Ibyabereye i Kalemie 1997-1998 (Igice ca mbere)

Ibyabereye i Kalemie 1997-1998 (Igice ca mbere)  Source: http://www.imurenge.come

LA VIOLENCE CONTRE BANYAMULENGE CONTINUE EN RDC.

Les Banyamulenges du Haut Plateau d'Itombwe, comme ceux de la province de Katanga continuent a`etre victims des tueries ethniques. Alors que les milices Mayi Mayi (Fulero et ba Bembe) du Sud Kivu continuent a` tuer et a` piller les vaches de Banyamulenge au Sud Kivu, leurs frères vivant dans la province de Katanga subissent le meme sort. Selon plusieurs sources sur terrain inclus certaines organismes internationales, des tueries, et meme des massacres continuent d’être exécutés par les pygmées dans la province du Tanganyika a` l’Est de la République démocratique du Congo.   Bien que l’on ne connait pas le nombre exacte des victimes jusqu’à présent; cependant on estime au moins  une centaines de personnes qui ont été tuées, dont 18 femmes et enfants.

 

Cette situation d’insécurité dans les périphéries de la ville de Kalemi dans la province du Tanganyika a commencé comme un conflit intercommunautaire entre Luba et Twa (pygmées); mais elle a vite tournée principalement contre les Banyamulenge sans aucune autre cause que l’ethnicisme et extremism au Congo contre les Banyamulenge, Tutsi Congolais. Il faut signaler que cet conflit des extremistes tribalistes est d’autant plus difficile à régler qu’elle concerne maintenant plus que deux ethnies qui traditionnellement ont une grande inimitié mutuelle et dont la cohabitation est quasi impossible.

La question la plus troublante est un silence non seulement du gouvernement Congolais, ou meme des autorités politiques venant des groupes ethniques victimes de cet massacre tels que les Banyamulenge, mais aussi un silence de la par de la communauté internationale sauf bien sur le porte-parole de la Monusco, Félix Prosper Basse, qui a eu le courage de dire clairement que cette situation est « plus que préoccupante » dans le Tanganyika. Cette province de Shaba a récemment subie un démembrement du grand Katanga émietté en quatre nouvelles provinces : Haut-Lomami, Haut-Katanga, Lualaba et Tanganyika. Il faut aussi rappeler que cette histoire de violence organisée contre les Banyalenge au Katanga. En 1998 tous les villages de Banyamulenge de Vyura au Katanga ont été completement détruits, la communauté Banyamulenge de Vyura a été non seulement victims des massacres mais aussi ils ont été chassés de leurs villages et dans cette province.

La communauté Banyamulenge de partout est indignée par le silence absolue de la part du gouvernement Congolais face a cet genre de massacre. Cette communauté qui a toujours été la cible des violences ethniques est aujourd'hui au point d'un vrai risque d'extermination. Leur territoire est presque vide de ces habitants a` cause des guerres et des attaques incessantes qui continuent a ravager cette entendue de la republique democratique du Congo.

Bien que d’autres tribes ont été victimes de cette massacre commise par les Pygmées, ici il faut préciser que les Banyamulenge se sont toujours fait tués presque par tout au Congo, et surtout dans cette province de Katanga qui s’est toujours fait remarquer par des violences et des affrontements meurtriers contre eux. Il  faut bien preciser qu’il s’agit d’un problème ethnique et dont les Banyamulenge ont toujour été des cibles.

Nous tenons a`préciser que les militaires de Forces armées de la RD Congo a été pris à partie et a même été accusé de collaboration avec ces rebelles pygmés qui tuent les populations dans la province de Tanganyika.

Les représentants médiatiques de la communauté Banyamulenge au Congo comme au Diaspora lançent un appel au gouvenement de la RDCongo et à la communauté internationale pour qu’ils interviennent bien que c'est un peu tard, mais d'essayer d'au moins sauver des communautés victims et de leur venir en aide. Il y a pas mal des blessés qui jusqu'a` present manquent des soins médicaux et meurent dans des brousses aux enlentour de Kalemie, a` l'Est de la Republique democratique du Congo.

