21 11 13 BBC: More than 3,000 militia surrender in eastern DRCongo

For the
chairman of Mufunyishanga grouping, the presence of those former combatants in
the area gives hope to the local population.

[Reporter]
The presence of Mai Mai
APCLS elements and those of the Nyatura militia have been
coming into the transit centre at Bweremana since two days ago. According to
commanders of those militia units, all junior fighters have been disarmed; only
their highly ranked officers are still having their weapons.

According
to combatants contacted early this morning, the majority of them have come from
Ngungu, Kasaki, Nyamitaba and other localities of Masisi in Nord Kivu province.
Still according to them, this gesture confirms their good faith to contribute
in restoring peace in the country and to serve the nation.

They have
however denounced difficult conditions under which they spent their first
night. According to their testimony, they are learning lessons of military
rules and regulations and commandment as soon as they arrive. The highly ranked
officers are getting instructions on discipline related to command for officers
of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They have demanded to
be transferred to training centres where their conditions will be improved, a
point of view backed by the chairman of Mufunyishanga grouping. There has been
no reaction so far from the country's military authorities.