Serious human rights abuses on both sides

Rebels of the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) have committed serious human rights abuses and should be criticized together with the government, Human Rights Watch said in a report released yesterday. The report documents rebel abuses including civilian massacres, arbitrary detention of political opponents and harassment of human rights defenders. It also says government forces were responsible for the ongoing persecution of ethnic Tutsis, restrictions on basic freedoms and violations of the laws of war.

“Both sides are committing terrible abuses in this war, killing innocent civilians and wreaking destruction on the countryside,” a Human Rights Watch statement quoted senior researcher Suliman Baldo as saying. “But outside powers, some of which have gotten involved in the bloodshed, also have a responsibility to stop these gross violations of the laws of war,” he said.