York Minster Leaflets For Congo Campaign - 21st. February 2009

STOP DEPORTATIONS TO CONGO - We have evidence that asylum seekers from the north of England forced to return have been detained and tortured. Violence, impunity and horrific human rights abuses continue in the DRC two years after historic elections were expected to bring stability.

Early in 2008 a peace agreement brought hope to eastern Congo, but combat between government and rebel forces resumed in August. During the year hundreds of civilians have been killed and thousands of women and girls were raped with a further 400,000 people fleeing their homes, pushing the total number of displaced persons in North and South Kivu to over 1.2 million.

Pictured are; Gaille Mumamba, Jean Michel Bomvoy, Jose Iyafo Ekofe, Patrick Tshibangu, Johnny Zola, Alexi Diatona, Blaise Ruma, Au Guy and unknown female dancer.

Nowhere in the Democratic Republic of Congo is safe for returnees, who are considered opponents of the government Brutal and repressive tactics have been used by President Kabila and his advisors to stifle opponents during the 2 years following elections in 2006. In Kinshasa and Bas Congo, areas where Kabila failed to win an electoral majority, soldiers, police officers, and intelligence agents loyal to President Kabila deliberately killed, injured, arbitrarily arrested, and tortured hundreds of persons since the elections. The Congolese government response when challenged about its actions has been denial and cover-up. Bodies were dumped in the Congo river, buried secretly in mass graves, or otherwise disposed of. In procedures that failed to meet international fair trial standards many of the defendants claimed in court to have been tortured into making confessions.

How your mobile phone is helping to fuel the conflict - The DRC is a vast country rich in minerals and other resources, and has a history of appalling atrocities committed by those intent on plundering its wealth In 1885 the rubber boom was the cause of genocide in the Congo. Nowadays, Congolese people have been killed for the coltan (used in GPS, ABS systems in automobiles, laptop computers, cellular phones, playstations, video cameras, digital still cameras).

© NORTH EAST COALITION FOR ASYLUM RIGHTS (NECFAR)

UK Campaigns: York Minster Leaflets For Congo Campaign - 21st. February 2009

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