,000 people, including many who have fled to neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda, as well as within DRC. Peacekeepers from the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO) have been aiding the DRC's Government troops in their efforts to deal with the M23. Earlier this week, six UN peacekeepers and a local interpreter were wounded in an overnight ambush while returning from a patrol with 12 other peacekeepers near Buganza in North Kivu province after finding the bodies of four civilians. As well as expressing deep concern regarding the deteriorating security and humanitarian crisis in the eastern DRC – caused by the M23 as well as other armed groups – the Council also condemned the M23's attacks on civilians, humanitarian actors and UN peacekeepers, and its abuses of human rights, including summary executions, sexual and gender based violence and large-scale recruitment and use of child soldiers. It called for perpetrators, including individuals responsible for violence against children and acts of sexual violence, to be apprehended, brought to justice and held accountable for violations of applicable international law. "The Security Council expresses its intention to apply targeted sanctions against the leadership of the M23 and those acting in violation of the sanctions regime and the arms embargo and calls on all Member States to submit, as a matter of urgency, listing proposals to the 1533 Committee," according to the Council's presidential statement. The Council's 1533 Committee deals with an arms embargo which applies to non-governmental entities and individuals operating in eastern DRC, as well as targeted travel and financial sanctions. In the presidential statement, the Security Council stressed the urgency of constructive engagement and dialogue between the DRC and its neighbours, especially Rwanda, and the need to address the underlying causes of the conflict in eastern DRC. It welcomed the efforts of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, as well as of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU), to restore peace and security to the area. The ICGLR held a meeting at which it discussed the issue of eastern DRC in Kampala, Uganda, last week. "The Security Council takes note of the decisions by the ICGLR and the AU regarding the deployment of a 'Neutral International Force' in eastern DRC and takes note of the ongoing coordination efforts between these organizations and the United Nations to clarify the objectives, modalities and means of the proposed Force in relation to MONUSCO," according to the Council statement. In September, the ICGLR launched, in the eastern DRC town of Goma, the so-called Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM). First discussed in June, the mechanism is a technical body, comprising experts from both DRC and Rwanda and those of the UN and AU, to address DRC-Rwanda border security issues. "It further welcomes," the Council statement read, "the support provided by MONUSCO to the EJVM and encourages, in coordination with ICGLR members, the participation of MONUSCO, as appropriate and within the limits of its capacities and mandate, in the activities of the EJVM and the reporting on any flow of arms and related materiel across borders of eastern DRC." The Council also called on the Secretary General to continue his 'good offices' and to explore, when appropriate, further high-level diplomatic mechanisms to facilitate dialogue between relevant parties, including on the underlying causes of the conflict in the African country's east. In addition to other methods, the UN chief uses his 'good offices' – steps taken publicly and in private, drawing upon his independence, impartiality and integrity – to prevent international disputes from arising, escalating or spreading. MONUSCO, with 19,000 uniformed personnel, is the latest iteration of UN peacekeeping missions that have helped to bring stability and civilian elections to the vast nation after it was torn apart by civil wars and rebel movements. Outside of the east, much of the country has achieved a measure of stability. News Tracker: past stories on this issue Six UN peacekeepers and interpreter wounded in ambush in eastern DR Congo

RDC : le Conseil de sécurité condamne le M23 et exige la fin du soutien extérieur apporté à ce groupe armé

