Europe 'threatens peace in DRC'
2005-07-06 12:10
London - Firms based in Britain and across eastern Europe are flying weapons into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a deadly trade that threatens to derail a fragile peace process, a report by Amnesty International (AI) said on Tuesday.
The London-based human rights organisation called on the United Nations (UN) to renew and strengthen an arms embargo to halt the operation and also urged Britain to launch an investigation.
In its report, "Democratic Republic of Congo: Arming the east", Amnesty claimed stockpiles of weapons and ammunition are being transported from the Balkans and eastern Europe into Africa's conflict-torn Great Lakes region, fuelling the violence.
Millions died during conflict
"Millions have already lost their lives during seven years of conflict in the DRC. Armed men are still raping, looting and killing civilians - as arms deliveries continue," AI British media director Mike Blakemore said in a statement.
"If the international community, the UN and individual countries involved fail to halt this proliferation, the fragile peace process will collapse with disastrous consequences," he warned.
Citing documents and witness statements, Amnesty said six flights from Albanian company MEICO, took place from Tirana to Kigali in planeloads each carrying over 40 metric tons of arms and ammunition in October and November 2002.
This included several million rounds of Kalashnikov ammunition. At least one shipment contained grenades and rocket launchers.
B>Violating peace agreements
Amnesty said it found three of the companies involved in these arms deliveries operated from Britain: African International Airways, Intavia Ltd and Platinum Air Cargo.
The human rights group said further shipments of weapons from south east Europe are going to Rwanda, despite a peace process initiated in 2002.
The report highlighted arms dealers, brokers and transporters from countries including Albania, Britain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Israel, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, and the United States.
"Evidence that UK-based firms have profited from these deals is sickening," Blakemore said.
"The UK government should ensure that a full, independent and public investigation takes place, with all documentation made public."
Amnesty said the arms were supplied to the DRC, Rwandan and Ugandan governments to be distributed to armed groups in the eastern DRC.