11.26.08 SPIEGEL (ge): INTERVIEW WITH CONGO'S PARLIAMENTARY PRESIDENT "We Hope for an EU Contingent"
SPIEGEL: Why hasn't your
government succeeded in bringing peace to the eastern part of the Democratic
Republic of Congo?
Vital
Kamerhe: After the peace
agreement of 2002 the rebel organizations were absorbed into the army. Because
of this, our troops now consist of regular soldiers as well as former militia
members. The army is fragile and frustrated, and it has been infiltrated.
It makes it difficult
to enforce peace.
SPIEGEL: The soldiers are
attacking civilians, plundering, and raping.
Kamerhe: Anyone responsible
for massacres belongs in front of an international court. Because of the war in
the east, we have had no time to reform our security forces or justice
system.
SPIEGEL: Rebel leader Laurent
Nkunda, your main enemy, says he needs to protect the Tutsis in the eastern part
of the country from the Hutu-killers who fled to
1994.
Kamerhe: This is just a
pretext. Today we have Tutsi generals in the Congolese army and Tutsi workers at
state enterprises. Their best source of protection are the institutions of the
Republic, not a rebel army.
SPIEGEL: Isn't the war really
a fight over natural resources?
special case geologically. We possess valuable minerals like coltan, gold and
diamonds. Our natural resources are being exhausted by the Nkunda rebels, who
conduct their sales through Rwanda. Big companies in China, Russia, Europe and
the US are the recipients. They share the guilt for this exploitation. We prefer
that the resources be used legally.
SPIEGEL: The UN Security
Council wants to strengthen its 18,000 blue helmet force with 3,000 additional
men. Is that enough?
Kamerhe: We need
international troops to protect the populace. There also needs to be political
talks with Nkunda and diplomatic efforts to restore the relationship between
Congo and Rwanda. That will take time. To begin with we hope for an
EU-contingent — 850 men can help stop a humanitarian
catastrophe.
Interview
conducted by Stefan Simons