Congo: Bishops protest at ‘silent genocide’
The Bishops of the Democratic Republic of Congo have issued a “cry of grief and protest,” saying that they are “disturbed and overcome by the human tragedy in the east and northeast Democratic Republic of Congo. The great massacres of the population, the planned extermination of the youth, the systematic robberies used as a weapon of war…a cruelty and exceptional violence is once again being unleashed upon the local people who only ask that they can live in a decent manner in their homeland. Who is willing to take interest in this situation?”
The Bishops criticise the UN peacekeeping force, saying that “the most deplorable fact is that the violence is taking place right before the eyes of those whose duty it is to maintain peace and protect the civilian population.”
In order for this conflict to come to an end, the Bishops ask that the national and international community increase humanitarian aid to the people in refugee camps; inviting the Congolese population to “a national alert to live as brothers and sisters in solidarity and national cohesion”; and ask the Congolese government to “exercise the functions of their power to protect the population and the borders,” and they invite the international community to “make a sincere commitment to respect international law.”
There will be a special collection in all the parishes of the Pastoral Area for CAFOD’s Congo Crisis Appeal on Sunday 30th November 2008.