Rights group cautions over national consultation

The DRC human rights organisation, La Voix des sans voix (VSV), said it welcomed the initiative but expressed concern over some elements of its organisation. In a statement, received by IRIN on Monday, VSV pointed out the fact that the meeting was being held in Kinshasa meant many of the key actors could not take part for security reasons. In addition, several opposition parties had also refused to take part, it noted. VSV said the
government was "strongly implicated" in some stages of the organisation and therefore questioned the "neutrality" of the meeting. "VSV is sceptical regarding the outcome of this meeting and draws the organisers' attention to the risk of favouring a spirit of exclusion," the statement said. It warned of a possible "negative impact" on the inter-Congolese dialogue.