As we prepare to mark 20 years since the first gross violation of international humanitarian laws was committed in the Congo (compiled in the UN mapping exercise 1993-2003), and 10 years since the 1998 Rwandan-led invasion of Congo was said to have officially concluded, we join our voices with that of Save the Congo to appeal to the government to encourage other leaders meeting for the 2013
G8 summit in Britain to commit to making accountability for crimes of international concern, and violations of UN resolutions in Congo, conditional for direct budgetary support and military support to all governments implicated in the wars and human tragedy overwhelming the Congo (
Eleven states sign UN deal for peace in DRC, 25 February).
We also urge the UK government to mobilise our partners in the EU, the Commonwealth and the UN to end impunity for the M23 leadership and others who have committed serious human rights abuses, as highlighted in President Obama's telephone call to President Kagame on 18 December; and to take immediate steps to ensure that Bosco Ntaganda, also known as "the Terminator", is arrested and transferred to the custody of the international criminal court.
We urge
G8 leaders to call upon the UN secretary general, with the UN commissioner for human rights, to commission another UN mapping exercise to compile gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws committed in Congo from 2003 to 2013; and ensure that all those listed in the final UN group of experts report on the Congo for supporting the M23, or any other militia gang, in Congo are placed on the UN sanction list.
Vava Tampa Founder, Save the Congo!Adrian Sanders MPAlex Cunningham MPBob Russell MPDavid Amess MPJohn Hemming MPDr. John Pugh MPMike Hancock MPPaul Flynn MPLord Nicolas ReaBaroness Cox of Queensbury Deputy speaker, House of Lords, 1986-2005Baroness King of Bow Founding chair, APPG on the Great LakesLord Hannay of Chiswick UK ambassador to the UN, 1990-1995Lord Alton of Liverpool Patron, Save the CongoLord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville Chairman, Conservative party, 1987-89Lord Joffe of Liddington Lawyer for the 1963-64 Rivonia trial, representing Nelson MandelaLord Anderson of Swansea Co-founder, Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa
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