Local engagement program of SOCO International targeting the fisheries of Lake Edward: some individuals of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) identified, local populations taken hostage.

Local civil society organizations working on conservation and protection of the Environment and Human Rights (CREF Network CREDDHO, IDPE, SOPR) condemn in the strongest manner the intimidations, arbitrary arrest, and torture (*) of local community members opposing oil developments in Virunga National Park.

The perpetrator of these intimidations is an army officer of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), known as Major BURIMBI KINGI FERUZI, T2 of the 8th Military Region of North Kivu.

The local organizations denounce these acts and recall that the constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as amended to date, prohibits any use of military forces for private purposes[1].

We would like to stress, as it has many times been stressed, that oil exploration and exploitation in Virunga National Park continues to violate the laws of the Democratic Republic of Congo in terms of the conservation and the protection of the environment[2], as well as in terms of the international conventions duly ratified by the DRC[3]. It is important to note that these conventions are legally binding for our country.

Indeed, it is since the year 2012 that this senior officer of the FARDC has been used by company SOCO International; his military status has been utilized to silence anyone who has questions about the true impact of the oil project, in particular human rights and environmental defenders.

In the wake of recent activities organized by SOCO International targeting two fisheries of Lake Edward, Kyavinyonge and Nyakakoma, it seems that the strategy is to force locals to accept, at any cost, the oil exploration / exploitation plans in Virunga National Park.

As a reminder, the same FARDC Senior Officer has already been involved in the local engagement campaign of SOCO in Virunga National Park; he supported SOCO’s activities in the past, forcing the population to accept this project. The above-mentioned facts have been listed and denounced by civil society actors in 2012[4].

Recently, the following incidents have taken place:

1.   Dated July 15, 2013, Mr. Marco KYANGWI MUSAKARA, President of the local Fisher’s Committee of Nyakakoma has been the victim of an arbitrary arrest. The arrest was ordered by Major BURIMBI KINGI FERUZI. The ground for the arrest was that he was part of the local delegation that visited MOANDA in Bas-Congo. This mission/delegation went to Bas-Congo in order to understand the local realities of oil exploration in an oil region; at his return he denounced the negative impacts of the oil developments on the lives of people and ecosystems.

2.  Mr. MACHOZI MUPANZA Daniel, a human rights activist of CREDDHO was a victim of intimidations; the reason for this intimidation was that he is one of the persons that have been identified as opponents of oil exploration/exploitation project in Virunga National Park.

Other targeted people were forced to flee in fear of torture and ill-treatment from the naval force elements that follow the orders of Major BURIMBI KINGI FERUZI.

Civil society actors urge the company SOCO International and the Major BURIMBI KINGI FERUZI, to remember that Congolese NGOs working on Human Rights have the primary duty to defend and promote, at all times and everywhere, the rights of citizens in the entire territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

These rights are civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights; citizens have the right to peace and development; they have the right to keep future generations of the negative consequences that may arise from any project that does not meet the national and international norms and standards for the sustainable management of natural resources. The exploitation of these resources must respond both to the principles of economic, social and ecological sustainability.

It should be emphasized that under no circumstances, Human Rights and Environmental defenders and their organizations should be compelled to abandon this noble mission.

In the light of the above, the Consortium, composed of CREF Network, CREDDHO, IDPE and SOPR, recommends the following:

•  To the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo;

– To enforce the law on those who divert the armed forces of the Republic for private purposes;

– To ensure the protection of human rights and environmental defenders

• To the general auditor to the military court in North Kivu;

– To initiate legal proceedings against Major BURIMBI KINGI FERUZI for acts of intimidation, arbitrary arrest, and torture perpetrated against those who issue opinions contrary to the oil exploration / exploitation plans in Virunga National Park;

• To the company SOCO International

– To stop using officers of the Armed Forces (FARDC) in its engagement campaigns with communities that are already traumatized by unending conflicts and war.

– Respect the texts and laws of the Democratic Republic of Congo as the guiding principles of the EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative).

 Signed in Goma, 24th of July 2013

 

For More Information Contact:

Mr. BANTU LUKAMBO : +243997704042

 

Mr. Isaac MUMBERE : +243995472018

 

Mr. Eddy KAMBALE : +243994029412

 

Mr. Alphonse MUHINDO VALIVAMBENE : +243998384839

.

(*) Additional information: “La torture est l’imposition volontaire de sévices d’ordre physique ou psychologique qui visent à faire souffrir un individu. Lorsque la torture accompagne l’exécution d’une condamnation à mort on parle plutôt de supplice, qui rend la mort longue et douloureuse sous forme de châtiment. La torture est aussi un moyen employé pour obtenir des aveux ou terroriser des populations ou des organisations, en ciblant des membres d’un groupe de personnes particulier, afin que les autres restent passifs de peur d’être victimes à leur tour. Les actes de torture produisent le plus souvent des séquelles physiques (ex : mutilations) et psychologiques (ex : traumatismes). Du point de vue du tortionnaire (ou bourreau), qui tient sa victime à sa merci, torturer peut répondre à des pulsions sadiques ou simplement s’inscrire dans la soumission à l’autorité établie.” Source RENADHOC

.