  
Finalement on se demande jusqu``a cet people continuera d`endurer cette souffrance dans leur pays. Un pays qui ne les a jamais accepter, et proteger. Faut-il attendre jusqu`a ce que l`on soit tous éliminer par les extremists Congolais?
Tout pays a l`obligation de proteger sa population, surtout une minorité au risque d`extermination qui a le droit au protection; et si ce pays n`a pas la volonté de proteger une partie de sa population, ce pays perd son droit legitime de gouverner ce peuple en danger d`extermination. Ainsi la communauté internationale devient responsible de s`assurer que ce peuple ait droit a l`auto-determination.

MINEMBWE GENERAL HOSPITAL IS NOW A REALITY; WHAT IS THE ROLE OF RUHIMBIKA MULLER

Finally, our mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers have now access to health care in Minembwe! Now, not only will people get treated without having to travel for days to reach a hospital, but also our children will be born in hospitals, have birth certificate, and mother-child mortality will greatly be reduced in Minembwe. This is quite a dream coming true for most of us who care deeply about Mulenge development. It is sometimes unbelievable that we now have access to communication including internet in Mulenge and now we have a hospital! Why is that many people from Mulenge are silent about this milestone achievement? Who has played a key role in some of these development initiatives among Mulenge born sons? I will shade my thoughts on this in my last paragraph of this article.

 It has rightly been said that one can leave the village, but the village never leaves in you. Whether we admit it or not, all Banyamulenge who were born and raised in Mulenge, have been so greatly influenced by Mulenge’s cultural and spiritual backgrounds. One thing that always strikes me is how we all fantasise and idealize our past memories and experiences that we have lived in mulenge despite the fact that no one is willing to go back and live there now. While many people who grew up in villages and eventually left for urban areas, usually have negative feelings of village experience and lifestyle.

However, mulenge village lifestyle was strikingly very different from many other villages elsewhere in Africa for various reasons. It should be noted that contrary to many other villages in Africa, mulenge inhabitants had lived plentiful and rich lifestyle. This is a place where we had never or rarely experienced starvation like other places, destitution, and even poverty despite the fact that people had virtually less material possessions. People always had more than enough food, everyone was well dressed, particularly adults both men and women.  

It should be argued though those realities of Mulenge are no longer the mirror of our current Mulenge where crime, vandalisme, solitude and violence are rampant.  

Having said that, not every thing was rose. One of the main challenges was the big issue of absence of healthcare services and infrastructure which is an imperative prerequisite for human development and is an inseparable component for the overall well-being of mankind. This magnificent place had never have a health and appropriate place for women to give birth, where people could be treated efficiently and closer to home. It was a nightmare when one happened to suffer a grave or urgent disease. People had to carry the sick person on their backs and travel some times for days before they could reach a hospital in other centres way far from their homes.

Thank God, now this is no longer the case. Minembwe has now a general hospital! Minembwe bears the load of roughly 30% of the Mulenge population, that means it’s share of all diseases, and maternal conditions of Mulenge population.  We can never thank the Donors who have committed to provide the people of Minembwe with a hospital of their own. Everyone who has come from Mulenge and those who still live there are very much grateful to whoever contributed to that project in one way or another. I cannot in good faith forget to thank Minister Muller Ruhimbika who has visibly been present in almost every good development project coming to Minembwe, quite contrary to his colleagues who only enjoys empty honor and prestige in Kinshasa while completely disconnected to their base. Here I don’t need to cite names, especially that none of our so called politicians and officials never made it their responsibility to bring or contribute to the development of Mulenge. It’s a shame!

It is also important to mention the disappointment of the Congolese government in general which has never committed any public financing of healthcare or other sectors and budgeting schemes for a healthy rural Mulenge. 

Seeing what Muller has done in relatively a short period of time that he has been in the government, one wonders if not having the right people in office was the main factor for our isolation and exclusion from the DRC development agenda after all. For year all the sons of Mulenge who have been in the government including occupying the second highest office of the land, they could not even provide the smallest financing of healthcare services in Mulenge. What a shame!

I am not in any why saying that Muller has personally funded the building of Minembwe hospital. I am not definitely that naive. I know that a large part if not all of the financing came from non-governmental funds. Strangely, it is only during the time that Muller has been in the provincial government that we have seen Minembwe being in some measure at the agenda of rural development. He recently brought an Ambulance for the people of Minembwe, just few months later he returned to Minembwe with a delegation for an official opening of the Minembwe General Hospital. One wonders if that is just a coincidence? I am not one of them. I have seen Muller Ruhimbika devoting all his career on the development of Mulenge before, I have seen Muller taking a tough political stand for what he perceived as the political interest of Banyamulenge even at the highest cost, and he never compromised. The same cannot be said about his counterpart Banyamulenge so called politicians.