http://www.un.org/apps/newsFr/storyF.asp?NewsID=29233&Cr=RDC&Cr1#.UIKRdMVLWSq RDC : le Conseil de sécurité condamne le M23 et exige la fin du soutien extérieur apporté à ce groupe armé 0  Print 19 October 2012 – Préoccupé par la détérioration des conditions de sécurité et la crise humanitaire que connaît l'est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC), le Conseil de sécurité a fermement condamné vendredi le M23 et toutes les attaques qu'il a menées contre la population civile, les soldats de la paix des Nations Unies et le personnel humanitaire. Le 17 octobre, au Nord-Kivu, une embuscade avait été tendue à des soldats de la MONUSCO, faisant six blessés parmi les Casques bleus du contingent indien. Cette attaque est la dernière en date d'une série attribuée au Mouvement du 23 mars (M23), un groupe rebelle formé en mars dernier par d'anciens soldats congolais qui se sont mutinés et sont actuellement dirigé par le colonel Sulutani Makenga. Le M23 s'était dans un premier temps regroupé autour de Bosco Ntaganda, un général sous le coup d'un mandat d'arrêt international émis par la Cour pénale internationale (CPI), qui l'accuse de crimes de guerre pour avoir recruté et utilisé des enfants-soldats dans des combats au nord-est de la RDC en 2002-2003. Depuis le début des exactions menées par le M23, pas moins de 320.000 personnes ont été déplacées dans la province du Nord-Kivu depuis avril dernier. « Le Conseil condamne également les efforts faits par le M23 pour mettre en place une administration parallèle et saper l'autorité de l'État et exige de ce groupe et des autres groupes armés, dont les Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR), qu'ils mettent immédiatement fin à toutes les formes de violence et autres activités de déstabilisation », indique la déclaration faite au nom des autres membres du Conseil par son Président pour le mois d'octobre, Gert Rosenthal (Guatemala). Le Conseil exige l'arrêt immédiat de l'« appui extérieur » dont bénéficie le M23 et demande à tous les pays de la région de condamner ces groupes armés et de coopérer activement avec les autorités congolaises à leur désarmement et à leur démobilisation. « Le Conseil insiste sur l'urgence qu'il y a à engager des contacts et un dialogue constructifs entre la RDC et les voisins, notamment le Rwanda. » Il exige aussi des groupes armés qu'ils mettent fin immédiatement à toutes les formes de violence et autres activités de déstabilisation, demandant que les auteurs de ces actes soient appréhendés et traduits en justice. Enfin, le Conseil prie le Secrétaire général de lui présenter un rapport spécial « sur les moyens possibles de faire en sorte que la Mission soit mieux à même d'exercer son mandat, non seulement dans la protection des civils, mais aussi sur la communication d'information sur les mouvements d'armes et de matériel à travers les frontières orientales du pays » News Tracker: autres dépêches sur la question RDC : l'ONU condamne une embuscade qui a fait six blessés parmi des Casques bleus

Pétition: Mobilisation internationale pour la libération de Madame Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza

https://www.lapetition.be/en-ligne/Mobilisation-internationale-pour-la-liberation-de-Madame-Victoire-Ingabire-Umuhoza-et-tous-les-autres-prisonniers-politiques-rwandais-11393.html Mobilisation internationale pour la libération de Madame Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza et tous les autres prisonniers politiques rwandais Le lundi 16 avril 2012, Mme Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, Présidente des FDU-Inkingi, détenue à Kigali (Rwanda) depuis octobre 2010, a pris la décision de se retirer avec effet immédiat du simulacre de procès ouvert depuis plus de 6 mois devant la Haute Cour de Kigali. Cette décision faisait suite au refus par l'accusation et par le tribunal, d'entendre un témoin clé de la défense qui avait exposé la manipulation, par le procureur, des preuves à charges ainsi qu'à d'autres dénis de justice dénoncés sans succès. Madame Ingabire Umuhoza a perdu toute confiance en la justice et a décidé de ne plus assister aux audiences. La Haute Cour, qui devait statuer sur cette décision, a, comme depuis le début du procès, donné raison au procureur et a décidé de poursuivre le procès en l'absence de l'accusée. Quelques jours après la prise de cette décision par Mme Ingabire Umuhoza, le ministère public a requis la prison à perpétuité contre elle (voir Rwanda: prison à vie requise contre l'opposante Victoire Ingabire, Steve TERRILL (AFP), 25/4/2012). La Cour doit rendre son verdict le 29 juin 2012. S'il est vrai que la peine de mort a été théoriquement abolie au Rwanda, elle a été remplacée par l'emprisonnement dans l'isolement, pratique condamnée par les organisations internationales des droits de l'homme (voir http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR47/003/2012/en/5a86119c-44e7-4d29-a984-ddbe3a2d23da/afr470032012en.pdf). Par ailleurs les conditions de détention elles-mêmes dans les établissements pénitentiels rwandais équivalent à une torture permanente, et c'est ce que vit Madame Victoire Ingabire depuis son arrestation et Déo Mushayidi. Certaines voix affirment qu'il ne faut pas se prononcer avant la lecture du verdict. Mais le verdict semble écrit d'avance par l'exécutif qui n'a cessé de s'immiscer dans le déroulement du procès. Si la communauté internationale refuse de condamner la conduite des débats au cours du procès, le fera-t-elle une fois que Mme Ingabire Umuhoza aura été envoyée aux oubliettes ? Joignez-vous à nous, en signant cette pétition, pour demander l'intervention de la communauté internationale (USA, UK, Union européenne,…) en vue de la libération immédiate de Madame Ingabire Umuhoza et de tous les prisonniers d'opinion. En signant cette pétition, vous aurez contribué à faire respecter les droits humains élémentaires au Rwanda.  Signer la pétition https://www.lapetition.be/sign_petition.php?petid=11393

