Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 1

Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.

John Bruton

Question:

261 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the reports of a massacre of 1,000 civilians in Bunia in the Congo on 3 April 2003 in the civil war there; the steps being taken to halt this barbarous civil war by the United Nations Security Council; if steps are being contemplated to enforce any resolutions of the UN Security Council on this civil war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11553/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I share the Deputy's concern about the human rights and humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo arising from the conflict in that country.

I have condemned the appalling massacre of civilians that took place on 3 April in the area of Drodro, near Bunia, in the eastern province of Ituri. A UN team comprising representatives of the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is conducting an investigation to determine responsibility for this shocking act. The team is expected to report on its findings within the coming weeks. Early indications suggest that the final death toll may be less than the originally feared, 1,000 deaths. However, this in no way detracts from the enormity of the crime. Indiscriminate violence and murder has become a feature of life in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and this latest atrocity underscores the need to address impunity in the country. The report of the investigation will, in due course, be considered at the United Nations, and Ireland will play closest attention to its follow-up.

The inauguration, on 4 April, of the Ituri Pacification Commission, under the chairmanship of the UN Secretary General's Deputy Special Representative to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is an important step towards restoring some semblance of peace and security in Ituri. The commission comprises representatives of the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Angola, the UN mission, civil society and political and military parties to the conflict in Ituri. It is charged with establishing an acceptable structure to maintain law and order and to assure the total withdrawal of Ugandan troops from the area. The UN has now deployed 200 military observers to the area to help stabilise the security situation.

The inauguration of the commission will also support wider efforts to finally resolve the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the recent signing of the final act of the inter-congolese dialogue, which paves the way for the establishment of an all-inclusive power sharing transitional government and the holding of elections within two years.

The question of enforcement of council resolutions arose many times during Ireland's membership of the Security Council and Ireland consistently stressed the need to address the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the most determined manner. As a member of the Security Council, Ireland made the point that the UN should continue to monitor the situation in Ituri closely and to make, if necessary, the appropriate adjustments to the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in the country in the light of the crisis. This point has also been made by the European Union. I would like to assure the Deputy that we will continue to monitor developments in the area closely. Along with our partners in the European Union, we will support the full implementation of the peace process, particularly during the coming, critical, transitional phase.

I should also add that at the Commission on Human Rights, which completed deliberations last week, Ireland took a strong line on the need to deal with impunity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly on the importance of investigating serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. The commission adopted, by unanimity, a resolution on the human rights situation there which had been initially drafted by the EU, and Ireland was very active in the drafting process. The resolution,inter alia, called on the Government of the DRC to take specific measures to put an end to impunity and ensure that those responsible for human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law are brought to justice in accordance with due process.