The national human rights group, ASADHO, has expressed concern over a possible withdrawal of the UN mission, MONUC, from the DRC. In a press statement, received by IRIN on Friday, ASADHO warned of the “incalculable consequences” of such a move which risked “condemning to death over 50 million civilians who aspire to peace and prosperity”. “Disengaging from the DRC in these conditions would mean sacrificing the Congolese population on the one hand...and on the other, it would give impunity to the perpetrators of massacres and other crimes which continue to be committed on Congolese soil,” the statement said. Instead of taking punitive measures against those violating the Lusaka peace process, ASADHO said it was astonished to note that the Secretary-General was considering withdrawing MONUC. The statement also called on the DRC government to stop “sabotaging” peace efforts. MONUC has been the victim of a vitriolic propaganda campaign by the pro-government media in Kinshasa, which has led UN officials to express concern for the safety of personnel working in the city.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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