Bundestag (German Parliament) decides on Congo operation

The German army is to offer in the Congo human rights training to the Congolese army. This was the demand of the Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) in the light of the debate in the Bundestag on the Congo operation. "Most of the violations of human rights in the Congo are committed by the units of the regular army" said the Gfbv Africa correspondent, Ulrich Delius. "If the Congo operation is to have more than a symbolic meaning for the suffering people then the EU soldiers should not restrict themselves to the possible evacuation of foreigners, but also do something positive to advance human rights."

Soldiers from 18 EU countries are scheduled for the Congo operation. Since the beginning of March 2006 the regular Congolese army (FARDC) has committed more crimes than all the other militia in the central African country, reported Delius. Dozens of civilians have been killed in the attacks of the army, although this is really responsible for the safety of the civilian population. Two people died as a consequence of inhuman treatment after they were arrested by soldiers on 28th March near the town of Bunia. Soldiers shaved their heads and then forced them to eat the hair which had been mixed with soap. Only one person survived the torture, two of those arrested suffocated. At least 55 women, girls and boys were raped in the past three months by soldiers and some by high-ranking officers. The list of crimes committed by the army is long. Prisoners have been shot, hostages executed, civilians abducted, tortured or inhumanly and humiliatingly treated. Arbitrary arrests, threats, intimidation and plundering have often been carried out by the army. Opposition politicians have been arrested by the military and the freedom of radio and newspaper journalists has been infringed upon.

"Many Congolese soldiers have blood on their hands", said Delius. " Nevertheless the German army will have to work with them in order to guarantee the proper course of the parliamentary elections. "However they should at least do something positive in order to ensure that these evere violations of human rights by the Congolese army come to an end as soon as possible."