CIVILIANS PAYING PRICE OF EFFORTS TO THWART DR CONGO ARMED GROUPS, UN ENVOY SAYS

Civilians are bearing the brunt of attempts to dismantle armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with the rebels carrying out vicious reprisals and some Government soldiers committing serious human rights abuses, the senior United Nations official to the country told the Security Council today.

Alan Doss, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (known as MONUC), said in a briefing to Council members that there is growing concern about the humanitarian impact of the efforts to disband the armed groups.

"We take these concerns very seriously and have addressed them with the Government at various levels," he said, citing the deployment of more MONUC resources and personnel to the affected provinces, such as North Kivu, continuing efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence, and increased pressure on the Government to take action against undisciplined soldiers.

MONUC has established 35 military bases in North Kivu, many of which are in very remote areas, where operations against the FDLR [the Forces Démocratiques de Liberation du Rwanda, one of the rebel groups] are ongoing. These bases have allowed for close monitoring of the operations and rapid intervention in a number of instances."

But he warned that the Mission's resources are being stretched thin as it waits for reinforcements to arrive following the Security Council's recent authorization of additional troops to deal with the strife in the DRC's east.

In an op-ed article published in <i>The Washington Times today, Mr. Doss urged the Government to do its utmost to ensure discipline and end impunity within the ranks of its forces, which are known as the FARDC.

"People have to trust in those sent to protect them, and the army needs local cooperation to root out the FDLR," he wrote. But he added that that discipline will not improve unless pay and living conditions are enhanced for Congolese soldiers.

"This means barracks, sufficient food and wages paid in full and on time. Military families need shelter and protection as well… Donor partners must dig deeper to help the Congo deal with this crisis and fund the reforms that can help the army gain the confidence of the people."

Mr. Doss told the Council that he welcomed this week's announcement by the FARDC of a zero tolerance policy towards the perpetrators of criminal acts within its ranks.

He also called for more determined action against FDLR leaders in exile, who have been able to operate from abroad and maintain contacts with their commanders on the ground.

Later, in a press statement, the Council expressed grave concern about the ongoing human rights violations against civilians, particularly the widespread sexual violence and the recruitment and use of child soldiers by rebels groups and some elements of the FARDC.

Council members also encouraged MONUC to continue to monitor the performance and conduct of the army units involved in joint operations against armed groups.
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Lebanon: A Year Later, No Accountability for Killings

(Beirut) - One year after the outbreak of fighting between opposition and pro-government groups that left at least 110 people dead, Lebanese authorities have yet to make public the results of their investigations into the killings of civilians, Human Rights Watch said today. So far, the judiciary has issued only one indictment against an individual who shot at civilians, while other investigations have stalled, with no prosecutions to date.

The fighting began in Beirut on May 7, 2008, killing at least 71 people in the first two weeks, including at least 14 civilians. Fighters on both sides attacked civilians and civilian property. While the groups signed a political settlement in Doha on May 21, they failed to address abuses committed during the fighting. Sporadic clashes continued for another three months in the Beka` and the north, killing another 40 people, including civilians.

"Lebanon's past conflicts make it clear that agreements to stop fighting will not last if they sweep punishment for attacks on civilians under the rug," said Nadim Houry, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The only way to break this cycle is for the Lebanese people to hold those responsible accountable."

During the fighting, Human Rights Watch visited areas where civilians were killed and often saw Lebanese police and military conducting their own investigations. However, in almost all cases, the investigations have stalled, and the judiciary has taken no further steps. The lawyer for the family of one of the victims killed in Beirut told Human Rights Watch: "The investigation disappeared. Every time we asked where the investigation stood, they say they did not know where the file was. The truth is that they don't want to find out."

Another lawyer, Elie Ghassan, who represents the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party, members of which died in the northern town of Halba after being beaten and ill-treated by gunmen, expressed similar frustration. He told Human Rights Watch: "We gave the prosecutor videotapes showing those who killed our members. We even gave them the names of those who appear in the film. Yet, nothing has happened. The file is frozen."

"With the evidence that serious crimes took place last year, it is difficult to understand why the investigations are not leading to anything," Houry said. "The Lebanese authorities should come clean and explain where the investigations stand."

Human Rights Watch has been able to find evidence of only one indictment so far in connection with the violence in May 2008. In September, the First Investigative Judge in Beirut, Abdel Rahim Hammud, issued an indictment against an individual accused of killing two civilians and wounding six others after an altercation broke out during a funeral procession in Tarik al-Jdideh, Beirut on May 10. In other incidents, the police and army detained other individuals on suspicion of possessing weapons and explosives, but released many of them shortly thereafter.

Democracy, Human Rights, Refugees: Humanitarian Situation in Sri Lanka

On March 13, Secretary Clinton called Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa to express the United States’ deep concern over the deteriorating conditions and increasing loss of life occurring in the Government of Sri Lanka-designated “safe zone” in northern Sri Lanka. The Secretary stated that the Sri Lankan Army should not fire into the civilian areas of the conflict zone. The Secretary offered immediate and post-conflict reconstruction assistance and she extended condolences to the victims of the March 10 bombing outside a mosque in southern Sri Lanka. She condemned the actions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who are reported to be holding civilians as human shields, and to have shot at civilians leaving LTTE areas of control.

Secretary Clinton called on President Rajapaksa to devise a political solution to the ongoing conflict. She urged the President to give international humanitarian relief organizations full access to the conflict area and displaced persons camps, including screening centers.

The United States believes that a durable and lasting peace will only be achieved through a political solution that addresses the legitimate aspirations of all of Sri Lanka’s communities. We call on the Sri Lankan Government to put forward a proposal now to engage Tamils who do not espouse violence or terrorism, and to develop power sharing arrangements so that lasting peace and reconciliation can be achieved.
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