15.01.11 PRESS RELEASE: UNION FOR DEMOCRACY AND SOCIAL PROGRESS OFFICE OF REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
constitution that is being revised without the popular referendum is in
clear breach of the process, which may render the whole peace process
worthless and endanger the country gains to stability.
ARBITRARY ARRESTS AND POLITICAL KILLINGS
While
the constitution is being breached to make way for President Joseph
Kabila to win the election by deception, threats, arbitrary arrests,
killings of opponents, civil society activists, journalists and students
is being systematically carried out throughout the country.
On
13th January 2011, the University
of Kinshasa was a scene of battleground between the students and the
police force, which resulted in 3 students being gunned down and scores
of them assaulted and injured after a second student was found hanged in
the dormitory vicinity of the campus.
In
another development, Mr. Diomi Ndongala, national parliamentarian, the
Christian Democrats Party leader was arbitrary arrested and illegally
detained in the western town of Moanda in Bas-Congo where he traveled on
12th January 2011 to prepare for his party annual conference. He
has been rushed to a kangooru court on 14th January 2011 in the same
town and has been sentenced to 5 months imprisonment.
RED ALERT TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
The
peace process in Democratic Republic of Congo is being tested by those
who are meant to work in accordance to its sustainability and the
revision of the country constitution has sent shock waves that will
certainly will have serious consequences to stability not only in the
Congo, but in the region as a whole.
The
International Community has invested so dearly in this process and can
not contemplate to see its gains melt away for a renew of violence,
which has not been
fully eradicated, especially in the Eastern part where rape and
killings of women is ongoing at present.
The
Office of Representation of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress
in the United Kingdom is deeply preoccupied of the deterioration the
political situation in this pre-election period, and is urging all our
partners, both regionally and internationally, to take necessary steps
to avoid future blood bath in Congo.
Philippe Mandangi
UDPS Senior Representative in the United Kindgom