The question is given that the DRC is one of the third world nations which are still stuck to out-of-pocket payments to access fundamental health services and regrettably, a universal access healthcare is a mysterious dream. So, what can you and I do to ensure that the Hospital in Minembwe keeps giving quality services including universal healthcare to its population.

Thank you to whoever contributed to Minembwe Hospital. More needs to be done

AK

DONALD TRUMP BECOMES AMERICAN PRESIDENT, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

It is unbelievable but true. Donald Trump has won the American presidential election. White "uneducated women" have done it! They chose a sexist, and a womenizer guy instead of one of the most qualified white woman in America!
As much as it is a choc to the world, it is nonetheless true; the global community is waking up to the most bizarre, frustrating and depressing news coming out of the so called world's civilized and developed nation: the United States of America.
It is amazingly disappointing for the people of the world who hoped and wrongly assumed that finally the historically racist country known for enslaving humanity for centuries had been enlightened when they voted for a black president. When Obama won the election, people gave big respect to Americans, especially white Americans.  Little did people think that the majority of white American regretted for electing a non white person in the white house.
To vote for Trump after all the insults to almost all immigrants, and women, ignoring his lack of political experience, but only on the basis of his racism, bigotry and a clear expression of anger against the fact that America has opened up its door to non white people and allowed them to advance and change their lives for better, is a clear indication that white Americans have not after been as progressive and civilized as people thought about them.

The fact is Donald Trump has been solely elected by the white Americans who understandably make 0ver 70% of the population. It was always unclear to me why American journalist always said that African American and minorities were the key factor in electing a president when white people constitutes 70 %. I guess the assumption was that whites do not choose by block, which is totally not true. White Americans are once again going back to racism and discrimination which has characterized them for centuries. People world over had started giving them more credit for progressiveness, but it seems that it is actually a total hypocrisy.

Here you have a candidate who clearly campaigned for building walls against immigrants, closing the boarders and deporting refugees.  It is always amazing how white Americans hypocritically pretend not to be long time immigrants in America at some points. The fact is America is a country of immigrants period. The fact that some came long time ago does not make them less immigrants than those who came after them. But because they control the world's resources, media, and have big guns(power) they dictate what is accepted and acceptable.
Now the world can only hold the breath and hope for the best.
What does the Trump America mean for the third world countries? Well, much is unknown. But this can be almost rightly be expected: oppressive regimes are going to flourish once again, Dictators will surely be supported and encouraged as long as they are willing to let their countries exploited by American interest. Aid is going to strongly be diminished. Refugees and immigrants and blacks can only pray and wish that God will intervene in the Trump administration.
The world is once again in for insecurity and less safer than it was. May God bless Trump and make him change his ideology.
America, you once again surprise the world, but this time hopefully not for the worst!!!!
Let me finish this article by being open minded and tell my deeper conviction about Donald Trump. One, I choose to give him the benefit of doubt. This could be a total surprising president not for the worst but for the best. I believe Donald Trump will not do even half of what he campaign for. I believe he only wanted to get the presidency and cares less about all those issues that he rightly detected among many white racists who are nostalgic of the old America where white has always been might and right. America where so called "colored" people had no space and deserve no honor and respect. But Trump saw it as a strategy and a channel through which he would get to the highest office, and then do whatever the American presidential system has always done.

I also have to say that I appreciate the fact that Trump is against the promotion of homosexuality and abortion. Those are the values that I, too care very much about, despite the fact that I consider myself to be a liberal and progressive person. God is always right on any social or moral issue!

Ak

Col. Elias Byinshi, Une mort Injuste

Le Col. Elias Byinshi. Tu seras toujours dans nos coeurs!

