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UN ready to back French-led force to halt Congo carnage
EFL.
A French-led force of peace-keepers hoping to halt killings in the Democratic Republic of Congo is expected to receive United Nations approval today. The 1,000-strong battalion, including some British troops, could be deployed as early as next week.
Yep, any day now.
But in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, fears were growing of a fresh onslaught. A fierce battle for the town two weeks ago saw the ethnic Lendu population expelled by militia from the rival Hema group. Now the Lendu may be preparing a counter-attack. "Some of their positions are only five kilometres from here. They are regrouping for another attack," said an official in the razor-wire protected UN compound. "We think it's not a matter of if, but when."
"And they look hungry..."
Red Cross workers are still burying corpses from the latest attack, sparked by a Ugandan withdrawal from the town on 7 May. Tribal militiamen armed with guns, spears and machetes bludgeoned or shot to death more than 400 people. Some mutilated bodies bore evidence of cannibalism. Thousands of terrified civilians huddled under plastic shelters in the UN compound, manned by a deployment of about 700 peace-keepers, the majority of whom are Uruguayan. During the massacres, the troops obeyed orders to remain at the base.
"What, you want us to go out there? Are you nuts? We could get killed!"
I think it was more along the lines of "Don't make any aggressive moves, no matter what they do. It'll just make them worse. The memo authorizing use of force hasn't been signed off on yet..."
If there is quiet, it is only because the Lendu have fled. But there is a steady drip of violence — isolated shootings by night, some looting by day and the rape of girls as young as 10. Their uniformed male schoolmates roam the half-deserted streets, swinging sub-machine guns they are barely big enough to handle. There has been rightful steady criticism of the under-resourced DRC UN mission. "It is a long, bad story", said François Grignon of the International Crisis Group at Bunia airport. But the UN says that it is patrolling an area bigger than Sierra Leone or Kosovo, peace-keeping missions that are the responsibility of tens of thousands of troops. Lt-Col Daniel Vollon said: "We are already exceeding our mandate here. "Every day I receive new tasks from New York but I cannot perform miracles. My people are doing their best under very difficult circumstances."
700 peacekeepers for that area? Yep, you're under-manned.
The French resolution in the UN Security Council has met resistance from Uganda and Rwanda, which sparked the DRC war in 1998. Each has supported rival factions in Ituri. If the resolution is passed, the multinational force would be deployed until 1 September. After that, a 1,500-strong Bangladesh-led battalion is expected to police the DRC.
Everybody gets a turn. Wonder who's paying for the Bengladeshis to keep the "peace"? Oh wait, I know.
But to prevent further massacres, the question now is the strength of the mandate. France's ambassador to the UN, Jean-Marc de la SabliÚre, wants his men to have the right to open fire to protect endangered civilians.
Otherwise you might as well stay home.
Any strengthened mission would also have to examine the possibility of intervening in disputes outside the city in isolated villages that are difficult to reach. M. Grignon said: "Look, this town is bloody empty. The force needs to be able to stop massacres taking place in the rural areas." Atrocities such as the massacre at Nyakunde village last year, which left 1,200 dead, could be taking place. But for now, nobody knows because the area is inaccessible to UN troops and aid agencies.
Here you go, "United Europe": a chance to walk the walk. Put a brigade in there and clean the place out.
Posted by: Steve White 2003-05-30
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=14868