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Mutambo Joseph’s TributeDear Brothers and Sisters, How sad! Here we go again, political orphans! Mr. Joseph Mutambo, a member of the Shikama family, is also taken away from us all! It is hard to believe that few years ago in the former Zaire, our Hero brother Joseph Mutambo, took a tremendous burden and legacy of leading our people Banyamulenge and fighting without reserve for our common heritage after the death of Our elder brother Honourable Muhoza Gisaro who changed the face of Banyamulenge History. I remember crying so badly although I was too young in 1980, When we all felt hopeless, desperate, and futureless, after the sad death of H. Gisaro. All the sudden, our brother Honourable Joseph Mutambo took over the legacy of his visionary leadership and confronted our Enemies’ agenda, by challenging them, educating them and even fighting for our rights by all means, including publishing the objective Historical account of Banyamulenge people in the Great Lake region. Our brother took the go-ahead legacy that day, and we've all have been trying to catch up ever since. Indeed, his life has been one of ideas, which were eventually taken up by the people and became acceptable. Today, I think every Munyamulenge should say a special word of not only condoleance, but also thanks to the deceased Joseph Mutambo and to his family and to members of the FRF Party who made him one of their own and proved that Banyamulenge cause is a bigger, stronger, richer society which can not die because its leaders are dying. It is time; dear brothers and sisters, for us all to work together and give everybody support, comfort and love. And today I think we should remember that as Gisaro’s vision was carried out by Mutambo, the later’s legacy will not end either; for afterward he spent the rest of his life trying to open other doors and keep them open for all of us. That is why he came to Denmark, although that was not his wish. He knew that education, not division, was the key to success in life for nearly everyone. And he took that message to all people wherever he went, by fighting for his people and even writing the book about the real History of our people. I can't help thinking that if all our deceased Heroes, including those who died in the war, in asylum and by caused death, were here with us today, they would say that we have done a lot of progress in the last 20-25 years, and he is worthy most of the credits. However, we need to make sure that, even as we commemorate the death of their brilliant successor, Joseph Mutambo, we need even more of our young people from all walks of life to carry out the vision and legacy of our Brothers and help to make more of their dreams, lives, and the life of our people in our country come true.
Who was Mutambo?For Historical records, I feel compelled to share briefly his life. Here was the Congolese Munyamulenge, a visionary, smart, entrepreneur, intellectual, religious, political, professional, and mostly a humble Wiseman. A first born in his family, and a father of six children. He is also known for giving hundreds of young Banyamulenge a chance to build the life of their dreams, by opening his house, and family to host hundreds of Banyamulenge students in Kinshasa. He fought continuously for and raised Banyamulenge issues that seemed impossible and even futile for some people; and he ignored the fact that people would be shocked and angry by his words, books and political ideologies, for he believed that someone had to say the truth, and so he did. And now, he is content to be sitting in the arms of whom he believed in, and in a peaceful rest. However, while alive, the watchman of our time saw the Congolese ground trembling beneath them. But they did not understand, or simply did not want to, and during the time he was still patiently answering their questions, while he was still wrapped up in the people he so loved, as he was connecting to them and trying to move and influence and touch their souls - during these very moments his soul is taken! And as I imagine the MINEMBWE, Bukavu, and Kigali funerals. Such a funeral (abanyamahanga) had never seen before! Street after street are filled with people from all walks of life gathered around their brother’s home. Everyone loved him. All those whom he could not awaken from their political apathy in his life, are now awakened through his death, and they came to escort the prince that understood their problems and pain. Umubabaro uranyicya even more, iyo ntekereje ukuntu his funeral will be without a mass of people escorting him to the gravesite. And Mutambo will be buried in the ground of Denmark, igihugu cyubuhungiro. His blood cries for vengeance!! It is up to you and me, to carry out his vision Naho twe abasigaye, we have the obligation to continue his mission and vision, through the work of our deceased brother. We must stand for something more magnificent. We ought to have an educated, healthy, and free society; a good society where all of us have a chance to work together for a better tomorrow for our people and children. Let that be the true legacy of Joseph Mutambo's wonderful, remarkable vision and life. Peace be with you Dear Brother, you will be missed! IMANIKURINDIRE MUBURUHUKIRO BGAYO. For Shikama Association, Muhoza Akim Makombe DRC: Amnesty International condemns political imprisonmentsNAIROBI, 20 December (IRIN) - Fifty suspected political opponents have been detained and are being held incommunicado in government-controlled areas of the DRC, according to Amnesty International. The organisation reported that many were being held in unofficial detention centres, where torture was routine. Some had reportedly "disappeared", it said. Senior military figures, including Anselme Masasu Nindaga, former leader of the Alliance des forces democratiques pour la liberation du Congo (AFDL), the armed opposition group which brought Kabila to power in 1997, arrested in connection with an alleged coup, were being held in the southeastern town of Lubumbashi. Amnesty International believes that they will be court-martialled and are likely to face the death penalty. A group of 34 other prisoners arrested in connection with the coup were reportedly detained at Kinshasa's main prison; none of them had been formally charged or appeared before a court of law, Amnesty International said. Almost all of those arrested were from the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu. Amnesty International believes some have been arrested purely because they are from the Kivu region or know people there From Irin An Open letter to Kofi AnanOpen letter to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
