22 04 14 PRESS STATEMENT BY EMMANUEL DE MERODE, DIRECTOR OF VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK
Unfortunately
the attack is not an uncommon incident for Virunga National Park. Our rangers
are targeted frequently due to their difficult work in protecting the park and
it’s many valuable resources. They continue to face such risks to restore peace
and the rule of law to the area and the people in their
care.
I
would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Congolese armed forces and
members of the public who helped me at the scene of the attack to reach the
hospital.
I
would also like to thank the surgeons and medical staff from Heal Africa and the
UN surgeons who operated on me at such short notice. These people collectively
saved my life.
I
have been made aware that a full investigation is now underway by the
appropriate legal authorities and I have confidence in the process that’s been
initiated by the Congolese authorities.
For
my part I have no indication as to who may have engineered this attack and would
respectfully ask that others refrain from speculation prior to the findings of
the enquiry.
I
hope to recover very soon I am looking forward to getting back to my work with
renewed vigour.
I
am deeply thankful for the outpouring of support I have received both from
within Congo and internationally and I hope this can be extended to the
overwhelming number of Congolese public servants and their families who suffer
injuries or sometimes death in the line of duty.
Emmanuel
de Merode