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DR Congo officer accused of abuse | DR Congo officer accused of abuse |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Human rights groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo have lodged a formal complaint with the government against a senior army officer. | Human rights groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo have lodged a formal complaint with the government against a senior army officer. |
The groups accuse troops under the command of Colonel Innocent Zimurinda of mass killing and rape of civilians. | The groups accuse troops under the command of Colonel Innocent Zimurinda of mass killing and rape of civilians. |
The call for his suspension comes as a UN-backed Congolese offensive against rebels is due to begin. | The call for his suspension comes as a UN-backed Congolese offensive against rebels is due to begin. |
Last year a similar operation caused great controversy as the UN was accused of condoning human rights abuses. | Last year a similar operation caused great controversy as the UN was accused of condoning human rights abuses. |
The 50 human rights groups and civil society organisations, including Human Rights Watch, have written to the commander of the government forces in the North Kivu region. | The 50 human rights groups and civil society organisations, including Human Rights Watch, have written to the commander of the government forces in the North Kivu region. |
The organisations said Colonel Zimurinda had been in charge of a group of rebels who killed at least 150 civilians in Kiwanja in late 2008. | The organisations said Colonel Zimurinda had been in charge of a group of rebels who killed at least 150 civilians in Kiwanja in late 2008. |
It has not been possible to get a response from the colonel to the allegations. | It has not been possible to get a response from the colonel to the allegations. |
UN accused | UN accused |
Colonel Zimurinda later joined the government army when rebels were integrated into their ranks. | Colonel Zimurinda later joined the government army when rebels were integrated into their ranks. |
According to the human rights groups and a UN investigation, he was responsible for another massacre in Shalio last April where more than 120 Rwandan Hutu refugees were killed. | According to the human rights groups and a UN investigation, he was responsible for another massacre in Shalio last April where more than 120 Rwandan Hutu refugees were killed. |
This was at the time of a controversial military operation which was backed by the UN peacekeeping force, Monuc. | This was at the time of a controversial military operation which was backed by the UN peacekeeping force, Monuc. |
The aim was to flush out the rebels linked to the Hutu militia that carried out the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. | The aim was to flush out the rebels linked to the Hutu militia that carried out the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. |
But the UN found itself accused of helping soldiers responsible for appalling human rights abuses. | But the UN found itself accused of helping soldiers responsible for appalling human rights abuses. |
The UN said it would only continue to work with Congolese government forces if the Congolese government addressed the human rights abuses within their ranks. | The UN said it would only continue to work with Congolese government forces if the Congolese government addressed the human rights abuses within their ranks. |
Another UN backed operation is just about to begin and human rights groups fear civilians cannot be protected in the operation if Colonel Zimurinda is involved. | Another UN backed operation is just about to begin and human rights groups fear civilians cannot be protected in the operation if Colonel Zimurinda is involved. |
The BBC's Will Ross says that for its part the Congolese government has been slow to respond to reports of human rights abuse amongst its forces - even when it comes to people wanted by the International Criminal Court. | The BBC's Will Ross says that for its part the Congolese government has been slow to respond to reports of human rights abuse amongst its forces - even when it comes to people wanted by the International Criminal Court. |
General Bosco Ntaganda who has worked closely with Colonel Zimurinda is wanted by the ICC for war crimes. | General Bosco Ntaganda who has worked closely with Colonel Zimurinda is wanted by the ICC for war crimes. |
Giving a reason for not arresting him, a Congolese minister suggested that the pursuit of peace was more important than the need for justice. |
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