Bishops deplore British role in bloody Congo conflict

Call for EU to block small arms sales
By Antoine Lokongo SIX DEVELOPED countries are supplying arms to Congolese rebels who have maimed, and killed tens of thousands of civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a group of bishops claimed last week.
Eight Congolese bishops, who were meeting in Rome for the jubilee of priests, said France, Britain, Italy, Belgium, Israel, and the USA were backing aggression by a Rwandan-Ugandan-Burundian coalition against the Democratic Republic of Congo and making illicit and immoral profits out of the mineralrich country's misfortune.
They called on the European Union to persuade the countries to withdraw their support for Congo's aggressors and appealed to the International Court of Justice to condemn Rwanda. Uganda, and Burundi for the "genocide" that their troops are daily perpetrating against innocent Congolese civilians.
"The suffering that is unjustly inflicted on our people, compels us as pastors to denounce and condemn this aggression which is aimed at subjecting our people to the servitude of recolonisation at the very beginning of the 21st century," the bishops said in a statement.
They argued that the motive for the present aggression was the desire to partition the Congo and exploit its mineral resources, which include vast reserves of gold, uranium, diamond, cobalt, copper and timber. The bishops condemned the "extermination" of Congolese people in rebelheld territories and the forced dispersal of women, children and the elderly. Thousands of refugees have fled the east of the country, hiding in the jungle away from any humanitarian relief aid or filling crowded camps in the capital. Kinshasa.
The bishops also deplored attempts by various rebel groups to embroil the Catholic Church in the conflict, assassinating and intimidating priests and bishops who are critical of their ideologies and actions.
One bishop, Archbishop Emmanuel Kataliko, of Bunia was forced out of his diocese by RCD rebels. Bishop Ignace Matondokwa-Nzarribi of Molegwe was robbed by members of Bemba's MLC rebel group while on his way to Kinshasa.
The bishops criticised the "indifference" of the inter national community towards the atrocities in eastern Congo.
They requested a UN peace-keeping force along Congo's border with Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi with the mission to enforce an immediate cease-fire. They also appealed for an international conference on lasting peace in the Great Lakes Region.
They asked the Organisation of African Unity to unequivocally re-affirm Congo's territorial integrity and national sovereignty, compel Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi not to interfere in Congo's internal affairs and to withdraw any logistic support to Congolese rebels. They said that the 0A1.1 should also encourage genuine interCongolese dialogue and the organisation of free and fair elections.
The eight Congolese bishops expressed their gratitude to Pope John Paul 11 for his concern about the suffering of the people of Congo and his repeated calls for peace and reconciliation.
They also expressed their solidarity with Rwandan Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro diocese now facing a death sentence for his alleged role in the 1994 genocide. It was the first time that Congolese Catholic bishops have publicly stated their position since the war began.
The bishops were Cardinal Archbishop Frederic Etsou Nzabibamungwabi of Kinshasa, Archbishop Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba of Mbandaka, Archbishop Godefroi Mukeng'A Kalund of Kananga, Bishop Paul Mambe Mukange of Kindu diocese, Bishop Edouard Mununu Kasiala of Kikwit diocese, Bishop Valentin Masendo Nkinda of Kabinda diocese, Bishop Jacques Mbali of Buta diocese and Bishop Kesenge Wandangekongu of Molegwe.