Human Rights Watch laments Kabila’s legacy

The US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday set out the challenges facing the new government in the DRC, if it was to rights abuses and economic irresponsibility that accompanied the Kabila years. “During his nearly four years in power, Kabila regularly and violated the human rights of the Congolese people”, as did the forces of Rwanda, Uganda and Congolese rebels allied to them, the NGO stated. The late president also handed out rights to exploit Congo’s vast mineral riches “to his commercial and military cronies” while ordinary people lacked the basic needs of life, it said. The new regime of Joseph Kabila must: end all interference with basic human rights; review those currently in prison, and release those held without charge or credible suspicion of guilt; investigate and prosecute crimes against humanity; end harassment of human rights groups; and, declare and enforce respect for all Congolese people, regardless of ethnic or regional origin, Human Rights Watch added. Kabila’s death did not wipe clear his record, but rather created the opportunity to insist on accountability for the crimes committed under his authority, it said. In this regard, it called on the UN Security Council to name a Commission of Experts to resume an earlier enquiry [blocked by Kabila, after its instigation in 1997] and also to examine subsequent alleged crimes against humanity committed by all belligerents in the Congo. [for more details, go to: http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/congo/ ]