Author's note: This was written on 24/11/2012. It is being posted today because I was unable to do so on the day. It did, however, subsequently appear on Vibeghana.com. Please read on:
It is totally unacceptable that in 21st century Africa, fellow Africans
can be traumatised on the scale being witnessed in the tragedy now
unfolding in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) must ensure that
those responsible for the trail of death and destruction in DR Congo,
are eventually indicted and tried by the International Criminal Court
(ICC) in The Hague, for crimes against humanity.
No matter what the M23's leader, Colonel Vianey Kazaramah's
complaints are, nothing can justify taking up arms against one's own
country and subjecting one's fellow citizens to untold hardship, on a
scale that is almost apocalyptic.
Those responsible for the abominable crimes against humanity that are
occurring in the villages lying in the path of the advancing M23
rebels, must not be allowed to get away with the endless suffering
being experienced by so many ordinary people in eastern DR Congo.
Yesterday, it was General Nkunda rebelling against the central
government in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Today, it is Colonel
Vianey Kazarama.
Clearly, both of them have had the support of elements within Rwanda's ruling elite, in their rebellions.
Although on paper Rwanda is a democracy, in reality it is effectively a
police state in which nothing goes on without the knowledge and consent
of the highly-intelligent despot who rules it with an iron fist,
President Paul Kagame.
It is intolerable that a nation in which genocide occurred years ago,
continues to sponsor armed rebellions against its neighbour DR Congo,
which result in such widespread misery and the mass slaughter of
innocents.
The time has come for the African Union (AU) and the United Nation's to
put diplomatic niceties aside, and condemn Rwanda's leadership in no
uncertain terms - and demand that they end their support for armed
rebellions in the DR Congo immediately.
If they fail to confront Rwanda's leaders this time round, they will
have the blood of the teeming innocents now being murdered daily in
eastern DR Congo on their hands.
Whiles condemning Rwanda, the AU and the UN must also assist the DR
Congo's government to move the Rwandan Hutu refugees in the eastern DR
Congo enmasse, to the west of that nation.
That will finally remove the eternal excuse for Rwanda's constant
meddling in the DR Congo's internal affairs - and deny Rwanda's elite
the opportunity it offers them to rob the DRC of some of its vast
mineral wealth.
With respect, to maintain their credibility with ordinary Africans, both
the African Union and the United Nations must condemn Rwanda for
assisting the DR Congo M23 rebels. A word to the wise...
Tel: 027 745 3109.
Email: peakofi.thompson@gmail.com
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