Robinson decries "blatant disregard for human rights"

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson voiced concern on Tuesday over abuses in the Republic of Congo (ROC), where fighting has displaced tens of thousands of civilians and prevented aid workers from reaching those in need. "I am deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation," she said, "in particular in the Pool region, where both parties to the ongoing conflict are showing blatant disregard for the safety and human rights of the civilian population." In her statement released in Geneva, she cited reports by witness who said government forces launched helicopter attacks against inhabited villages in the Pool region, killing and wounding "an unknown number of civilians" with indiscriminate rocket and machine-gun fire. Widespread destruction of houses and other property was also reported. She said uniformed men had allegedly raped dozens of women. At the same time, the fate of a number of young men reported to have been abducted from camps for internally displaced persons remained unknown. "I appeal to the Government of the Republic of Congo to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and integrity of the civilian population," she said. Since the fighting began in late March, she said, some 45,000 civilians had been displaced in Pool, and humanitarian access to the most affected parts of the area had been denied for the last two months. She expressed particular concern about some 5,000 residents in the besieged town of Kindamba, where food and medical supplies were reportedly running low. Therefore, she urged the warring parties to grant humanitarian agencies free and unconditional access to all those in need of aid. Fighting erupted in the ROC when so-called Ninja militias attacked several government military positions in Pool, according to official sources. However, Ninja representatives have countered that the clashes were provoked when they discovered government plans to arrest their leader, the Rev Frederic Bitsangou, alias Ntoumi.