Petition: Call for International mobilization to free Ms. Ingabire Umuhoza

https://www.lapetition.be/en-ligne/Mobilisation-internationale-pour-la-liberation-de-Madame-Victoire-Ingabire-Umuhoza-et-tous-les-autres-prisonniers-politiques-rwandais-11393.html Call for International mobilization to free Ms. Ingabire Umuhoza and all other political prisoners in Rwanda On Monday 16 April 2012, Ms. Ingabire Umuhoza, leader of UDF-Inkingi, held in Kigali (Rwanda) since October 2010, decided to withdraw, with immediate effect, from the kangaroo trial opened for more than six months before the High Court of Kigali. This decision followed the refusal by the prosecution and the court to hear a key defense witness who had exposed the manipulation of the case by the prosecutor, but also fake evidence and other miscarriages of justice. Ms. Ingabire Umuhoza lost confidence in justice and decided not to attend the hearings. The High Court, which was to rule on this decision, followed the prosecutor's plea, as is the case since the start of the trial, and ordered to go on with the trial in the absence of the accused. A few days after this decision by Ingabire Umuhoza, the prosecutor submitted his summary in which he requested life imprisonment against her (see Rwanda: prison à vie requise contre l'opposante Victoire Ingabire, Steve TERRILL (AFP), 25/4/2012). The Court must give its verdict on June 29, 2012. While the death penalty is theoretically abolished in Rwanda, it is replaced by imprisonment in isolation, a practice condemned by international organizations of human rights (see http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR47/003/2012/en/5a86119c-44e7-4d29-a984-ddbe3a2d23da/afr470032012en.pdf). Furthermore, the conditions of detention themselves in Rwandan penitential institutions amount to a permanent torture, and that's what Ms. Ingabire is subjected to, since her arrest. So is the case with Deo Mushayidi. Some voices say that one should not comment on the trial before the verdict is read. But the verdict seems written in advance by the executive that has continued to interfere in the trial. If the international community is reluctant to condemn the conduct of the trial, will it do it once Ms. Ingabire Umuhoza will have been sentenced? Join us by signing this petition, requesting the intervention of the international community (USA, UK, EU, ...) for the immediate release of Ingabire Umuhoza and all prisoners of conscience. By signing this petition, you will help enforce basic human rights in Rwanda. Sign the Petition https://www.lapetition.be/sign_petition.php?petid=11393

RWANDA: FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE CITIZEN

http://www.helplinelaw.com/law/rwanda/constitution/constitution02.php FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE CITIZEN  CHAPTER ONE- FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS Article 10 The human person is sacred and inviolable. The State and all public administration organs have the absolute obligation to respect, protect and defend him or her. Article 11 All Rwandans are born and remain free and equal in rights and duties. Discrimination of whatever kind based on, inter alia, ethnic origin, tribe, clan, colour, sex, region, social origin, religion or faith, opinion, economic status, culture, language, social status, physical or mental disability or any other form of discrimination is prohibited and punishable by law. Article 12 Every person has the right to life. No person shall be arbitrarily deprived of life.  Article 13 The crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes do not have a period of limitation. Revisionism, negationism and trivialisation of genocide are punishable by the law. Article 14 The State shall, within the limits of its capacity, take special measures for the welfare of the survivors of genocide who were rendered destitute by the genocide committed in Rwanda from October 1st, 1990 to December 31st, 1994, the disabled, the indigent and the elderly as well as other vulnerable groups.  Article 15 Every person has the right to physical and mental integrity. No person shall be subjected to torture, physical abuse or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. No one shall be subjected to experimentation without his or her informed consent. The modalities of such consent and experiments are determined by law. Article 16 All human beings are equal before the law. They shall enjoy, without any discrimination, equal protection of the law.  