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28-May-2002

Congo peace gathering postponed by authorities

by: Pax Christi International

Kisangani, Congo: In a letter to Kofi Annan, United Nations secretary general, dated 24 May 2002, Pax Christi International expressed concern on the ongoing violence in Kisangani and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The letter pointed out that Msgr. Laurent Monsengwo, Archbishop of Kisangani and Vice President of Pax Christi International, and the Italian organisers of the International Symposium for Peace, Blessed Constructors of Peace, were forced to postpone the event as a result of pressure from local authorities who cited security reasons for their actions. The Symposium was scheduled to have taken place 23-27 May 2002. The letter also expresses fear for the lives of members of the civil society organisations like Amis de Nelson Mandela, Lotus and Justice et Libération.

The letter calls for the immediate and full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1304 and 1399, which demand the demilitarisation of Kisangani. It also suggests other measures for demilitarisation in the country. In conclusion the letter lists six specific recommendations for building up peace in DRC including demilitarisation, deployment of a UN peacekeeping force and the establishment of an international monitoring framework to stop the illegal exploitation of natural resources.

Contacts:

Pax Christi International
Vieux Marché aux Grains 21
1000 Brussels
Belgium

phone: +32 (-2) 502.55.50
fax: +32 (-2) 502.46.26
e-mail: paul@paxchristi.net
url: http://www.paxchristi.net