UN has no say in DRC sex case

2005-03-16 13:33

Johannesburg - The United Nations had no power to punish a South African battalion commander allegedly involved in sexual misconduct in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a UN spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"If we find the allegations are founded, it's up to the South African command to take disciplinary action. The UN cannot do that," said Kemal Saiki, spokesperson for Monuc, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC.

Saiki could not comment on allegations of South African commanders negotiating better prices for prostitutes with local governors, or South African women soldiers officers falling pregnant.

"I haven't received any information to warrant this."

Defence ministry spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi on Tuesday confirmed the officer was being investigated. He did not name the officer.

Meanwhile, Beeld reported on Wednesday South African peacekeeping soldiers in neighbouring Burundi were becoming increasingly unpopular with the local population.

It quoted the latest intelligence report by The Economist as saying: "They got themselves the unfortunate reputation for excessive drinking and the abuse of prostitutes."

Mkhwanazi did not want to respond to the allegations. "They are not based on any facts."

The UN said at the weekend it would step up efforts to root out sexual abuses, especially of minor girls in Burundi.

An investigation into various incidents of abuse was begun in Burundi recently.

Two soldiers were caught in December after allegations of abuses in Muyinga. It was not clear from which country these soldiers came.

An evening of debauchery

In September last year, a 14-year-old prostitute was killed, allegedly by a South African after an evening of debauchery.

According to a UN statement, an investigation was ordered because soldiers were disregarding the world body's restrictions.

"The UN forbids peace-keeping forces from paying for sex or having sex with girls under 18," read the statement.

"In the DRC, payment varies from two eggs to US5 (about R30) a time. In many cases, the victims are orphans and illiterate."

A South African working in Burundi, who asked not be named, said the soldiers had been reprimanded at diplomatic level for their behaviour for quite some time.

The source told Beeld: "The Burundians are very discreet - especially when it comes to sex. They can't stand the South Africans' crude and open approach to women."

Henri Boshoff of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS), who recently returned from a visit to Burundi, said the UN was clamping down on misconduct. "It seems to be a precautionary measure, but they are very strict there."

Carolyn McAskie, the UN's special representative in Burundi, reinstated a curfew to ban UN vehicles from the streets after 23:00.

"It limits potential misbehaviour, but still does not curb soldiers who move around on foot," McAskie said.

- SAPA