11.16.08 MONITOR (Uganda) : Nkunda: ‘Rebel with a cause’

Gen. Nkunda what is your interest in the renewed fighting?

When you see how the country is being ruled it shows you how there is
not even a single structure in place. Agreements are signed at personal
level. How can you imagine a country signing an agreement with another
country without the involvement of key ministers? It’s not normal. So
much of our riches are being depleted for personal gain and to enrich
other countries yet the Congolese are suffering in poverty. Why?

If you take a look at our army it’s not a force that can protect the
security of the Congolese. Last year we had 300,000 soldiers and
sometime this figure reduced to 160,000 soldiers yet when we get down
to the ground this figure is less than 60,000 yet they are paying for
the whole 300,000. The commander in chief is aware of this and it’s
normal for him. Why?

The whole of eastern Congo is under the rule of negative forces coming
from the neighbouring countries, these negative forces are supplied and
protected by our government. And when you question this then you are
the enemy of the country.

How can you serve in the state where your people are not accepted or
when you are not seen as a member of the nation? Sometimes they see you
as Rwandese; in peace time you are not Congolese you are only Congolese
when you are dying at the frontline? As CNDP we are saying, no this
cannot continue.

What do you make of the UN Monuc?
I think they
are here for something else and not to provide peace. In 2002 we saw
Monuc come to Congo, their mission was to secure our country but since
then there has not been a single bullet shot against FDLR. 17,000
people armed with helicopters but instead they say they shot at CNDP
three times four times. We are Congolese. They are shooting at us yet
we are fighting for our freedom and yet for them they are living with
these bad elements. We think it’s a plot from the international
community.

Last year we went to Kigali for negotiations with the government of
Kinshasa, we accepted to [be mixed], I gave the whole army I had but
they instead suggested to me that I take $3 million dollars and go to a
South Africa university. Have I the right to study when my family is
not free? Have I the right to be an army general in Kinshasa when my
family is dying in the refugee camp? Have I the right to move around
and I enjoy when my family is suffering and cannot move freely in
Congo? It’s a betrayal to my people and because of this when you see
all this I ask myself where our country is. The only value in Congo is
money that’s why they are giving and signing contracts?

With regards to the elections they were carried out here and we accept
Kabila won. We did so in turn with hope that he can listen to our
claims but soon after elections he came to Goma and said now we are
going to push Gen. Nkunda away and kill him if we get him. Ok let him
go ahead. However, is he going to destroy Nkunda alone? How shall he
deal with other voices of people fighting for their freedom? You can
shut the mouth of Nkunda but not the cry for freedom.

You ask yourself; is Congo liberated, is Congo free, is it moving in
terms of development like other countries, are Congolese benefiting
from the production of their wealth? Is Congo ruled by a real
president? As far as we are concerned much of Congo is under negative
forces protected by government soldiers and we say our government has
betrayed its people. We are not going to accept this even if they were
elected because they have let down the people. We are going to fight
this government until we overthrow it even if they kill me the struggle
will not end.

How strong are you?
The only strength right now
is the position we are in right now although we are still moving on if
the government is not willing to take us serious. They think we are a
small force that should be cleared and dealt away with and we say let’s
wait and see what it takes to wipe us.

What I can say is that at the beginning of January the internal
community did not understand our problem but now I can see them coming
because they now see us determined to liberate some of the areas where
Congolese are suffering.

The international community might think power sharing is the solution
for Congo but that is not the case at all. Take a look at the Sun City,
[South Africa] deal in 2002; they shared power and we saw four vice
presidents being appointed. They only think we are fighting for power
and I say no. Imagine they went even ahead to use the International
Criminal Court to threaten the remaining little forces like ours who
did not accept to merge. You can arrest the Thomas Lubangas, Jean
Pierre Bemba and many others but there is no way out. We are strong
today because the international community has understood that it is not
a matter of just sharing power.

This cry has resulted into war; that is why we reached even Goma
[despite] the presence of UN Monuc with their tanks and helicopters.
They shot at us but we insisted until we reached Goma.

What specifically do you want if you negotiated with President Kabila?

Three main things: the basic one is security and if I talk about
security I go back to the negative forces, about the formation of the
army, about the police, about their welfare and so on. We want to have
a strong national army to secure the people not an army like that you
saw in Goma, looting and raping and shooting at its own people.

Secondly we want to have a stable economy. If I can talk about the
Chinese contract which is worth $9 billion I do not think it was a good
idea for the Congolese. No Congolese, including our own ministers of
budget and that of planning was aware of this contract with China. Even
with Angola we signed a contract of petrol with them and until now
there is no money from Angola. Last year they promised $600 million and
until now they have not brought this money.

The other aspect of concern is corruption. This is at its peak in Congo. We have to fight this corruption.

Your commanders have alleged that China is supplying weapons to the government…

Oh yes, they are sending to the government and we are getting the
weapons from the government. You have seen government forces running
away and abandoning these weapons. And I have written to the UN
Security Council representative of Congo about this when they were
condemning CNDP. My letter was asking him to stop condemning us about
the arms because it’s the government that is arming us through its
counterpart China.

I cannot accept any contract with China because you can clearly see
what they are doing in Sudan. I know China; it’s only business.