drc: U.N. Should Deploy a Rapid Reaction Force in Ituri

For Immediate Release:

Congo: U.N. Should Deploy a Rapid Reaction Force in Ituri

(New York, May 21, 2003) - Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International
today jointly called on the U.N. Security Council to authorize the
deployment of a rapid reaction force to protect civilians in Ituri, in
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In an open letter to the Security Council, the two human rights
organizations called the situation in Ituri "a critical test" of the
Security Council's commitments to prevent mass killings and protect
civilians, and noted that the United Nations Observation Mission in
Congo (MONUC) has been unable to adequately protect civilians. The
Security Council is currently discussing the characteristics and mandate
of a possible force.

"In Ituri today, the elements of a devastating crisis are clearly
present," said Irene Khan, secretary general of Amnesty International.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said that thousands of
civilians continue to be at risk as opposing Hema and Lendu ethnic
militia groups remain fully armed and ready to attack again. Tens of
thousands of other civilians are believed to have fled Bunia, and their
condition is unknown.

The two organizations stressed that any military action should be
undertaken with full respect for international human rights and
humanitarian law. They emphasized that the rapid reaction force should
have a robust mandate to ensure the maintenance of law and order and to
protect civilians in Bunia, to locate and protect those civilians who
have fled outside the town, and to ensure that humanitarian assistance
can reach civilian populations in need.

Given the urgency of the situation, the two human rights organizations
urged that a rapid reaction force be deployed immediately in the Ituri
region, pending an agreement by the Security Council on the expansion
and strengthening of MONUC's mandate, and the respective deployment of
its reinforced troops.

The organizations are following up their appeal to the Security Council
with appeals to specific countries to support Security Council action
along the lines suggested and to contribute troops to an U.N.-authorized
force.

"Thousands of civilians have already died in this conflict," said
Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. "Only rapid U.N.
action can head off continued killings."

At least 5,000 people died from direct violence in Ituri between July
2002 and March 2003. These victims are in addition to the 50,000
civilians that, according to United Nations estimates, have died there
since 1999. These losses are just one part of an estimated total of 4.7
million civilians dead throughout the Congo, a toll that makes this war
more deadly to civilians than any other since World War II.

The open letter by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to the
U.N. Security Council is available at
http://www.hrw.org/press/2003/05/drc052103.htm.

For further information please contact:
In London, Amnesty International: +44.207.413.5566
Anneke Van Woudenberg (HRW): +44.207.713.2786
In Washington, Janet Fleischman (HRW): +1.202.612.4325

--
Jeff Scott, Ph. D.
Africa Division
Human Rights Watch
Phone: +1-212-216-1834
Fax: +1-212-736-1300
http://www.hrw.org/africa/index.php
en français, http://www.hrw.org/french/africa/