Article 17 Criminal liability is personal. Civil liability is determined by law. No one shall be imprisoned on the ground of inability to fulfil obligations arising from civil or commercial laws. Article 18 The person's liberty is guaranteed by the State. No one shall be subjected to prosecution, arrest, detention or punishment on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a crime under the law in force at the time it was committed. The right to be informed of the nature and cause of charges and the right to defence are absolute at all levels and degrees of proceedings before administrative, judicial and all other decision making organs. Article 19 Every person accused of a crime shall be presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been conclusively proved in accordance with the law in a public and fair hearing in which all the necessary guarantees for defence have been made available.  Nobody shall be denied the right to appear before a judge competent by law to hear his or her case. Article 20 Nobody shall be punished for acts or omissions that did not constitute an offence under national or international law at the time of commission or omission. Neither shall any person be punished with a penalty which is heavier than the one that was applicable under the law at the time when the offence was committed. Article 21 No person shall be subjected to security measures except as provided for by law, for reasons of public order and State security. Article 22 The private life, family, home or correspondence of a person shall not be subjected to arbitrary interference; his or her honour and good reputation shall be respected. A person's home is inviolable. No search of or entry into a home may be carried out without the consent of the owner, except in circumstances and in accordance with procedures determined by law. Confidentiality of correspondence and communication shall not be subject to waiver except in circumstances and in accordance with procedures determined by law.   Article 23 Every Rwandan has the right to move and to circulate freely and to settle anywhere in Rwanda. Every Rwandan has the right to leave and to return to the country. These rights shall be restricted only by the law for reasons of public order or State security, in order to deal with a public menace or to protect persons in danger. Article 24 Every Rwandan has the right to his or her country. No Rwandan shall be banished from the country. Article 25 The right to asylum is recognized under conditions determined by the law. The extradition of foreigners shall be permitted only so far as it is consistent with the law or international conventions to which Rwanda is a party. However, no Rwandan shall be extradited. Article 26 Only civil monogamous marriage between a man and a woman is recognized. No person may be married without his or her free consent. Parties to a marriage have equal rights and duties upon and during the subsistence of a marriage and at the time of divorce. The law determines conditions, forms and effect of marriage. Article 27 The family, which is the natural foundation of Rwandan society, is protected by the State. Both parents have the right and duty to bring up their children. The State shall put in place appropriate legislation and institutions for the protection of the family and the mother and child in particular in order to ensure that the family flourishes. Article 28 Every child is entitled to special measures of protection by his or her family, society and the State that are necessary, depending on the status of the child, under national and international law. Article 29 Every person has a right to private property, whether personal or owned in association with others. Private property, whether individually or collectively owned, is inviolable. The right to property may not be interfered with except in public interest, in circumstances and procedures determined by law and subject to fair and prior compensation. Article 30 Private ownership of land and other rights related to land are granted by the State. The law specifies the modalities of acquisition, transfer and use of land. Article 31 The property of the State comprises of public and private property of the central Government as well as the public and private property of decentralized local government organs. The public property of the State is inalienable unless there has been prior transfer thereof to the private property of the State. Article 32 Every person shall respect public property. Any act intended to cause sabotage, vandalism, corruption, embezzlement, squandering or any tampering with public property shall be punishable by law. Article 33 Freedom of thought, opinion, conscience, religion, worship and the public manifestation thereof is guaranteed by the State in accordance with conditions determined by law. Propagation of ethnic, regional, racial or discrimination or any other form of division is punishable by law. Article 34 Freedom of the press and freedom of information are recognized and guaranteed by the State. Freedom of speech and freedom of information shall not prejudice public order and good morals, the right of every citizen to honour, good reputation and the privacy of personal and family life. It is also guaranteed so long as it does not prejudice the protection of the youth and minors. The conditions for exercising such freedoms are determined by law. There is hereby established an independent institution known as the "High Council of the Press». The law shall determine its functions, organization and operation. Article 35 Freedom of association is guaranteed and shall not require prior authorization. Such freedom shall be exercised under conditions determined by law. Article 36 Freedom of peaceful assembly without arms is guaranteed if it is not inconsistent with the law.  