CC: President William J. Clinton
Honorable, Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights
Secretary of State
His Holiness Pope John Paul II Secretary General of The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Ref: Warning for the Extermination of Banyamulenge People Your Excellency, On behalf of the Banyamulenge people, I would like to indicate our deep concern at the invidious discrimination against Banyamulenge practiced in their own country and by their government, and fellow country men. We are not affiliated to any political party, nor have we any political power, but we cannot just look the other way while this appalling situation continues and eventually aimed at extinguish our people. We are writing to express our concern at the mounting civilian Killings and casualties in the Kivu region (DRC) war against Banyamulenge, particularly in circumstances that suggest violations of international humanitarian law. We urge that these issues be scrutinized promptly and rigorously, that corrective steps be taken immediately to ensure that disciplinary or criminal investigations be launched into any possible violation or grave breach of this law. We have few broad areas of concern: the target of innocent civilians, the destruction of civilians properties, such as burning villages, looting and killing of their cattles. Our first concern is that civilians and their objects have been targeted, in violation of humanitarian law. In fact, there has been a daily mass murder ever since Mai Mai militias have mounted in the rural areas where there is a huge population of unprotected Banyamulenge villages. Public facilities and properties such as schools, hospitals, and Churches have been burned regularly by the Mai Mai. According to Article 52 of Protocol I additional to the 1949 Geneva Conventions (Protocol I), these may legitimately be targeted only if, by their nature, location, purpose and use, they make an "effective contribution to military action," and their capture, neutralization or destruction, "in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage." In this case, there is not even a military war with Banyamulenge; it is absolutely civilian attack in their own villages, which are not even battlefields. Moreover, even if that would be the case, which is not, the attack is still forbidden under Article 57 of Protocol I if it can be expected to cause incidental death, injury or loss to civilians which would be excessive in relation to the "concrete and direct" military advantage anticipated. Further more, burning schools, hospitals, cattle killings, and field destruction, are also condemned by Article 54 of Protocol I, which prohibits the destruction of objects that are indispensable to the survival of a civilian population. As such, Mayi-Mayi shares responsibility for ordering and carrying out the campaign of genocide against Banyamulenge population, Mai-Mai, and Congo officials also bear responsibility for numerous other acts of mass murder, widespread torture, and crimes against humanity committed by the government backed militas and soldiers, which are a matter of record. From 1995, the Congolese regime made Tutsi ethnic appearance intolerance official government policy. The Banyamulenge were at first marginalized, then excluded from many activities, then vilified and ultimately subjected to deportation from their own land, and as a result, unspeakable horrors followed from 1996 until now. Just as it happened in Rwanda in 1994, when the world stood by in silence while almost one million Tutsi were being slaughtered, the same is happening to Banyamulenge as we speak. We like to think that perhaps if the UN had spoken up, taken a stronger stand, history would tell a different story. Although we cannot change history, but we can try not to re-live it again. In the 1994s, it was the Tutsis from Rwanda. Today it is the Tutsis From D.R. of Congo. Organized governmental discrimination against any minority group on the basis of its ethnic background is abhorrent, and should be viewed as such. We may not be Albanians, or Palestinians, but we are also one of human race, and should not be ignored at all cost. When a modern nation demonstrates its unwillingness to protect the basic rights of a group of its citizens, and, indeed, exhibits a willingness to condone and participate in their persecution, international community should not keep silence. Extremists of African continents should not always be permitted to believe that the rest of the World would look the other way, while they enjoy slaughtering innocent lives. Not this time please. Democratic Republic of Congo, as a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, has the obligation to undertake to prevent and to punish acts of genocide. As a State Party to the U.N. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, DRC is also under international legal obligation to bring to trial or to extradite persons on its territory accused of torture, no matter where those acts were committed. We implore you to bring an end to this shameful pattern of organized persecution in the Great lake region. We call on you to instruct the DRC government to do its utmost to, Mai Mai officials to justice on these charges in a competent court of law in another country where they can be brought to justice. We thank you for your immediate attention to this most urgent and important matter. Sincerely, Shikama Association More reports coming soon... |