  Le Col. Elias Byinshi,
 Le Col. Elias Byinshi, comme le Major Kagigi, meurt aussi une mort quasi injuste et mysterieuse. Comment et quand aurons-nous vraiment une justice reelle dans ce pays qui nous a tant trahi malgres des nombreuses sacrifices dont nous jeunes, hommes, femmes font pour ce pays? Col. Elias rentrait chez lui apres un long un bonne journee. Mais, personne ne pouvait s'imagine que Elias qui a survi toutes les guerres notamment dans le temps de FPR, AFDL, RCD la` ou nombreux de ses camarades ont perdus leurs vies en guerre! Mais, lui il vieut d'etre abattu juste devant sa maison entouré par ses gardes de corps! Pour quoi et qui a vraiment comploté et tué notre cher fils et officier digne de son nom le Col. Byinshi Elias? Peut etre on ne saura jamais comme on ne sait presque pas qui a assassiné notre frere Major Kagigi quelques années il ya toujours a` Bukavu. Est ce que c'est la jalousie? c'est le reglement de compte? c'est qulqu'un qui ne voulait pas que la vérité dont disposée le coloneur ne soit connue? Ou c'est quelqu'un(s) qui veulent tout simplement endeuiller encore la sous-region en provoquant des causes d'une autre guerre ethnique? Tout est possible. Mais sachons tres bien que les sangs des innocents crient toujours pour vengeance et justice.
 Un argument régulièrement avancé pour repousser l’idée d’une eventualité d’une autre inieme guerre civile en Republique Democratique du Congo est que “cela ne plus possible, car on a une presence massive de casques blue dont le seul mandate est de protéger le pays et les occidentaux veulent voir la region et surtout la RDC securisé”.

Cet argument n’a pourtant aucun sens. La prevention de guerre en Afrique par les occidentaux et surtout les casques bleus n’est jamais une priorité ni soucis des occidentaux (ici on parle biensur des puissances non pas des simple citoyens occidentaux). Il suffit de voir le Liban, qui avant de se déchirer en 1975 dans un conflit qui dure depuis des décennies était l’un des pays les plus développés de la region et surtout le seul pays peut etre au monde sans aucune dette. Mais personne n’écoute les cris qu’on ne cesse d’émettre pour que les conflits ethniques ne se repetent pas encore dans le grand et ingouvernable Congo.

La question que certaines persones se demandent est celle-ci: est ce que vraiment cette guerre civile au Congo surtout au Kivu, que surement nous ne voulons pas, mais que d’autres veulent peut etre évitée? Cela la vrai question; et la reponse est effectivement cachée dans la certitude de la question meme. Cette guerre, bien que nous, nous ne la voulons pas, il y a sans doute les autres qui en veulent et ils sont non seulement nombreux, mais aussi suffisament capable de la commencer, bien qu’ils ne savent jamais comment la finir.

Pour ceux qui suivent des pret et s’interessent a` la securité de la region et du Congo en particulier, vous comprenez qu’ici je ne veux pas necessairement dire des jeunes gens promoteurs des haines et sensibilisateurs des la carnages ethniques comme un certain Dominick Songolo, du tribue Bembe qui vit actuellement aux Etats-Unis d’Amerique precisement au Texas qui s’est investi corps et amis a` produire des videos sur Whats’up et les envoyer a` tous les jeunes de la region du grand lacs les incitant a` tuer, soit par assassination ou autres genres de carnages les hommes politiques et militaires Banyamulenge. Ici je parle d’autres soit disant politiciens et officiers militaires Congolais qui se sont investis a` organiser des tuerries siblés et calculés les hommes militaires et politique Banyamulenge.

L’assassinat du feu Col. Byinshi Elias est l’un des cas tres recent. Tout le monde sait qu’il ya une main invisible contre l’assassinat du Col Elias qui est perçue dans l’angle des règlements de compte. Il n’est secret a` personne que le Colonel Elias a été victime d’une haine ethnique justifié pour une représailles de la part de la communauté Bafuliro. Ici il faut bien preciser que la cohabitation politisée régnant entre les communautés sud kivutien est un desastre potential pour la region. La politisation de la cohabitation ainsi que l’absence d’Etat ont toujours fait que ces communautés  vivent dans une suspicion mutuelle.

A suivre

PRESS RELEASE: COMMEMORATING THE 12TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE AGAINST BANYAMULENGE IN GATUMBA, BURUNDI

PRESS RELEASE

Edmonton, August 13, 2016

  

 This Saturday August 13 marks the 12th anniversary of the genocide perpetrated against the Banyamulenge refugees in Gatumba (Burundi) in 2004. To mark the event, over 300 banyamulenge, Tutsi Congolese will gather together to remember their brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and children who were mercilessly massacred in the middle of the night while they were sleeping in their refugee camp in Burundi sixteen years ago.  

