UNITED NATIONS, October 28 — When the UN Security Council met about
Eastern Congo at France’s request on Monday afternoon, France proposed
a press statement only on the death of a Tanzanian member of the UN’s
Force Intervention Brigade.
Rwanda counter-proposed a longer statement but was told those issues
could be considered later. Rwanda agreed to that, but held firm that
the death of Rwandans by shelling from the DRC should be included.
Inner City Press is informed that Rwanda directly challenged the
idea that the UN Security Council should first and foremost be
concerned with “one of our own.” Rwanda said that its citizens are
people too.
While it was France which made the proposal, and holds the pen (and
more) on DRC, there was an attempt to make this fight one of Rwanda
against the Troop Contributing Countries.
But Rwanda is one of the largest TCCs, and said they would have no
objection, if one of their peacekeepers were killed in Darfur, to
included civilians in a press statement. There are no first and second
class citizens, Rwanda said.
It’s worth nothing that not all TCCs have UN Peacekeeping missions
in or next to their countries.
Rwanda then suggested that two statement be issued. France, to avoid
that, agree to include those killed in Rwanda — and in the DRC — in
“their” statement, below (along with footnote on the International
Court of Justice “private” meeting of Monday.)
condolences for the loss of civilian lives in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, and in Rwanda following shells landing on its
territory.”]
On Friday the UN Security Council expressed concern about renewed
hostilities in Eastern Congo, called for “maximum restraint and
de-escalation” and for a political solution. Video here.
Inner City Press asked if the UN Mission MONUSCO was involved in
the fighting and was told, by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
spokesperson, no.
On Sunday UN envoy Martin Kobler announced that a member of
MONUSCO’s Force Intervention Brigade or “FIB” had been killed — how
that happened without being involved remains UNclear. Then Kobler
toured land re-taken by the Congolese Army which the UN supports, even
in the face of mass rape.
On Monday in front of the Security Council, French Permanent
Representative Gerard Araud told the Press about the weekend’s
developments in the Eastern Congo, “What is happening is great. It is
the collapse of the rebels… The DRC army is restoring the
sovereignty of the country. It is exactly what we were hoping for.”
Exclusive audio here.
How is this consistent with the Security Council’s calls, agreed to
and actually drafted by France which “hold the pen” for the Council on
the DRC, for “restraint” and for a political solution through the
Kampala talks?
Or some now ask, were those calls just lies or a diversion, at least
for some that agreed to or issued them?
When the Security Council traveled recently to Eastern Congo, France
was allowed to hand-pick which media could go on the UN plane and
cover the trip. These scribes, predictably, are not raising or
reporting these questions.
Inner City Press asked: will Kobler take and at last answer
questions? Or has he fully inhabited the character of his boss Herve
Ladsous, who refuses Press questions? Video here, UK coverage here.
Here is Ladsous’ history in the Great Lakes region, for France.
Footnote: In the private meeting on the ICJ, the question was raised
why among the 15 judges each of the Permanent Five members always gets
one. That is not in the charter. There was no convincing answer. We’ll
have more on this.
http://www.innercitypress.com/drc3francefib102813.html
