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Congo militias free FAZ reporter, others hide

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) Africa correspondent Thomas Scheen was released by the pro-government Maï Maï militia, confirmed by FAZ publisher Berthold Kohler (November 8). Scheen, his interpreter and driver have been in the custody of the United Nations Peace keeping force MONUC since Friday morning (November 7).

mountain gorillaThe Maï Maï militia of the Coalition of Congolese Patriotic Resistance (Patriotes résistants congolais, PARECO) grabbed Scheen, who is Belgian, last Tuesday (November 4) in the village of Rutshuru 70 km from Goma. Scheen’s Congolese interpreter and driver were also held.

The Congolese army, militias and UN troops have been fighting rebel leader Laurent Nkunda’s National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) forces in a regional war that continues the mid-1990’s genocide of neighboring Rwanda.

Maï Maï PARECO militia leader Sendugu Museveni demanded “CNDP troops evacuate the town of Kiwanja before releasing the three people."

That appears not to be all militia wanted. Scheen’s interpreter Charles Ntiricya said the ordeal began when militiamen stopped their car on the road between Kiwanja and Goma. The three were tied up and taken to a militia commander who demanded $US800, which they didn’t have. Then they were marched, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 25 km to a “senior Maï Maï political figure.” They were handed over to the Congolese army, without their car or valuables.

Kiwanja community radio station Ushrika Racou was ransacked and looted Tuesday (November 4) by CNDP forces, reported the NGO Benevolencia, rendering it unable to broadcast. The staff fled. Reports that one journalist was shot and killed turned out, happily, untrue.

Other community radio stations shut down so staff to find safety and, perhaps, to prevent looting.  Dorkia FM, located near the famous mountain gorilla refuge Virunga National Park, reopened Friday (November 7). UN funded Radio Okapi is receiving protection from UN peacekeepers.

Most radio stations in the Nord Kivu region are sponsored either by community associations or religious organizations. Goma, the only city of size, has several commercial stations and is home to Radio Okapi. State broadcaster RTNC has stations in Goma and Butembo. 

UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) head Alan Doss (November 7) condemned as “deplorable” the murder of civilians in Kiwanja. "Witnesses have described incidents during which civilians lost their lives on Tuesday, as Mai-Mai militia fighters attempted to seize the town from the rebels," said the MONUC statement.

 


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