The Banyamulenge communities across the country and around the world in partnership with its partners are massively holding commemorative events marking the 12^th anniversary of the Gatumba genocide against Banyamulenge which took place on August 13^th, 2004 in Burundi.

In Edmonton the Banyamulenge community condemns in the strongest possible terms the vicious attack that took place on the night of August 13, 2016 when Banyamulenge refugees were peacefully sleeping in their tents only to suddenly find themselves being surrounded by killers with machetes, grenades, being burned alive, and shot at by an armed group from the National Liberation Front of the Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People, which is an extremist terrorist group based in the great lake region, led by Agatho Rwasa; in collaboration with some elements from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s army launched an attack on vulnerable and defenseless refugees many of whom were children and women for only being Tutsis.  “The Saturday event is expected to be the biggest commemoration event of the Gatumba genocide in Edmonton to date; as it is bringing together many young people and all community members to not only commemorate the lives of their brothers and sisters, but also to call for justice against Agatho Rwasa who publicly claimed the slaughter of innocent refugees by members of his political party as well as others who participated in the killing of over 162 innocent women, men and children” stated Mr. Muhoza, one of the event organizers. Some of the witnesses of this horrible massacre living in Edmonton will also give their testimonies during the event.

It is important to state that until this day the Banyamulenge people in the DRCongo and Burundi continue to face daily acts of violence, persecution and dehumanization for simply being who God created them to be__Tutsis.  “The Banyamulenge community across Canada is urging the Canadian government to use its influence by demanding the Burundian government to handle over those responsible for this vicious massacre of innocent refugees, specifically Agatho Rwasa who is now one of country's political leaders, so that he can face justice” argued Ndamiyimfura, one of community leaders. 

For more information on the event please call 587-778-2592; or 780-802-4047

PRESS RELEASE: COMMEMORATING THE 12th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE AGAINST BANYAMULENGE IN GATUMBA, BURUNDI

PRESS RELEASE

Edmonton, August 13, 2016

  

 This Saturday August 13 marks the 12th anniversary of the genocide perpetrated against the Banyamulenge refugees in Gatumba (Burundi) in 2004. To mark the event, over 300 banyamulenge, Tutsi Congolese will gather together to remember their brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and children who were mercilessly massacred in the middle of the night while they were sleeping in their refugee camp in Burundi sixteen years ago.  

The Banyamulenge communities across the country and around the world in partnership with its partners are massively holding commemorative events marking the 12^th anniversary of the Gatumba genocide against Banyamulenge which took place on August 13^th, 2004 in Burundi.

In Edmonton the Banyamulenge community condemns in the strongest possible terms the vicious attack that took place on the night of August 13, 2016 when Banyamulenge refugees were peacefully sleeping in their tents only to suddenly find themselves being surrounded by killers with machetes, grenades, being burned alive, and shot at by an armed group from the National Liberation Front of the Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People, which is an extremist terrorist group based in the great lake region, led by Agatho Rwasa; in collaboration with some elements from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s army launched an attack on vulnerable and defenseless refugees many of whom were children and women for only being Tutsis.  “The Saturday event is expected to be the biggest commemoration event of the Gatumba genocide in Edmonton to date; as it is bringing together many young people and all community members to not only commemorate the lives of their brothers and sisters, but also to call for justice against Agatho Rwasa who publicly claimed the slaughter of innocent refugees by members of his political party as well as others who participated in the killing of over 162 innocent women, men and children” stated Mr. Muhoza, one of the event organizers. Some of the witnesses of this horrible massacre living in Edmonton will also give their testimonies during the event.

It is important to state that until this day the Banyamulenge people in the DRCongo and Burundi continue to face daily acts of violence, persecution and dehumanization for simply being who God created them to be__Tutsis.  “The Banyamulenge community across Canada is urging the Canadian government to use its influence by demanding the Burundian government to handle over those responsible for this vicious massacre of innocent refugees, specifically Agatho Rwasa who is now one of country's political leaders, so that he can face justice” argued Ndamiyimfura, one of community leaders. 

For more information on the event please call 587-778-2592; or 780-802-4047