UN human rights official condemns killing of military observer in DR Congo

A senior United Nations human rights official today strongly condemned the murder of a UN military observer last week during the ambush of a peacekeeping convoy in the eastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bertrand Ramcharan, reminded armed militias in Ituri that they were responsible for the security of military and civilian personnel from the UN Organization Mission (MONUC). He also urged them to fully cooperate with MONUC’s inquiry into the circumstances of the attack, which killed a Kenyan national working for the UN.

The MONUC observers were returning from investigating serious human rights violations committed by armed elements of the Union des Patriotes Congolais (UPC) against civilians in Katoto, a village 23 kilometres northeast of Bunia, Ituri.

Mr. Ramcharan called on the armed groups to lay down their arms, support the DRC Transitional Government and collaborate with the UN to create a climate favourable to ending hostilities in the country.