RD Congo: Threats against human rights defender

RDC 004 / 9908 / OBS 051
Threats
The Democratic Republic of Congo
6th August 1999.


The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint 
programme of the FIDH and the OMCT, requests your URGENT 
intervention in the following situation in the Democratic Republic of 
Congo. 

Brief description of the situation 

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has been 
informed of the threats to Mr. Dismas Kitenge Senga, President of the 
Lotus human rights group, member of FIDH and Mr. François Zoka, 
member of the Justice and Freedom group.

According to the information, Dismas Kitenge Senga and  François Zoka 
were the subject of threats made over the local radio station RTNC, over 
the course of several days, by representatives of the "Rassemblement 
Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD)" the rebel army now in control of 
several areas
of the country.

According to the information, these threats were apparently the result of 
a visit of a UN delegation to Kisangani. Apparently,  a representative of 
the UN Human Rights Office in Kinshasa, spoke with the local human 
rights organisations. The threats made on the radio criticised Dismas 
Kitenge Senga and Mr. François Zoka for having  handed over 
documents giving  a damning report on the human rights situation in 
Kisangani, and as a result delaying or even preventing the opening of  
an office for international organisations in Kisangani. They were also 
criticised for having incited school children, who had just sat their final 
year exams, to ask the UN delegation to ensure that their exam papers 
were sent to Kinshasa, (where they are normally marked) rather than 
retained in rebel controlled territory.

These threats come in the context of an atmosphere of deep insecurity 
for human rights defenders operating in the DRC. Acts of harassment 
have been carried out against human rights defenders by both the 
Kinshasa authorities and the rebel authorities.

The Observatory must express grave concern for the security of Mr. 
Dismas Kitenge Senga and Mr. François Zoka. 

Action Requested

Please write to the authorities of the Rassemblement Congolais pour la 
Démocratie (RCD)  urging that they 

i	take appropriate measures to guarantee the physical and 
psychological integrity of Mr. Dismas Kitenge Senga and Mr. François 
Zoka; 

ii.	ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Declaration on 
Human Rights Defenders adopted by the UN General Assembly on 
December 9 1998 (Declaration concerning the rights and responsibilities 
of individuals, groups and institutions to promote and protect 
universally recognised human rights and fundamental liberties) in 
particular its Article 1 which provides that " Every person has the right, 
individually or collectively, to promote the protection and fulfilment of 
human rights and fundamental liberties at the national and international 
level. "

iii.	guarantee the effective respect of fundamental human rights and 
freedoms in accordance with the provisions of the Universal Declaration 
of Human Rights;

Addresses

Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie / Goma par fax 00 871 
761 850 629.

Geneva- Paris, 6th August 1999

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