Prior authorization shall only be necessary if the law so requires and solely in the case of assembly in the open air, in a public place or on a public road, to the extent that such is necessary in the interests of public safety, public health or public order. Article 37 Every person has the right to free choice of employment. Persons with the same competence and ability have a right to equal pay for equal work without discrimination. Article 38 The right to form trade unions for the defence and the promotion of legitimate professional interests, is recognized. Any worker may defend his or her rights through trade union action under conditions determined by law. Every employer has the right to join an employers' organization. Trade unions and employers' associations have the right to enter into general or specific agreements regulating their working relations. The modalities for making these agreements are determined  by law. Article 39 The right of workers' to strike is permitted and shall be exercised within the limits provided for by the law, but the exercising of this right should not interfere with the freedom to work which is guaranteed for every individual. Article 40 Every person has the right to education. Freedom of learning and teaching shall be guaranteed in accordance with conditions determined by law. Primary education is compulsory. It is free in public schools. The conditions for free primary education in schools subsidised by the Government are determined by an organic law. The State has the duty to take special measures to facilitate the education of disabled people. An organic law determines the organization of Education. Article 41 All citizens have the right and duties relating to health. The State has the duty of mobilizing the population for activities aimed at promoting good health and to assist in the implementation of these activities. Article 42 Every foreigner legally residing in the Republic of Rwanda shall enjoy all rights save those reserved for nationals as determined under this Constitution and other laws. Article 43 In the exercise of rights and enjoyment of freedoms, every person shall only be subjected to the limitations set by the law in order to ensure the recognition and respect of others' rights and freedoms, good morals, public order and social welfare which characterize a democratic society. Article 44 The judiciary as the guardian of rights and freedoms of the public ensures respect thereof in accordance with procedures determined by law. CHAPTER TWO- THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE CITIZEN Article 45 All citizens have the right to participate in the government of the country, whether directly or through freely chosen representatives in accordance with the law. All citizens have the right of equal access to public service in accordance with their competence and abilities. Article 46 Every citizen has the duty to relate to other persons without discrimination and to maintain relations conducive to safeguarding, promoting and reinforcing mutual respect, solidarity and tolerance.  Article 47 All citizens have the duty to participate, through work, in the development of the country; to safeguard peace, democracy, social justice and equality and to participate in the defence of the motherland. The law shall organize national service, whether civil or military. Article 48 In all circumstances, every citizen, whether civilian or military, has the duty to respect the Constitution, other laws and regulations of the country. Every citizen has the right to defy orders received from his or her superior authority if the orders constitute a serious and manifest violation of human rights and public freedoms. Article 49 Every citizen is entitled to a healthy and satisfying environment. Every person has the duty to protect, safeguard and promote the environment. The State shall protect the environment. The law determines the modalities for protecting, safeguarding and promoting the environment. Article 50 Every citizen has the right to activities that promote national culture. There is hereby established the Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture. The law shall determine its functions, organization and operation. Article 51 The State has the duty to safeguard and to promote positive values based on cultural traditions and practices so long as they do not conflict with human rights, public order and good morals. The State equally has the duty to preserve the national cultural heritage as well as genocide memorials and sites.