Regional human rights group evaluates situation

The regional human rights organisation, Ligue des droits de la personne dans la region des Grands Lacs (LDGL), met in Kigali recently to evaluate the situation in the region. According to a statement, received by IRIN on Monday, it expressed concern over the continuing stalemate in the Burundi peace process which had led to a continuing decline in human rights in the country. It urged the rebels outside the process to come to the negotiating table immediately. The LDGL hailed the process of democratisation and decentralisation in Rwanda and called on the government to show more openness and widespread consultation regarding the drafting of a new constitution. It also voiced concern over a "resurgence of killings" against genocide survivors and freed prisoners. For the DRC, the LDGL condemned "massive human rights violations" on both sides of the conflict, as well as the harassment of certain civil society groups and the Catholic church in eastern Congo