Pillaging of DRC resources probed
2001-01-23 11:30
United Nations - The Security Council has urged the warring sides in Congo to co-operate with a panel investigating illegal diamond and gold mining but also told panellists to look beyond the governments involved for more reliable and substantive information.
The UN-appointed panel put out an interim report last week on its first three months of work, saying it couldn't present a clear picture of the plundering of Congo's natural resources since there were no statistics in the country after years of mismanagement and corruption.
In a statement to the press, the council said it was "disappointed" by the responses received so far and called on governments involved to co-operate more. Panellists received varying levels of co-operation from the half-dozen governments involved in the war, "ranging from apparent openness to near hostility."
In some cases, there was no access to government officials and elsewhere governments gave their well-known responses to the accusations they were pillaging precious gems and minerals.
The government of the late President Laurent Kabila has accused Rwandan and Ugandan troops of stealing Congo's diamonds, gold, timber and other minerals from areas under control of rebels they support.
The two countries have denied the accusations although they promised panellists there would be swift punishment to any soldier found to be making a profit off of Congo's mines.
The rebels took up arms against Kabila in 1998, accusing him of mismanagement and corruption. Kabila later enlisted the support of Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Diplomats suggested that the panellists may have not reported all the information they have gathered to date so as to not antagonise governments while the investigation is ongoing.
Encouraging panellists to name names in their final report, council members called on the group to provide a "substantive and comprehensive final report based on information provided by governmental and rebel groups, as well as independent and public sources."
Such a report, which is expected in March, could pave the way for possible sanctions against countries found to be illegally stealing Congo's wealth.
Last week, French President Jacques Chirac told reporters at a Franco-African summit in Cameroon that he would favour sanctions against countries that support the armed rebellion against Kinshasa - a reference to Rwanda and Uganda.
"We consider the occupation of a part of Congolese territory by foreign countries illegitimate and unacceptable, as is the pillage of resources which is the consequence (of the occupation)," he said.
The countries backing Kabila's government have argued they shouldn't be investigated for alleged plundering since they are in the country at the request of the government. They say any illegal activity is being carried out by the "uninvited aggressors" - Rwanda and Uganda. - Sapa-AP
- SAPA